Jon Watts on the Hilarious Captain America PSA’s in Spider-Man: Homecoming
It’s safe to say that by now, it’s pretty obvious that we’re not only massive Marvel fans in general, but that we have quite a soft spot in our hearts for Captain America. Steve Rogers is sort of the superhero we’ve always needed and on top of being strong and ready to fight for what’s right, he’s loyal to (almost) a fault and he’s quite hilarious.
So when Jon Watts had the opportunity to include Cap (and other MCU heroes) in Spider-Man: Homecoming he found the perfect way to do so. Not just to make this film incredible, but to tie the characters to one another for Avengers: Infinity War.
Watts told Cinema Blend that the idea of Captain America’s PSA’s in Spider-Man: Homecoming he explained it in a way that was very reminiscent of our own elementary school days. Yep, he brought up those hilarious President’s Fitness Challenges and that’s where the idea for Captain America’s Fitness Challenge was born.
‘I think that was my idea, to have the Captain America Fitness Challenge. You know, it’s so collaborative. I really don’t remember whose idea is what, at this point. But I just remember having the President’s Fitness Challenge when I was in elementary school and middle school. You had to do different activities, and at the end of it, I think you got a little pin or a badge. I was like, ‘How do we incorporate Captain America into high school?’ You would have the Captain America Fitness Challenge. He would be the person teaching you about proper nutrition and brushing your teeth.’
We have to say we can totally see the appeal, Captain America is like…well…everything, and if he had told us that brushing your teeth and eating right is part of the base of growing up strong, we’d have listened.
He went on to say that it’s sort of like filming a documentary in terms of those shots. They also had a lot of ideas that didn’t make the film but may make the Blue-ray eventually. Fingers crossed.
When we shot those… you talk about feeling like you are filming a documentary? That’s what it was like. It was like Captain America showed up. I generated so many of these dumb things, along with one of the other writers. We just wrote — everyone had ideas for things that Captain America could say [on screen]. So we just put them into a teleprompter and had Evans stand there and really read through them. It’s really funny because Chris is so NOT like Captain America in person, but him being Cap and then just reading this stuff totally fresh, in that old costume, was so funny. It was all so very funny. … There’s a very fun improv comedy to all of that. We shot so many more than are in the movie, too. Which will probably be on the Blu-ray someday.‘
What was your favorite part of Spider-Man: Homecoming? Did you enjoy the Captain America PSA’s as much as we did? Let us know.
‘…but I knew him’
