Captain America: Civil War has a mystery on its hands. While most of the characters appearing in the 2016 blockbuster are well known to the moviegoing audience, it hasn’t been officially revealed who Sherlock star Martin Freeman is playing. It was previously reported that Freeman might be playing U.S. government agent Everett Ross, but a new report is saying that Freeman is actually playing a head of state with possible ties to someone from Joss Whedon's Avengers: Age of Ultron.
The rumor Latino-Review has heard is that Freeman will be playing Edward Chase, the Prime Minister of England. The "international incident" that kicks off the conflict in Civil War will reportedly involve British soldiers, leaving Chase to argue with the international governing body for a better world plan to keep the Avengers in check. If this is true, this will make him the second political figure to appear in the film, the first being Wakanda’s king T’Challa, a.k.a. Black Panther.
Here’s where things get interesting: Chase may have already gotten an indirect name drop in Avengers: Age of Ultron, according to the report. When we first meet Tony Stark’s former acquaintance Ulysses Klaue, played by Andy Serkis, he’s arguing on the phone with an unidentified individual over a weapons deal. After threatening to launch missiles at this mysterious buyer, he then says, "Now, Minister, where were we?" The article speculates that Martin Freeman’s Chase is the Minister on the other end of the line, and might have been trying to buy vibranium from Klaue for the English to use to deal with superpower people across the globe. Sketchy stuff.
It’s expected that there’s going to be more of a political presence in Captain America: Civil War given that it involves passing legislation that will regulate people with special abilities. Taking into account these politics and the film’s global feel, Freeman playing England’s Prime Minister certainly would be logical. Even with all the supporters this Superhuman Registration Act (or whatever it’s going to be called) will have, someone will need to serve as its primary proponent, and that could easily be Freeman’s Chase (though General Thunderbolt Ross would fill that role nicely as well).
Political figures like Iron Man 3’s President Ellis and Senator/HYDRA agent Stern have appeared in the MCU before, but Chase could not only serve as new type of foe for the Avengers (one they can’t just punch to defeat), but someone who could maintain a presence in future films. So we have Baron Zemo, Crossbones and now potentially a corrupt politician who will be antagonizing Captain America. Man, talk about an abundance of villainy for our patriotic hero.
Captain America: Civil War will be released in theaters on May 6, 2016.
