Emily VanCamp secures the female lead in Captain America: The Winter Soldier

According to Deadline, Marvel Studios has found its female lead for Captain America: The Winter Soldier, with the site reporting that up-and-coming actress Emily VanCamp - who is best known for her work on the small screen, with credits on the likes of Everwood, Brothers & Sisters and Revenge - has entered negotiations with the studio about joining the cast of the forthcoming Phase Two solo sequel.

Other actresses rumoured to have been in contention for the role - which is thought to be that of Sharon Carter, a.k.a. Agent 13 - include Mary Elizabeth Winstead (A Good Day to Die Hard), Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones), Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey), Teresa Palmer (I Am Number Four), Imogen Poots (Fright Night) and Alison Brie (Mad Men).

VanCamp will join a cast that includes Chris Evans (Captain America), Sebastian Stan (The Winter Soldier), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill) and Toby Jones (Arnim Zola), along with Marvel newcomers Anthony Mackie (Gangster Squad) as Falcon and Frank Grillo (Zero Dark Thirty) as Crossbones.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier will be directed by Anthony and Joe Russo (Community) and is scheduled to hit cinemas on April 4th, 2014.