Martin Freeman’s Captain America: Civil War character has been revealed

Bilbo Baggins will shave his feet and put on a smart grey suit for Captain America: Civil War. Empire Magazine has revealed that Martin Freeman, known for playing the hesitant hero in The Hobbit film trilogy, Sherlock’s Dr. Watson, and Fargo‘s Lester Nygaard, will portray US diplomat Everett Ross in the upcoming superhero movie/psychological thriller.

Everett Ross became embroiled with super powered shenanigans in the Marvel comics when he was assigned to escort the Black Panther, the ruler of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, around New York City. Given his history, it seems likely that Everett will also appear in the standalone Black Panther film set for February 2018, but we’ll meet him before that in Civil War.

The first image of Freeman’s character shows him standing alongside Sharon Carter, who you may remember as Steve Rogers’ neighbor and secret observer from Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The pair are flanked by a German SWAT team, and co-director Joe Russo told Empire that returning to Germany will bring Captain America “full circle” to where his journey as a superhero truly began – both geographically and psychologically. Freeman will appear as a member of the Joint Counter-Terrorism Center, if you’re trying to keep all your fictional defense agencies straight.

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo and starring Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., and Scarlett Johansson, Captain America: Civil War will open in the UK on April 29, 2016, and will hit US cinemas on May 6.

Images: FX/Empire Magazine/Marvel