Frank Grillo confirmed as Crossbones; Cobie Smulders to appear as Maria Hill in 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier'

Barely a week since the story first emerged that Frank Grillo was testing for the role of villain Crossbones in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Variety reports he has now been confirmed. Crossbones is a pretty important character to the story The Russo Brothers appear to be telling, which involves Cap's sidekick Bucky(Sebastian Stan) all grown up and programmed to kill. Crossbones is a henchman of the Red Skull, who was played by Hugo Weaving and will likely be forced back because he's contractually obligated to. Weaving has been pretty vocal about not wanting to return.

Also, Cobie Smulders will reprise her role of S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill, and with Samuel L. Jackson confirmed to appear as Nick Fury, I'm hoping we'll get to see a little bit more dissension in the ranks of the world's foremost espionage unit. I think Marvel's long term goal is to do some sort of mini-Civil War, with government sanctioned heroes(possibly War Machine??) brought in to take down The Avengers. All speculation on my part, but it seems like a logical move.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier stars Chris Evans, Anthony Mackie, Scarlett Johansson, and opens on April 4th 2014.