Joining an esteemed group of select individuals that includes Matt Salinger and Reb Brown, Chris Evans has officially signed on to play the part of Captain America in Joe Johnston’s upcoming The First Avenger: Captain America.  Here’s what Variety has to say:

Chris Evans will don the star-spangled superhero suit to play Captain America for Marvel Entertainment.

Evans, who was made the offer late last week, beat out a number of thesps including John Krasinksi, Chace Crawford, Ryan Phillippe, Garrett Hedlund, Michael Cassidy, Patrick Flueger, Scott Porter and Wilson Blethel to land the role of Steve Rogers.

Deal calls for Evans to star in at least three “Captain America” movies, as well as “The Avengers,” which will assemble Iron Man, Thor and the Incredible Hulk in one pic.

First introduced in the 1940s, the character is a sickly young man who is turned into the perfect human weapon to aid the United States’ war effort during World War II when injected with a super soldier serum. His costume resembles the American flag and he flings an indestructible shield as his primary weapon.

Joe Johnston will direct “The First Avenger: Captain America” this summer. Hugo Weaving will play the villain, Red Skull. Film is slated to unspool July 22, 2011. Paramount will distribute.

So Chris Evans vs. Hugo Weaving?  Sure, I’d be on board for that.  I’ve always been a big fans of Evans – in fact, after seeing him in Sunshine, I was convinced that, if they were to ever remake The Thing, he’d make a perfect Macready.  Evans can elevate any material, even something as sucky as Push, to watchable material.  And for those keeping count, that’s five comic movies for Evans – two Fantastic Four flicks, The Losers, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.