Marvel Studios just announced that they were bringing The First Avenger: Captain America into theatres May 6, 2011, and while that day is far off, it hasn't stopped speculation about who would play the star-spangled Avenger. According to Cinema Blend, Matthew McConaughey may be one of the names at the top of the list - perhaps placed there by the fact that the actor's name has often been at the top of fan polls for their pick of who to play the character.

Physically, McConaughey fits the bill for the character perfectly. He's blonde-haired, blue-eyed, square-jawed and buff. What makes this a bit more uncertain is McConaughey's acting history and public persona. The actor is known for being laid-back and, well, "dirty" - hardly the embodiment of the American Dream that Cap is supposed to be.

On the other hand, Captain America has often been criticized for being too clean-cut and patriotic, and being out-of-touch and inaccessible to modern fans. So perhaps McConaughey would be able to breathe excitement into the role for The First Avenger: Captain America.

It should be noted that this is still rumor at this point - McConaughey's name is at the top of the list being considered, but nothing has been signed or confirmed at this point.

In the comics, Captain America is actually Steve Rogers, a patriotic young man during the days of World War II who was rejected by the army for being physically unfit. Officials were so impressed with the young man's enthusiasm that they enlisted him in a top-secret Super Soldier program to transform him into the pinnacle of human fitness. Transformed, Captain America fought in the War and was then put into suspended animation until the modern day. Re-awakened in a strange new world, Cap still fights for truth and justice and the American way as the leader of the Avengers.

Captain America: The First Avenger was released July 22nd, 2011 and stars Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Dominic Cooper, Richard Armitage, Stanley Tucci. The film is directed by Joe Johnston.