While we’re still awaiting casting news regarding the female lead for Marvel’s sequel Captain America: The Winter Soldier, we now have some confirmation on who won’t be in the movie.  Hayley Atwell, who played the female lead opposite Chris Evans in The First Avenger, previously played coy when asked about her involvement in the follow-up.  We learned in The Avengers that Peggy Carter is still alive in the present day, and it’s assumed that we’ll be getting at least a few flashbacks to Cap’s 1940s days in the sequel The Winter Soldier, so it seemed feasible for her to make an appearance.  Alas, it appears that Atwell will not, in fact, be popping up in the follow-up.  Hit the jump for more.When asked about her involvement in The Winter Soldier this past September, Atwell responded, “I’m not allowed to say yet.”  Many took this as a semi-confirmation that she would be showing up in the sequel, but it looks like she may have just been waiting to see how the final script would shake out.  During an interview with TimeOut (via CBM), the outlet reveals her non-involement with the film:

“She wont, she confirms, be back for the [Captain America] sequel.”

The search continues for the film’s female lead, and as early as last August reports started to surface regarding contenders for the role (which is likely that of Peggy’s younger sister, Sharon Carter).  Names like Felicity Jones, Anna Kendrick, Allison Brie, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead have been thrown around, but we have yet to hear any sort of confirmation.  Expect to hear more details soon, though, as directors Anthony and Joe Russo are gearing up to start filming the sequel in March.  Captain America: The Winter Soldier opens on April 4, 2014.

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