Robert Downey Jr. Calls Avengers Script "Fantastic"

by SuperHeroHype

Nov 2nd, 2010

The current draft has won Tony Stark's seal of approval

MTV caught up with Robert Downey Jr. on the red carpet this week where the actor revealed that he's quite happy with the current state of The Avengers, having just finished reading the script.

"[I]t's going to be fantastic," said Downey, jokingly adding, "Once I tear his script to smithereens and fix it, we’re going to have a great movie."

Check out the full video interview here.

From IGN:

The Avengers: Earth's Stingiest Heroes?

Pre-production reportedly stalled due to budget crunching.

November 4, 2010

by Jim Vejvoda

A new report claims that Marvel Studios is looking to rein in costs on their Avengers movie.

According to Bleeding Cool, "certain people are saying Marvel are demanding they get it all done on the relative cheap. For something not far off what Sony paid to make their first Spider-Man film (at least in real terms)."

This is a film that will see stars like Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson among its cast, and will shoot in the not inexpensive state of New York. It's reasonable then to expect Marvel to want to watch the bottom line on the film, but Bleeding Cool claims that the budget crunching has already led to people exiting the film: "As a result of such staff changes, pre-production has been delayed weeks – possibly months. Hopefully this won't affect filming schedule and the SFX."

Short of its release date getting pushed, The Avengers is slated to begin filming next spring for a May 4, 2012 release.

Should have made it in Australia a la the Matrix films. Would have saved them at least 20% right there. New York is a horribly mismanaged state where unions have a stranglehold. I got out in 1999 and never looked back.

On the other hand, what did they think was going to happen? This is, by far, the most ambitious superhero film ever. You can't do it on the cheap.

Use some of the buckets of cash Pixar makes for you, Disney.

I don't want to do my best chicken little impression, but this doesn't sound good. Anyone with even minimal foresight, could've predicted this would be an extremely expensive production. Any movie that has at minimum 6 movies (2 Iron Man movies, Cap, Thor, and 2 Hulks) tying into it, is going to break the bank. Please don't screw this up Marvel.

This is one of those rare movies where if they put the effort and cash required into it, they'll make one of the best "comic book" movies ever. If they try and penny pinch they may fall flat on their face. I hope they see sense and give the production all it requires to get the best out of the talent they have at hand, and if they do that then everyone will walk away happy, the audience, the studio and every one else connected.

( and this is from a die hard DC fan )

Ruffalo on The Hulk in The Avengers

by SuperHeroHype

Nov 17th, 2010

"He's the only one who doesn't want to be there"

IGN talked to Mark Ruffalo on Tuesday about taking on The Hulk in The Avengers, which is scheduled to start shooting in Los Angeles in February. Here are several clips from the interview:

IGN: I know you're still preparing for the role and things can change, but how do you even go about playing repressed rage without seeming too muted? It's a tough challenge.

Ruffalo: Rage is an intense thing. It's big, it's huge. It's your whole body, and so I'm not going to compare myself to any other Hulks. I just know that I want that rage to be as real as possible. I want that when he goes off that you feel it in me. That it happens to me first and then it becomes Hulk. I don't think it's simultaneous. It's interesting. It takes some people quite a bit to get to rage.

IGN: You don't strike me as angry guy. You seem pretty chill and likable. Is it going to be tough for you to find that rage?

Ruffalo: No. (laughs) If you knew me as a younger actor -- or even in What Doesn't Kill You that guy's able to access rage and he dragged that guy out of his car. I've heard some of the fans and I totally respect them and I hear their concern about Mark Ruffalo being a nice guy, but I assure you just like everybody else I have my very dark side. Maybe more because I'm an actor. That's not what I'm really worried about. What I'm worried about is bringing some spark of originality and spontaneity to that character. He's the only one who doesn't want to be there [in the Avengers] really. Everyone else is sort of digging on their super powers and he's the only one who doesn't want to be there, which could be an incredibly uninteresting person to spend two hours with. (laughs)

You can read the full interview here!

From IGN:

West Coast Avengers Assemble!

Whedon's Marvel movie plays "Location Musical Chairs".

November 17, 2010

by Phil Pirrello

"Marvel Studios wants to rein in costs on The Avengers" is Hollywood code for "pinch pennies and relocate production from New York to Los Angeles."

So that's what is happening. Cap, Thor and Iron Man's first team-up movie will now shoot in Los Angeles, reports BleedingCool.com. (Insert West Coast Avengers joke here.)

Exteriors will take place in New York, and all of the movie's interiors will be shot on sound stages in Los Angeles. The site speculates that the reason for the move is largely an economic one centered on tax incentives. But ]url=http://www.slashfilm.com/avengers-shoot-los-angeles-york/]SlashFilm.com[/url]. tells us that New York currently offers a 30% tax credit, whereas California offers 25%.

With that said, the benefits to Marvel's decision seem less finanicial and more logistics-based. With a cast numbering 8, most of which call LA home, scheduling their availabilities seems easier a task on the West Coast than on the East.

But it doesn't matter where they shoot; we're gonna see this thing more times than what society deems normal anyway. The Avengers starts shooting February 2011 and arrives in theatres May 4, 2012.

Ruffalo to Read The Avengers Script Next Week

by SuperHeroHype

Nov 30th, 2010

And will The Hulk be the villain?

MTV caught up with Mark Ruffalo last night at the Gotham Awards and got an update about The Avengers, in which he'll play Bruce Banner/The Hulk.

You can watch the interview segment here, but he says that he's reading the script next week and is "going to go work with Joss [Whedon] and Robert Downey Jr. and start to make the magic happen."

Asked whether the Hulk will be the villain, Ruffalo said "He may or may not be."

Man, how cool would it be if they followed the story from the first part of the Ultimates? I know it devolved into a bunch of garbage for the most part, but that first arc rocked. And they have to get Freddie Prinze Jr in it lol...

Agreed. I've long thought the first Ultimates trade was the perfect plot for a live action movie.

Freddy can't love you like Hulk can Betty!!!

Good grief I'm laughing at just the thought of it. EXCELSIOR!

I love the Ultimates, and I hope that's the direction they go with the movie. But I think they'll pleeple off a lot of classic Avengers fans if they do.

From IGN:

The OG Hulk Joins The Avengers

Purple pants will be torn.

December 15, 2010

by Phil Pirrello

The Hulk from the Bill Bixby TV series is joining Joss Whedon's The Avengers, according to NukeTheFridge.com

Lou Ferrigno, the bodybuilder who doned the green paint and torn pants in television's The Incredible Hulk, did an interview with Nuke where he revealed he has a role in Marvel's epic team-up movie. "I'm going to be involved in The Avengers movie," Ferrigno said. He has yet to see the script yet and therefore does not know which role he will play. We assume it will be in a cameo capacity, much like his part in the Hulk movie starring Edward Norton. (Or, as IGN TV's Eric Goldman points out, the 'Rigno may do the voice of Hulk in the movie, like he did in The Incredible Hulk.)

The Avengers Assemble in New Mexico

by SuperHeroHype

Dec 23rd, 2010

The Marvel Studios project will shoot in the land of enchantment

Despite rumors that it would shoot primarily in either New York or Los Angeles, Joss Whedon's The Avengers has now been announced for production in New Mexico with shooting scheduled between April and September of 2011.

“In addition to being our biggest production to date, 'The Avengers' will be the most technologically advanced and will provide cutting-edge training opportunities for our crew,” said New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson in an official press release, “I’m announcing this as a Christmas present of sorts to the people of New Mexico. This is a perfect example of the incredible job creation, economic impact and global visibility this industry has brought our state over the past eight years, and of the need to keep it moving forward.”

The majority of production is planned to take place at Albuquerque Studios with additional scenes in New York, Michigan and other as-of-yet undisclosed locations.

The Avengers to Battle the Skrulls and Kree?

by SuperHeroHype

Dec 26th, 2010

A possible hint at the story

Ain't It Cool News points out that the print version of this article from the Albuquerque Journal includes a possible hint at the storyline for The Avengers. The article says:

"The Avengers" script will blend "Iron Man," "Thor" and "Captain America: The First Avenger" story lines as the Avengers battle with two alien races, the Skrulls and the Kree.

While the article features quotes from people involved with bringing the production to New Mexico, there is no confirmation that the Albuquerque Journal got this story information from Marvel Studios or Disney, so we'll have to wait and see if they are indeed going this route.

The anticipated movie is scheduled to shoot between April and September of 2011 at Albuquerque Studios, as well as in New York and Michigan.

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Clark Gregg, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson and Mark Ruffalo, the Joss Whedon-directed film opens in theaters on May 4, 2012.