Report: Hugo Weaving In Talks For ‘Captain America’ Villain

Hugh Weaving is in talks to terrorize “Captain America,” according to The Hollywood Reporter’s Heat Vision blog.

The actor, who previously showcased his evildoer chops as Agent Smith in “The Matrix” franchise, is reportedly in negotiations for the role of the Red Skull – a Nazi agent who first appeared in “Captain America Comics” No. 1 back in 1941.

Like Captain America’s Steve Rogers, the World War II character was put into suspended animation and revived in modern day during Marvel’s 1960s comics.

While its villain may be close to final casting, the Joe Johnston-directed film has yet to announce who will play its titular hero – a character that, should the films follow their comic book source material, will go on to lead 2012’s “The Avengers.”

Fox411 previously reported that “The Office” funnyman John Krasinski had “very likely” locked up the role, but The Hollywood Reporter noted earlier this week that Krasinski, as well as past contenders Michael Cassidy and Chace Crawford, were no longer in contention.

The trade paper reported that Wilson Bethel (“Generation Kill”), Mike Vogel (“Cloverfield”), Chris Evans (“Safety Point”) and Garret Hedlund (“Tron Legacy”) were among the actors still under consideration for the role.

In February, Johnston told Sci Fi Wire that “we’ll have ourselves a Captain America” within several weeks, but no such decision has yet been made public.