It's official: Captain Canuck is getting his own film

Toronto’s limelight went up and then away with the creation of the world’s most recognized superhero, Superman, in the 1930s. Toronto-born Joe Shuster was one of two creators of the icon, but unfortunately for us, Canadian pride was in short supply: Superman’s loyalties have always resided with the U.S. However, Canada does have its own purebred comic book hero, Captain Canuck, who will be sweeping the nation once again — and this time, it’ll be on the silver screen.

“Captain Canuck is our answer to Captain America,” says the comic’s creator, Richard Comely. “The differences in the characters, like how Captain America is so loud and has those big boots, shows the differences in the cultures.”

It was in the midst of the ’70s bell-bottom jeans and Afro hairdo craze that Captain Canuck was born. The comic started when Comely met cartoonist Ron Leishman. “I got interested in the idea when Ron said, why isn’t there a Canadian superhero?”

The idea for a live action Captain Canuck followed soon after.

“Way back in 1975 or 1976 I did an interview with CBC, and there, someone suggested a movie, but I was so busy with the comic.”

Toronto production company Sinking Ship provided Captain Canuck with the cinematic opportunity it needed when the time was right. Unfortunately, it held on to the idea for four and a half years too long. “They’re a great company but couldn’t put it together,” says Comely.

After approaching Minds Eye Entertainment last year and signing a contract in March, Captain Canuck’s movie debut has finally become a reality. The upcoming movie was announced Tuesday.

While finer details like actors haven’t been determined, we can safely say that most of us are rooting for the superhero-built, undeniably handsome and most importantly, Canadian-born Ryan Reynolds. “A lot of people have said Ryan Reynolds, and he is on the short list. The short list will be all Canadians,” says Comely.

With no confirmed date, the beloved Canadian superhero is hoping to reach theaters by 2014. Still, Comely says that everything is still very much up in the air.

“It’s like taking on a big construction project,” he says.

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