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Robert Redford: What role is he really playing in the 'Captain America' sequel?

Robert Redford revealed some interesting information about his role in the 'Captain America' sequel which will be released this April. Robert Redford is also starring in the film 'All Is Lost.'

The team assembled for just keeps getting bigger and bigger. Already boasting a cast rivaling that of The Avengers, Robert Redford is without question the most distinguished of the pack. It certainly came as a surprise when Redford was , but in what appeared to be a relatively small role. A great get for Marvel, and an actor capable of playing the head of a shadowy government organization with plenty of class and grandeur.

But as actors unfamiliar with the spoiler-sensitive nature of comic book films often do, Redford has opened up about his role in the next Captain America, revealing more than Marvel likely wishes he had.

In an interview with The Straits Times (courtesy of ), Redford spoke at length about his career to this point, and the need to constantly challenge himself as an actor. Appearing in a comic book blockbuster definitely fits that bill, even if he would only appear as a superior to Col. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) as a higher-up in the S.H.I.E.L.D. agency.

Now it seems new information regarding his role in the film, and what it could mean for the overall plot and inclusion of source material from the 鈥淲inter Soldier鈥� story arc has arrived. Those not wanting to be spoiled should stop now.

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In the interview, Redford explained that he sees no reason to slow down just yet; in fact, there鈥檚 no time like the present to try roles or films he might not have in the past:

鈥淚 think a career requires a certain amount of reinvention. If you get caught in one track I think that can be dangerous. Success has a dark side to it. you want to be careful if you鈥檝e had success at something, that you not try and follow it by just duplicating it. That鈥檚 why I鈥檓 doing this Captain America thing.鈥�

Knowledge we鈥檇 expect coming from such a veteran leading man, and a positive look at the comic book movie craze that would hopefully convince some more established actors to crop up in either DC or Marvel films in the future (Sir Ben Kingsley already has, but鈥�maybe some others with more discriminating tastes).

But it鈥檚 the next words out of Redford鈥檚 mouth that will grab the attention of fans:

鈥淚 like the idea of playing a villain鈥�I did that just because it鈥檚 a different thing for me to do.鈥�

Don鈥檛 say we didn鈥檛 warn you. Now before anyone jumps to conclusions, it鈥檚 worth reminding that the term 鈥榲illain鈥� can be used interchangeably (but incorrectly) with antagonist. For Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), there may be more than a few characters that fit that description in the events of The Winter Soldier. Described by the writers behind the script have also called it for and beyond.

Rogers showed in that his loyalty is to what he knows is right, not to who鈥檚 telling him what is and isn鈥檛. So it isn鈥檛 hard to picture that pits S.H.I.E.L.D. agents against one another, Cap and Fury included. In that setting, it鈥檚 possible that Redford鈥檚 character, 鈥楢lexander Pierce鈥� is simply an authority figure who has gone too far. But those familiar with the comic book arc that the film is based on know something else is also possible.

Especially since the central villain of Ed Brubaker鈥檚 鈥淲inter Soldier鈥� also happens to be named Alexander 鈥� sorry, Aleksander Lukin.

A general in the Soviet Union, Aleksander Lukin eventually rose to oversee many Russian military assets, including the Winter Soldier himself. We鈥檒l spare you the details of the entire story line, but suffice to say that Lukin is the mastermind behind the run-in between Winter Soldier and Captain America. It also happens that his character bumps up against , , and the Cosmic Cube of the first film.

To this point, the villains assembled to take on are hard to classify as 鈥榟eadlining鈥� villains 鈥� even if we鈥檙e looking forward to seeing both and in action. Even the Winter Soldier鈥檚 fight with Rogers is one that hinges on him obeying his master鈥檚 will; a master that has seemingly been missing. Until now.

If Redford has spilled the beans, and is in fact playing a disguised Aleksander Lukin, or variation on the character, then Marvel has added another incredibly promising villain to their movie ranks. Not to mention the mounting evidence that the writers are getting creative with the source material, even if calling on the comics for .

Andrew Dyce blogs at .