Jake Gyllenhaal no Marvel

Mar 20, 2007, 9:00 GMT

Jake Gyllenhaal - Santa Monica, CA © Scott Alan / Photorazzi

Jake Gyllenhaal has not been cast as Captain Marvel.

New Line executives were believed to be pursuing the actor to play the superhero in new comic book movie 'Shazam', but screenwriter John August has now rubbished the reports.

August wrote on his personal website: "I can pretty much assure you he has never heard of the project and we have never discussed him. After several months of meetings, casting has come up exactly zero times. There is no casting list."

While August insists Jake has not been contacted about the role, he admits the 'Brokeback Mountain' star would make a convincing superhero.

August said: "If we did have a casting list, Jake's name would probably be on it, but trust me, there is not a list. There is just a script to be written, which I should probably get back to."

Last week, Jake was said to be at the centre of bidding war to star in two separate comic book blockbusters.

As well as being linked to 'Shazam', which is based on a DC comic, Jake was also rumoured be replacing Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man in the fourth instalment of the hit movie series.

Tobey has already admitted he is ready to retire as the web-slinging superhero, and director Sam Raimi believes Jake would be an ideal replacement.

(C) BANG Media International