6.14.11 Roundup: AVENGERS
Hey, true believers! We have the latest word on all things AVENGERS. Let’s dive in:
Downey’s Down with it:
At the Hero Complex Film Festival, Robert Downey, Jr. shared just how impressed he is with the way THE AVENGERS is coming together, after his initial skepticism. After about six weeks, he had this to say:
“…we’re about 6 weeks in and I gotta say Joss Whedon is nailing it. He’s so smart and he’s so good and it’s going to be great. I can’t believe I just said it, I never could have believed it. It’s going to be great.”
Downey also mentioned that Jon Favreau is in talks with Marvel to reprise his role as Happy Hogan. Although it’s not official that the character is in IRON MAN 3, Downey’s remarks seem to indicate that it’s at least being discussed.
Favreau joked that he’s “the Scottie Pippen of directors”, claiming that directors that work with him usually are the ones that win award nominations. He also revealed that the Nick Fury cameo at the end of the first IRON MAN movie was a gag suggested by an ILM artist. The consequences, of course, have been felt throughout the other Marvel films.
[More at the Daily BLAM] [More at IndieWire]
Marvel Licensing:
Marvel also is prepping for the Licensing International Expo in Vegas, positioning THE AVENGERS as an umbrella property within which there will be plenty of opportunities for merchandising deals in what they’re calling the “Avengers Assemble Initiative” that will carry through at least 2013.
The Expo is also where the first promotional poster rolled out. It features the main group, and gives us the first look at the costumes that will be worn by Captain America and Hawkeye.
THE AVENGERS is scheduled to open in the US May 4, 2012.
