Frank Grillo Confirmed as Crossbones in CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

After days of speculation, Variety has confirmed that Frank Grillo has been cast as the villain Crossbones in the Marvel Studios film Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

The 49-year-old actor tweeted last week that he had tested for a role in the sequel to last year's Captain America: The First Avenger, and hinted at Crossbones' appearance using the hashtag "#bones."  Grillo has recently appeared in End of Watch, The Grey and Warrior, and will next have supporting roles in Gangster Squad and Zero Dark Thirty.

Crossbones first appeared in Captain America (vol.1) #359 and 360 in 1989 as the creation of writer Mark Gruenwald and artist Kieron Dwyer.  Usually appearing as a major henchman for Captain America's arch-enemy the Red Skull, Crossbones was a major player in the storylines "Red Menace" and "The Death of Captain America."

In addition to Grillo, Chris Evans is once again reprising Captain America/Steve Rogers and Sebastian Stan is returning as Bucky Barnes, who will become his current comics depiction as the Winter Soldier.  Anthony Mackie will portray The Falcon/Sam Wilson, Scarlett Johannson will reprise Black Widow/Natasha Romanov, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead is rumored as Captain America's modern-day love interest Agent 13/Sharon Carter.  Other rumors suggest that Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders will reprise their roles of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Nick Fury and Maria Hill respectively, probably in brief cameo roles.

Anthony and Joe Russo will direct the film from a script by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who wrote the screenplay for Captain America: The First Avenger.  Captain America: The Winter Soldier is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on April 4, 2014.