 Captain America was put on hold during the 2007 – 2008 Writers Guild of America strike . However , in January 2008 , Marvel Entertainment reached an interim comprehensive agreement with the Writers Guild of America that would put writers immediately back to work on various projects that were under the company 's development . On May 5 , 2008 ( after the success of Iron Man ) , Marvel announced the film The First Avenger : Captain America ( the working title ) for release in May 6 , 2011 ( before being pushed back to July 22 ) . Louis Leterrier , director of The Incredible Hulk , viewed some of the concept art being created for the film and was impressed enough to offer his services , but Marvel turned him down . Johnston finally signed on in November 2008 , and he hired Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely to rewrite . Feige cited Johnston 's directorial work on October Sky and The Rocketeer and his special effects work on the original Star Wars trilogy to explain why he was an appropriate choice . Raiders of the Lost Ark was an influence on the film , because they hoped the film would not feel like a period piece . 
