Emily VanCamp cast in 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier'?

Emily VanCamp is rumored to star in 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier.' Some fans assume she will play comic-book heroine Sharon Carter.

Marvel Studios enters full production on Captain America: The Winter Soldier in just two months and while several returning stars from the franchise are confirmed to return, the female lead role has remained empty until today. Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan return as the titular characters, along with familiar S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Nick Fury, Maria Hill and Black Widow and the villainous Dr. Arnim Zola.

Joining them and making their debut in the Marvel cinematic universe will be Captain America’s pal Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and the villainous Crossbones (Frank Grillo). We can now add to that Sharon Carter.

Deadline has the scoop that Marvel Studios and directors Anthony and Joe Russo have found their new female lead for the Captain America sequel – who will be the modern era equivalent of Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter from The First Avenger. Atwell of course, previously confirmed that she will not have a role in the sequel, despite her character’s name showing up in deleted scenes of The Avengers.

26 year-old Canadian actress Emily VanCamp (Revenge) will reportedly play the lead female role opposite Evans which we can safely presume is Sharon Carter. If confirmed, VanCamp will have beaten out Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey), Emelia Clarke (Game of Thrones), Imogen Poots (Fright Night), Anna Kendrick (End of Watch), Felicity Jones (Like Crazy), and Alison Brie (Community) for the coveted role.

Sharon Carter (aka Agent 13) will bolster the film’s roster of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, adding more credence to an old theory of ours that Captain America 2 would not only explore more of the history of Steve Rogers, but would mesh many elements from the oft-talked about S.H.I.E.L.D. film where characters including Black Widow and Nick Fury could have their backstory explored as well. Sharon Carter is the niece of Peggy Carter (Atwell), the love interest of Cap in the first film.

More details shortly…

The film begins shooting this April and will release in 3D. For more information, check out the latest Captain America 2 rumors.

Rob Keyes blogs at Screen Rant.