EXCLUSIVE: Daniel Bruhl is set to play the villain role in the next Captain America: Civil War, the one that will also bring Robert Downey Jr. and his Iron Man character as central to the conflict of the new film. The third installment, to be directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, brings back Chris Evans and marks the debut of Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther, and Sebastian Stan, who’s back as The Winter Soldier and Anthony Mackie back as The Falcon. Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson are also expected to take part. I have to say I’m disappointed with Marvel Studios, which took my inquiry as reason to rush up a press release on the inhouse website. I guess they’ve decided to leave virtues like honesty to the Marvel characters. So short sighted.

Bruhl had his breakout role in the U.S. with Inglourious Basterds and turned in distinguished performances as the race car driver Niki Lauda in Rush and also starred in The Fifth Estate. The Russos are building up their Marvel cred with this all-star outing, and I keep hearing they will step up to the ultimate Marvel all-star team and take the reins of The Avengers franchise from Joss Whedon, possibly with that next film that will shoot back to back.

Tavistock Wood Management, Players Agentur Management, and WME rep Bruhl.