A press junket on the set of Iron Man 2 allowed some media to corner Marvel Studios Producer Kevin Feige to ask him about the future of some Marvel Films projects.
In it they talk mostly about Avengers, which is dominating the Marvel pens for the next few years. We discover that Feige wants the Hulk in Avengers, Will Smith could be Captain America, and Thor will take place mostly in modern Earth.
The Avengers: Screenwriter Zak Penn won’t start writing his outline for the film until next week, but Feige would like to see The Hulk as part of the team. Feige says that The Avengers “is about saving the world” and the film will have “a different tone than the other Marvel movies,” “the scope and the scale will feel like a much bigger thing,” “a much more massive global feel to it.” The threat will “be big,” “something that no single hero can handle.” The budget will probably be bigger as well. I personally think it would be stupid not to feature the Incredible Hulk in the Avengers movie, its just a question of making it work with the prior film(s) and Edward Norton.
The First Avenger: Captain America: The film officially goes into preproduction in October 2009, with production scheduled to begin on June 28th 2010. The movie will probably feature more international locations and actors than any other Marvel movie. In casting the Captain, Feige says that “international appeal” is something that Marvel will have to take into account, but admits that “there are only a handful of stars that mean anything here much less overseas.” Later when someone brought up Will Smith, Feige responded, “I think Will Smith is probably one of those handful of international stars.” Also, the rumored “Truth” storyline from the comics isn’t likely to be incorporated into The First Avenger movie, but possibly in future sequels. Will Smith as Captain America? I really hope not.
Thor: Donald Blake won’t appear, but the film will take place more on contemporary Earth than Viking times. This makes me more interested in the project, since I’m not usually entertained in fantasy sword and sandel type films. Feige describes the movie as “very much a Marvel superhero movie” but admits that “the movie audience it’s going to expand that definition more and more.” On casting Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Feige says “It was like, ‘There’s no question that this is our guy.’”
First, The Hulk. I can’t agree more. The Avengers could really benefit from the Hulk in the film. I hope as the “threat” he mentions. After introducing the characters in their own films and then tying them all together like this I want to see a real story that can still lend to big action and a real pending threat. World War Hulk sold me on the Hulk after decades of just discarding the character. Something of that flavour with the Avengers as the only way to stop him would be awesome.
Next is Captain America. Will Smith? I don’t care about anything else he said after he suggests that Will Smith is a contender for the Captain. You know that is going to be all anyone cared about on that subject. Historically Captain America is going to start out in World War 2, in which there were black soldiers. Culturally it could fit that a negro soldier would get volunteered for the Super Soldier serum. I can see this working out if they handle it correctly. It would be interesting to see Smith play an action star that is more military honed responsibility than cocky attitude. I just don’t see it actually coming to pass. I kind of hope it does.
Lastly Thor. I find it interesting that they would take on the Thor character without Donald Blake. Blake was the mortal who, after touching Mjolnir (Thor’s Hammer) becomes the physical host of the God. But Blake only serves as a host to the Mighty Thor and not an alternate identity. The two are separate, switching out when the other exists. It looks like they are not going to complicate the character with this mortal. Also it makes sense that they would want to ground the character in a modern earth since that is where he will be spending all of the Avengers movie.
Sounds like the plan is rolling along as scheduled, and things are shaping up with just enough to keep us guessing.
Avengers Assemble indeed.
