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How will the Avengers movie succeed in bringing Iron Man, Cap and Thor together?
Marvel Studios executives are so busy producing Iron Man 2, prepping Thor and coordinating everything with The Avengers that the only person available to accept the studio's Saturn Award was head of marketing Doug Finberg. (Finberg accepted the Saturn Award on behalf of Iron Man on Wednesday in Burbank, Calif.)
He updated us on Marvel projects: Finberg confirmed that the working title of the Captain America film is The First Avenger: Captain America. That would both introduce Cap and lead into the concept of The Avengers, which would follow. "It's something we're considering, and really at the end of the day, everyone is going to know that he is Captain America," Finberg said in an exclusive interview.
Earlier in the week, Avengers screenwriter Zak Penn told an audience at the L.A. Film Festival that he is running around between Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America production offices to make sure his script coordinates with the introduction of key superheroes, and, of course, his script has to be done before the other films are. Finberg was confident that all teams could unite for a solid Avengers film. "Having everybody on board and really being able to actually work as a team together and develop the Marvel cinematic universe is what's most important to us," Finberg said.
The long-term plan is to introduce Thor and Captain America, then combine them with Iron Man to form the Avengers. But that still only accounts for three members of the famed superhero team, four if they throw in the Hulk. Could Penn introduce any new supporting superheroes in the Avengers film itself? That's not off the table, according to Finberg. "I think that really remains to be seen," he said.
After some contractual hiccups, Samuel L. Jackson signed on to continue playing Nick Fury, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., in the Marvel universe films. Expect him to play a major role in the upcoming films, with the possibility of his own film down the road, Finberg said. "Well, we have a multi-picture deal with him, so obviously we're in business with him for a while to come, and we really enjoy working with Sam," he said.
Thor will be another case of Marvel's trusting a director to bring a unique vision to their property, as Sam Raimi did for Spider-Man, Bryan Singer did for X-Men and Jon Favreau did for Iron Man. "Kenneth Branagh at the head of it all is really the critical thing to us, to really create his vision" of Thor, Finberg said. "He and [Marvel honcho] Kevin [Feige] are working really closely together."
As for Iron Man 2, which is currently in production, Finberg assured fans they can expect more of the same action and improvisational drama courtesy of star Robert Downey Jr. There may be no way to manage fan expectations for the sequel to a $300-plus-million-grossing film, but Marvel is committed to pleasing them.
"It really is more to come," Finberg said. "Ultimately, the final expectation, the final verdict, is with the fans, and that's something that the team of Marvel does a phenomenal job at, actually making the best movie from the material they can."
Iron Man 2 is due out May 7, 2010. Thor is next, on May 20, 2011. Then Captain America on July 22, 2011, and The Avengers on May 4, 2012.
By Cheapshot at 3:49 PM ON 06/26/09
Wasn't Hulk part of the avengers? at least to some degree...
By quene at 4:36 PM ON 06/26/09
I think he was isn the first issue but after that he quit. The Hulk is a character that isn't real smart because he represents a mostly Beastial side of Breuce Banner.
By chris0069 at 4:46 PM ON 06/26/09
Doesn't Hollywood realize by now the more true they are to the source material the more successful the superhero movies are? I was so excited about Thor till I heard Kenneth Branagh was directing it. No offense to him, but I now see Thor reciting Hamlet. IMO not casting Triple H as Thor was a mistake.
By chris0069 at 4:48 PM ON 06/26/09
Not casting Triple H as Thor was a mistake.
By Gumbercules at 6:33 PM ON 06/26/09
How to bring them together? Easy. The three initial Avengers - Cap, Iron Man and Thor - are tasked by SHIELD with tracking down and capturing the renegade Banner/Hulk. There's the intro to your movie, right there.
By dreadnaught at 6:49 PM ON 06/26/09
At the end of the Hulk, weren't they making plans to get the Hulk for the teams? And what about Black Widow?
By Gaijin at 7:04 PM ON 06/26/09
I'm REALLY hoping that go with "The Ultimates" (not the cartoon, but the original comic/graphic novel) from the Ultimate Marvel storyline for this movie. If they can stay at least 90% on the mark to that storyline, "The Avengers" movie is going to blow everybody's expectations away.
And to answer your questions about the Hulk, yes, he was one of the first Avengers, but quickly left the team after the second or third issue of the original run of the comic.
By goog at 7:56 PM ON 06/26/09
the hulk was part of the avengers untill issue 3 i think . they revived captain america in issue 4 for the silver age of marvel comics as his replacement . in the ultimate avengres the hulk plays a lot bigger part in the origin story ( which maybe where this film will take its lead from )
By Shadowking666 at 10:54 PM ON 06/26/09
Yes Hulk was apart of the Avengers in fact he was a founding member. It was Ironman, Thor, Hulk, and Ant Man who formed the Avengers initially Cap didn't show up for a good wile and it was mostly a stunt to try to boost sales.
By siralot at 4:37 AM ON 06/27/09
ALthough there were tons of original superheroes on The Svengers, certain movie companies and studios have particular rights to different SUperheroes. Although Stan Lee and Marvel are behind them all, certain deals have been made, so there is no possible was we'll see the likes of Captain America, Thor, Iron-Man, Spider-Man, The X-Men, The Punisher, Blade, Hulkster and other characters on the same screen................sad.
By somewherein72 at 8:40 AM ON 06/27/09
You can't forget about the Vision, Scarlet Witch, and Hawkeye. Surely not as popular as the main heroes, but definitely key longtime members of the Avengers.
By landshark1215 at 9:06 AM ON 06/27/09
siralot-"ALthough there were tons of original superheroes on The Svengers, certain movie companies and studios have particular rights to different SUperheroes. Although Stan Lee and Marvel are behind them all, certain deals have been made, so there is no possible was we'll see the likes of Captain America, Thor, Iron-Man, Spider-Man, The X-Men, The Punisher, Blade, Hulkster and other characters on the same screen................sad."
You do know that Marvel Studios owns the rights to Captain America, Thor, Iron Man and the Hulk and are working towards getting the rights for most of those other franchises. So even if most people did want to see so many main characters on screen at the same time, in a few years, when the rights are gained by Marvel Studios, all of them could be in one movie. Conceivably.
Excelsior!
By scifi at 9:13 AM ON 06/27/09
Does anyone remenber the Captain America movie that was made in the 1990"s?
By kebgd at 9:34 AM ON 06/27/09
I Hope the movie is more like the original comic book and not the Ultimate series. The Avengers should not be a part of SHEILD.
By prmoon at 10:38 AM ON 06/27/09
In responce to the fear that Kenneth Branagh would have Thor reciting Shakespeare remember the marvel version of Thor spoke in old english, so he may be the apropriate director.
By xax66 at 6:03 PM ON 06/27/09
Hulk was one of the main reasons the Avengers got together in the first place because of Loki tricking them to fight each other and don't forget about the Wasp, she was part of the first team.
By esalkin at 7:19 PM ON 06/27/09
I hope they don't go PC on Captian America for fear of loosing profits overseas. The countries that might be offended don't pay for movies they bootleg them.
By lindyxmjh at 1:31 AM ON 06/28/09
siralot, did you already forget so soon that Robert Downey Jr. made a cameo appearance in the Incredible Hulk movie as Tony Stark?
Marvel is doing a better job of controlling the movie rights to its properties now.
By pDUB at 11:32 PM ON 06/29/09
Kenneth Branagh already said that he was not going to have thor speaking in shakespearean or whatever.
oh and
VISION.
By Spideywulf at 9:42 PM ON 07/05/09
Siralot,you should do more research before making a comment like that.
Marvel will put all those characters in the same movie and they are doing ALOT better job in controlling thier characters than DC ever could.
By coolman at 6:24 AM ON 07/17/09
first they are making captain america movie witch is set in ww2 and i would like to see red skull in it and wolverine and sabretooth to help cap because they were in the war. after caps movie then comes the avengers and my team would be captain america,thor,iron man,nick fury,spiderman,black widow and wolverine. And I heard the avengers will be hunting the hulk!
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coolman:
first they are making captain america movie witch is set in ww2 and i would like to see red skull in it and wolveri...More »