If Stan Lee is the “father” of a majority of the Marvel comic book universe then you might call Jon Favreau the hip cool uncle who kickstarted the movie counterparts. Favreau’s Iron Man and Iron Man 2 launched the succesful birth of the cinematic Marvel universe. The actor/producer/director was congratulated on the success of The Avengers in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
“Yeah, how do you like that? Turned out really well. Look, it was something we always planned for, and hoped for, but anything could have gone wrong, and it took a lot of things to go right. First and foremost, Joss, to be able to pull together — four different characters based on four different sets of films that shared a lot tonally and they shared some cast-wise, but he had to pull all those things together and make it work, it’s a very high degree of difficulty for him. But we had done a lot of setup in Iron Man 2 and even in Iron Man 1, we were hoping that it would come to this. I don’t think it became a reality until the last few years, but we were definitely planning for it. But it took a lot of people to pass the baton well, and each director who had been involved with the franchises did their part, but it took Joss to really seal the deal, and clearly it worked out, because the moment seems to continue going.”
Iron Man in Marvel's The Avengers courtesy Marvel.com
Favreau is producing Iron Man 3 but Shane Black is directing. Robert Downey Jr and Black worked together on Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. The next Iron Man film is based on Extremis Warren Ellis. Does that equal a dark tone for Tony’s next adventure?
“No, just a little bit more offbeat, I’d say. Shane and Robert definitely have an original point of view and an original take on the character, and I think it delves deeper into what makes Tony Stark tick and plays on the unexpected original unpredictable quality of the character that I think fans gravitate to.”
Jessica Chastain was in then out due to scheduling. Now Rebecca Hall is in talks to play a scientist in Iron Man 3 according toVariety. What does this mean for Gwynneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts? I was surprised how much Pepper screen time was in Marvel’s The Avengers. Tony and Pepper seemed happy in Stark Tower but could this new brainy beauty catch the playboy’s eye?
The character is part of a team (including Guy Pearce) of scientists that create nanotechnology that gets in the hands of terrorists. The next Tony Stark adventure is based on Iron Man Extremis. Ben Kingsley is on board as the villain.
I liked Rebecca Hall in Ben Affleck’s The Town. Below is a YouTube video of her promoting that excellent film.
Avengers 2 was confirmed by Disney CEO Bob Iger during a conference call to report quarterly earnings according to The Hollywood Reporter. With a global box office of $700 + million in two weeks for the Avengers I bet that was a happy call.
Iger confirmed a third Iron Man, a second Thor film are scheduled for 2013. A Captain America sequel is in the works for 2014. No timeline was given for an Avengers sequel.
The CEO added there are plans for Avengers inspired attractions at Disney theme parks.
By Editor
How about an Iron Man flight simulator or Stark Tower ride?
Marvel's Avengers The Hulk courtesy Marvel Studios
When the Hulk leaps into action to save Iron Man in the Avengers trailer – the screams from the crowd huddled around my computer were filled with joy! The Hulk must really be awesome in Earth’s Mightiest Movie because Mark Ruffalo revealed he’s signed a 6 picture deal with Marvel Films to Collider.
(Ruffalo also reveals there’s a deleted scene with the great Harry Dean Stanton.)
So Avengers 2 is a given but how about a Hulk solo movie? What comic book story would you want to see on the big screen?
I love Peter David’s run on The Incredible Hulk. I especially enjoyed when the merged Hulk – Banner’s mind in control of the monster body – was allied with a group of heroes called the Pantheon. This organization answered to no government and their missions often brought them into conflict with other heroes. I could see a great Pantheon-SHIELD conflict orchestrated by The Leader, a scientist mutated by gamma radiation in a very different way. While the members of the Pantheon took names inspired by Greek mythology, their leader Agamemnon, was half-Asgardian. See the Thor cameo?
Planet Hulk image courtesy Marvel.com
Greg Pak’s Planet Hulk would be an out of this world – literally – adventure for the Green Goliath. It’s already an animated movie. The Illumanati (Tony Stark, Reed Richard, Doctor Strange, Professor X, Namor) decide the rampaging Hulk has done enough damage and blast him off to an uninhabited planet to live in peace. The thing about programmed spaceships with a Hulk on board – they can go off course. The Hulk goes through a wormhole and lands on a barbaric world, is forced to become a gladiator, becomes a hero and leads a revolution against the planet’s cruel leader. In the sequel World War Hulk, the Hulk and his Warbound (allies from the arena) come back to Earth to lay down some serious vengeance on the Illumanati. Hulk doesn’t realize until later that he fathered a son on Sakaar until Skaar arrives on Earth ready to resolve his daddy issues with some serious fighting!
Robert Downey Jr is suiting up for Iron Man 3 and I’m sure he’d be back for an Avengers 2 but how many times would the star play Tony Stark. What would Marvel do if Downey quits.
According to BadAssDigest.com Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige compares Iron Man to 007 – you can recast.
“I think Bond is a good example. Let’s put it this way: I hope Downey makes a lot of movies for us as Stark. If and when he doesn’t, and I’m still here making these movies, we don’t take him to Afghanistan and have him wounded again. I think we James Bond it.”
For more of Devin’s interview with Feige here’s the link to – I love this site name- BadAssDigest.com.
Downey Jr responded to MTV News about the potential of being recast and the co-stars lining up for Iron Man 3. Here’s Downey in his own words.
This Geek’s Opinion: I love James Bond. I love Iron Man. I freaking love Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark – it was perfect casting and I can’t imagine another actor in the role just like Jackman owns Wolverine. I would hope there are enough Marvel characters to develop and give Iron Man a break. But you have to have a little faith in Feige, he’s got a track record that’s hard to argue with.
Seattle’s real and fictional super heroes take the spotlight this week.
Fiction: Someone or something is carving up Seattle’s super heroes. Marvel’s mutant detectives (including former X-Men) head to the Emerald City to investigate in this week’s X-Factor #235 by Peter David.
Seattle’s Litterbug and The Insignia were introduced briefly only to be seemingly attacked in last month’s issue. In this week chapter a new villain named Scattershot is introduced. Given the cover – this new foe looks like a hybrid of two X-Factor members.
Fact: The Pacific Northwest is the home of a real super hero movement. Phoenix Jones and his patrols of Seattle generated big new coverage. Here’s a link to the KOMONEWS.COM stories about his impact and the controversy. Citizen Heroes is a new documentary project exploring the real life superhero movement in Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon.
Some of the real life heroes will be introducing Marvel movies this week when Avengers Assemble! at SIFF Cinema takes over the Uptown Theater in Seattle. You can meet the local pop heroes before watching a different Marvel movie (Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger) each night before Earth’s Mightiest Movie arrives.
You may have heard a little something about a movie called The Avengers. You can’t escape the promotion. Hype is high. It’s the first time this many iconic super heroes from other blockbusters are in the same big movie. Here’s what you need to know if you’re never seen opened an Avengers comic book or seen the previous Marvel films: The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America or Thor.
Spoiler Warning: this guide gives away the endings of those previously named movies.
1. SHIELD is an international agency charged with protecting Earth led by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson.) The Avengers Project is a gathering of super powered heroes to fight the global threats no single hero can handle alone – that big threat is here.
2. Captain America: The First Avenger Chris Evans plays Steve Rogers, a skinny, weak Brooklyn kid with a big heart who wanted to serve his country in World War II. Steve volunteered to be part of a top-secret experiment to create Super Soldiers. Steve was chosen because “a weak man knows the value of strength” and he became Captain America. Cap stopped a rogue Nazi scientist known as the Red Skull. The super serum transformed the man into an insane monster. Cap saved America from the Skull’s flying superweapon by crashing it into the arctic. Cap was frozen. SHIELD scientists discovered and revived Steve who was shocked to learn decades of his life are gone. He’s alone in a modern world he doesn’t understand.
Iron Man from Marvel.com
3. Iron Man Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is an arrogant genius inventor/playboy. Tony was kidnapped in Afghanistan and learned that his company’s weapons were being sold on the black market against the terrorists that U.S. forces were fighting. While in captivity Tony builds a suit of armor to escape his captors and protect the world as Iron Man.
4. Thor What the Vikings hailed as Norse Gods were mighty beings from a mystical realm called Asgard. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) was the God of Thunder and son of Odin, King of Asgard. Thor’s arrogance ignited an ancient war with the Frost Giants (a rival race that almost destroyed Earth eons ago) and Odin stripped Thor of his powers and sent him to Midgard or Earth. Thor learned lessons of humility, love and what it meant to be a true hero.
Marvel’s Avengers The Hulk courtesy Marvel Studios
5. Hulk Dr. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) is a scientist exposed to an experimental treatment that turns him into a monstrous, childlike Hulk. Anger triggers the change so Bruce has tried to live a secluded existence while trying to discover a cure. Bruce will be recruited back to use his brains and Hulk like strength to fight the alien army – the big question – how do you control a rampaging Hulk?
6. Black Widow Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) is a Russian super spy recruited to SHIELD by Nick Fury. She has no super powers but is highly skilled in combat and weapons. Natasha was working undercover as Tony’s assistant in Iron Man 2. In the comic books, Natasha has dated Hawkeye.
Hawkeye & Black Widow in Marvel’s The Avengers courtesy Marvel
7. Hawkeye Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) is a tough, resourceful SHIELD agent and an expert archer. You saw Barton briefly in Thor. In the comic books, Clint is a former criminal turned good guy with a sarcastic sense of humor.
7. SHIELD Agents Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) is the no-nonsense government operative who appeared in Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America. Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) is Nick Fury’s second in command.
8. The Big Bad Guy =Loki Thor’s half-brother is the treacherous Loki (Tom Hiddleston.) The God of Mischief is a master of manipulation and sorcery who orchestrated Thor’s banishment. Thor defeated Loki but the spiteful brother refused to let Thor save his life so we last saw him falling out of Asgard into deep space. Loki is back and has declared war on Earth and he’s allied with an army of aliens – this leads to the formation of the Avengers.
If you’re in the Seattle area like myself and want to catch up SIFF Cinema presents Avengers Assemble! You can see all the previous Marvel movies each night! The Incredible Hulk Monday, Iron Man I & II Tuesday, Thor in 3D Wednesday and Captain America: The First Avenger in 3D Thursday. Each night members of the cast (and local heroes) of Citizen Heroeswill be introducing the films.
You don’t have to be an Avengers expert to enjoy the movie – just come, have fun and feel like a kid again! Hope you have a great time!
If you have any Avengers related questions please contact me by leaving a comment, email or following me on Facebook or on Twitter @comicsblend.
By Editor – thanks to Marvel for the images, the characters and for making this movie happen!
Updated: How do these characters tie together? Captain America. The Red Skull was obsessed with myths and the supernatural. He recovered a lost Asgardian artifact called the Tesseract (in the comic books it’s called the Cosmic Cube) that fueled his super army’s weaponry. The artifact is in SHIELD custody. Another fact: Tony Stark’s father Howard was a part of the team that helped turn Steve Rogers into Captain America.
The Easter Bunny shared the spotlight with some of Marvel’s most famous heroes at the 134th Annual White House Easter Egg Roll. Marvel.com revealed this photo of Spider-Man, Captain America, Thor and Iron Man at The White House for the April 9th event.
Can you imagine the kids seeing Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?
