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Meet Captain America, aka Harvard Hottie from “The Nanny Diaries”

After months of heated speculation, the name of Marvel’s newest star is finally out.

“Fantastic Four” star Chris Evans will play the title role in the upcoming “The First Avenger: Captain America,” The Hollywood Reporter announced Monday.

Best known as the Human Torch in the “Fantastic Four” movies, Evans has made his reputation as a cute, wisecracking leading man in such films as “Cellular,” “Sunshine” and “The Nanny Diaries.” His more recent credits include the sci-fi thriller “Push” and the cop drama “Street Kings” … and he’s set to play one of the many ex-boyfriends that Michael Cera must battle in “Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World.”

Yet, for all his blond good looks and devil-may-care charm, Evans wasn’t always considered the Captain America frontrunner.

Possible candidates for the role have included John Krasinski of “The Office,” Michael Cassidy of “Privileged,” Patrick Flueger of “The 4400,” Scott Porter of “Friday Night Lights,” Wilson Bethel of “Generation Kill” and Mike Vogel of “Cloverfield,” the Hollywood Reporter said.

Chace Crawford (“Gossip Girl”), Garret Hedlund (“Tron Legacy”) and Jensen Ackles (“Supernatural”), were also discussed as possibilities for the lead.

So what makes Evans the perfect candidate to wield the shield of Captain America, the patriotic super-soldier? Tell the truth, I’m not sure.

Evans is no Robert Downey Jr. (“Iron Man”) or Samuel L. Jackson (“Nick Fury”). But he’s certainly less of an unknown than Chris Hemsworth (“Star Trek”), recently cast as a Norse god in “Thor.”

All four actors will appear in the 2012 movie “The Avengers,” battling against an as-yet-unknown foe.

Even if you’re not an Evans fan, that’s a pretty exciting prospect.