‘Black Widow’: David Harbour Says Red Guardian Was ‘Captain America Of His Day For Russia’

David Harbour Black Widow Scarlett Johansson Red Guardian Captain America

Black Widow star David Harbour explained how Red Guardian is the Russian counterpart to Captain America.

Marvel Studios’ Black Widow will introduce a handful of new characters from Natasha Romanoff’s past to the MCU, including David Harbour’s Alexei Shostakov, a.k.a. Red Guardian. During an interview with The Wrap, David Harbour offered some insight into Red Guardian and how the newcomer is the Rissian counterpart to Captain America:

“He’s this guy who is closely linked to Natasha back in the day. I don’t think it’s been quite revealed exactly how, but I think you can see in the family dynamic that he was a bit of a fatherly figure to her. And a number of years go by and he’s past his prime. So he gets back into his superhero outfit, and it still fits, but it’s a little tighter than before. I think the great thing about the Red Guardian is he really is– he was the Captain America of his day for Russia. And he was the great hope of Russia, in a certain sense.”

Of course, there will be differences between Captain America and Red Guardian, particularly when you factor in the former’s more heroic traits. As David Harbour explained, Red Guardian will more flawed than Captain America, though this is part of what the Black Widow star loves about his character:

“[…] he’s not the heroic, noble man that you want him to be. He both comically and tragically has a lot of flaws. And I love that about it. And also, he has a lot of strengths.”

Are you excited to see David Harbour portray Red Guardian in Black Widow? How do you feel about David Harbour’s Captain America comments? Let us know your thoughts on Red Guardian below!

Full plot details on Marvel Studios’ Black Widow are currently under wraps, though it has been revealed that the film is set after the events of Captain America: Civil War and will see Scarlett Johansson’s Nathasha Romanoff take on the villainous Taskmaster. The film will also mark the Marvel Cinematic Universe debut of Yelena Belova, the second modern-era character to use the Black Widow title in the comics.

Directed by Cate Shortland from a script written by Jac Schaeffer and Ned Benson, Black Widow stars Scarlett Johansson, David Harbour, Florence Pugh, O-T Fagbenle, Ray Winstone, Olivier Richters, and Rachel Weisz.

Black Widow will be released in theaters on May 1, 2020.

Source: The Wrap

Sebastian Peris

Sebastian Peris

Canadian film buff, political junkie, comic book geek, and board game enthusiast.