Robert Redford in talks for 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier'

On the list of unexpected news stories, this news about Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier ranks extremely high. With filming set to begin soon on the superhero sequel, which has Chris Evans returning as the star-spangled Avenger, Deadline drops a surprising report stating that the legendary Robert Redford may join the film as a high-ranking S.H.I.E.L.D. officer.

Redford has spent the bulk of his recent career taking on personal projects, mostly of a political nature. His next thriller, The Company You Keep, opens next month and stars Shia LaBeouf, Brit Marling, Susan Sarandon, and many others. While he's had his share of blockbusters, most of them were early in his career with films like The Sting and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. He's never dabbled with the world of superheroes, though, and it's doubtful anyone expected he ever would.

Casting someone like Redford suggests that the role would be an important one, and liklihood exists that he'll turn up in multiple Marvel films. There's no obvious choice for who he could play, but we know Nick Fury has superiors he must report to, and Redford would make a natural authority figure. Knowing the way Marvel does things, Redford's role may be one of the secrets they decide to hold on to.

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Captain America: The Winter Soldier opens on April 4th 2014.