A long-lost Marvel movie has finally been found. While the MCU has now brought the likes of Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America to a much wider audience, these were far from the first efforts to bring these beloved characters to the screen in live-action. After several made-for-TV movies, director Albert Pyun was given the reins to Captain America in 1990 but, sadly, the movie was mauled by those who saw it, and currently stands at just 6% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the Marvel outing has since garnered something of a cult following, and now, various reports on social media have revealed that a myth surrounding the movie is indeed true: a director’s cut exists, and it has been found.

Directed by Albert Pyun
, the late filmmaker known for low-budget, high-concept genre fare, and written by Stephen Tolkin, 1990’s Captain America stars Matt Salinger in the title role alongside Ronny Cox, Ned Beatty, Darren McGavin, Francesca Neri, Michael Nouri, Melinda Dillon, and Scott Paulin as the Marvel supervillain the Red Skull. Detailing what many are now familiar with, Captain America finds the Avenger Steve Rogers being given the supersoldier serum during World War II before being frozen in ice. Awakening in the present day (or the golden era of the 1990s as in the film), the star-spangled man is tasked with saving the President of the United States.
While the cut that was released was met with negative reviews due to its lackluster, well, everything, and made even less than its $3 million dollar budget when released in theaters in the U.K., the “original” version of the movie has reportedly been found, with Pyun’s wife now working to have the director’s cut officially released.
‘Captain America’ Director’s Cut Is Like a “70’s Political Paranoia Thriller”

Not only has the long-lost director’s cut of Captain America been found, it has been seen. The writer behind “Radioactive Dreams: The Cinema of Albert Pyun,” Justin Decloux, hosted a small screening of the movie recently, revealing that it is “radically different” from the previous version and possesses “a daring structure, a rad synth score, and a downbeat tone that feels like Alan Moore style revionism.” In his Letterboxd review, he wrote:

“In Albert’s “Original Cut,” the film is presented at first as a mystery, starting with Captain America crashing a missile in Alaska and then jumping to the present as he wakes up a stranger in a strange land. He was supposed to be a hero, but he failed on his first mission, and now everything he knew is gone. It was supposed to be simple, but it wasn’t, and now he has no idea what to do. It’s a much more downbeat tone, with very little whiz-bang and a whole lot of “What was the point of it all?” spread throughout. Screenwriter Stephen Tolkin has said in an interview he wanted to make a “Left-Leaning Captain America film” and that was not present at all in the theatrical version, but it’s the defining theme in Pyun’s version.”

Some of those lucky enough to be in attendance have also revealed their thoughts, and it certainly sounds like Captain America is a prime example of a director’s cut making a transformational difference. X/Twitter user @BBW_BFF calls the movie “vastly superior” to its maligned predecessor.

“Watched Justin Decloux’s mystery live-stream today on a whim, and I’m so glad I did because it turned out to be Albert Pyun’s original cut of Captain America. it’s vastly different from the theatrical cut – and imho vastly superior, surprisingly moody, melancholy, & very pretty.”

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@algernon972 adds, “This ended up being for a totally different, “original cut” of Pyun’s CAPTAIN AMERICA. It was a revelation. Almost a masterpiece. Desperately needs a wide release.” While @mathewkumar really hopes “someone can work out the rights to release this. Pyun deserves it!” Finally, Tom Cody on Bluesky makes a similar comparison to one that was given to the MCU’s own Captain America: The Winter Soldier, likening it to a “70’s political paranoia thriller.”

“Was lucky enough to see a screening of a previously unseen cut of Albert Pyun’s CAPTAIN AMERICA (1990) that is wildly different from the theatrical release and the DC. This version is less a superhero film, more of a downbeat 70’s political paranoia thriller. Like THE PARALLAX VIEW but with Cap.”

Here’s hoping that Albert Pyun will get the justice it deserves and more will be able to see this director’s cut of Captain America for themselves.

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Captain America

Director

Albert Pyun

Runtime

97 Minutes

Cast

Matt Salinger
, Ronny Cox
, Ned Beatty
, Darren McGavin
, Michael Nouri
, Scott Paulin
, Kim Gillingham
, Melinda Dillon
, Bill Mumy
, Francesca Neri
, Carla Cassola
, Massimilio Massimi
, Wayde Preston
, Norbert Weisser
, Garette Ratliff Henson
, Bernarda Oman
, Tonko Lonza
, Galiano Pahor
, Milan Kristofic
, Antun Nalis
, Mario Kovač
, Zoran Pokupec
, Catherine Farrell
, Mia Begović
, Matko Raguž
, Donald Standen
, Dragana Zigic

Main Genre

Sci-Fi

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