Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who worked on the two CHRONICLES OF NARNIA films, are in negotiations to write FIRST AVENGER: CAPTAIN AMERICA for Marvel Studios, per THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.

Joe Johnston was brought on board to direct a week ago. Kevin Feige with Marvel is producing the film, which is set for a May 6, 2011 release date. This summer's IRON MAN was the start of Marvel's build toward a big AVENGERS movie to be released in 2011; THOR and the IRON MAN sequel are also part of the buildup.

CAPTAIN AMERICA will be set during World War II, in keeping with a character that was created in 1941 by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon for Timely Comics. Captain America is the alter ego of Steve Rogers, who is rejected by the U.S. Army for being sickly and undergoes experimentation to become the pinnacle of human form. With his indestructible shield, he became a symbol of the war effort and fought Nazis and evils scientists.

The Captain has been part of a long-running comic series and was a charter member of the Avengers. AVENGERS will take place in modern times.