Avengers: Age of Ultron, is about to open in theaters everywhere on May 1st, therefore officially kicking off the Summer Blockbuster Season with a bang. A couple weeks ago, writer/director Joss Whedon, producer Kevin Feige, and the Avengers cast: Robert Downey Jr (“Iron Man”), Scarlett Johansson (“Black Widow”), Chris Evans (“Captain America”), Chris Hemsworth (“Thor”), Mark Ruffalo (“The Hulk”), Jeremy Renner (“Hawkeye”), Cobie Smulders (“Maria Hill”), Aaron Taylor Johnson (“Quicksilver”), Elizabeth Olsen (“Scarlett Witch”), James Spader (“Ultron”), Paul Bettany (“Vision”), assembled at the Main Theater on the Walt Disney Studios Lot in Burbank, CA.
While the bulk of the interview was massively cut, we got to preview the final Ant-Man trailer, got a few great responses, and got to watch a bit of the bromance going on between the Chris’, RDJ and Renner as they kept stifling laughs and murmuring to each other during the conference. Now I’d love to just sit in a room and chat with those guys all day.
Here are the 5 Things To Know About Avengers: Age of Ultron
Kevin Feige on the creation and the evolution of the Marvel Universe on film:
“Well, it’s been great, of course. Back then, I said ‘maybe we’ll introduce all the different characters and put them together.’ The minute that happened, the world sort of got it. It’s daunting now, though, because the expectations before didn’t exist. Now the expectations are crushingly overwhelming. But it’s incredible, to look down the line and the table keeps getting bigger and bigger. It’s the greatest ensemble ever assembled in cinematic history.”
James Spader on becoming the villain, Ultron
“I really don’t have any idea what was happening at all, it happened very quickly…but I will say this, that I arrived in London and within the first half hour they put a suit [on me], they put on all this gear and I’d gone through a range of motion. And then, within 15 minutes, I was watching me walk around a big room, moving and doing this and that and everything else, and watching Ultron, or at least a formative stage of Ultron, on a monitor in front of me. The next day I was on the set shooting a scene with Scarlett. So, really that pace was what it was through the entire project. Luckily I’d had some conversations with Joss and one fantastic meal with a whole bunch of wine to figure out who this guy was.”
Scarlett Johansson on Black Widow’s story and possible future
“At the end of ‘Avengers 2,’ I think Widow [has] let her guard down. She was hopeful for something. I think she had this moment of false hope where she kind of felt like she kind of put in the work and there should be some kind of personal payoff,” Johansson says. “She was ready to accept it and she realizes that her calling is a greater one and that’s not necessarily something that she’s thrilled about. But, that’s kind of what is most heroic about her is that she’s accepting the call of duty, even at her own personal loss. I think it’s an interesting place to kind of leave her there, because there’s many different directions to go. I mean, is she going to be able to withstand this huge weight that’s bearing down on her or is she going to crack under it, and sort of crumble?”
Joss Whedon on what the most difficult task was in writing/directing Avengers: Age of Ultron
“It’s just making sure that everybody’s got their moment, that everybody’s got their through-line, that it’s connected to the movie. I have all these people. I love all these people. They’re extraordinary. But making sure that they’re not just all being served all within the same narrative structure [and] that they’re in the same movie [and] that it’s all connected to the main theme. At some point during the editing process, I could not have told you who they were, who I was [or] what movie I was making, I got so lost in it. But, I think it all came together, and it’s just about making these guys look good, which takes a long time.”
So just FYI- this is Jeremy Renner’s movie (kinda). We see Hawkeye a lot more, and he has quite the story. Jeremy talk about exploring this side of Hawkeye.
I speak in this movie – which is awesome. I got a part in the team – which is awesome. I dive into some really killer aspects. I understood Hawkeye in the sense of he’s a human with a high skill set, so I can tap into that. I feel like I got to explore a little more of that – even outside the skill set. That was really, really endearing and thoughtful sort of secret that he had. I’m excited to see where that goes.
Oh and… Robert Downey Jr and I had a moment…
And…maybe my boo Chris Hemsworth was like… dude, she’s mine, back off.
Oh boys… we can share! Ha!
Avengers: Age of Ultron opens on May 1st and is rated PG-13.
