Awesome 'AVENGERS' Poster From Artist Tyler Stout

Overall Glowing Reactions To 'AVENGERS' Premiere

The Avengers has it's World Premiere last night in Hollywood and it looks like they have a giant hit on their hands (critically as well as financially). You may notice that this screening is more than two weeks before it's North American release date which seems to show off the confidence Marvel and Disney have. That confidence is backed up with glowing reactions from those who attended the event. Below are a few reaction Tweets and a posting from attendees of the premiere. Overall it seems like the first outright Marvel/Disney collaboration is a smashing success.

Ed Brubaker comic book writer (notably Captain America/Daredevil): "Avengers was awesome. Felt like Joss Whedon in all the right ways while still feeling like the best of Marvel. It's going to be really huge."

Edgar Wright director of Scott Pilgrim/Hot Fuzz: "The Avengers' is a big tub of popcorn heaven. A huge grin on my face throughout and much applause from the crowd too. Well done Mr. Whedon."


Damon Lindelof writer of Lost, Star Trek 2 and Prometheus: "The Hulk we have been waiting for has at last arrived. #AvengersFuckYeah"


Frosty from Collider.com:  "Absolutely loved THE AVENGERS. Was smiling from beginning to end. If you're a Marvel fan you're going to lose your shit in the theater."

Josh Dickey from Variety (normally very critical) : "My god Joss Whedon is going to be breathtakingly rich."

Peter from SlashFilm.com: "The Avengers is pretty epic. There is probably more action in this film's climax than all the other Marvel movie combines!"

Devin from BadassDigest.com (also very critical) : "AVENGERS is good enough to make me forgive IRON MAN 2."


Galactus from ComicBookMovie.com:  - For those who were worried about Joss Whedon helming this movie... You have been proven complete and total idiots. 


 - For those concerned that the large cast of characters would prove too much for one movie... NOT a problem. 


 - For those who think that underpowered Black Widow and Hawkeye would be underused and have smaller roles... Not so. 


 - For those worried that all the trailers, clips and commercials have shown all the good parts already... They didn't even scratch the surface. 


 - For those who don't believe THE AVENGERS will be THE comic book movie of the year... TDKR and Amazing Spider-Man will have to be surprisingly special to take the title.

Natalie Portman & Stellan Skarsgård Confirmed For Avengers

It looks like there will be more cross-pollinating in the Marvel universe. BadTaste has word from Chris Hemsworth that Natalie Portman will be returning as Jane Foster in The Avengers. It was also recently mentioned by Stellan Skarsgård himself that he would be reprising his role of Professor Erik Selvig in the film as well. They join an already impressive cast that includes Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Clark Gregg and Cobie Smulders.

This news makes me wonder if Pepper Potts and Rhodey/War Machine will eventually show up in the film as well. As both Don Cheadle and Gwyneth Paltrow have given the impression neither had been approached and will stay in the Iron Man films.

FIRST LOOK: Jeremy Renner As Hawkeye In Thor

While some may assume this a spoiler we don't get a great look at his face and it's expected Clint Barton (Hawkeye) played by Jeremy Renner actually has a larger role in Thor than was previously expected.

RUMOR: Yvonne Strahovski Playing Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel) In Avengers

ComicBookMovie is reporting a rumor from a fansite of Chuck actress Yvonne Strahovski that she has been cast as SHIELD agent Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel) in The Avengers. Danvers is SHIELD agent/pilot and is exposed to otherworldly radiation giving her the powers of a Kree warrior (flight, super-strength).

It's unlikely this is true as it's not coming from a proven source but it is possible. Since How I Met Your Mother's Cobie Smudlers is a frontrunner for Maria Hill means they could be looking for lesser known names to fill supporting roles. I assume they've spent a majority of their budget on the leading actors along with production costs. Supporting roles would be big breaks for up and coming actors. I imagine they would be signing multi-picture deals similar to ones Sam Jackson and Scarlett Johansson have made.

There have been Marvel connections to Chuck before. Zachary Levi who portrays Chuck was linked for both Fendral (Thor) and Bucky (Captain America). I expect that Levi will end up in a Marvel role eventually. Josh Schwartz who writes for the show helped develop the script for X-Men First Class with Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz. Miller and Stentz worked on the Thor screenplay for Marvel Studios.

Avengers Bringing In Another Heroine?

While recent Avengers rumors have been debunked a new one coming from HollywoodReporter seems a bit more reasonable. They say that Marvel Studios is looking to add another actress to balance the mostly male cast. It's interesting they mention it could be Wasp who had been mentioned over a year ago. Yet it could also be Scarlet Witch who was going be featured in Iron Man 2. Witch was cut out out the film when Emily Blunt left the role of Black Widow and was filled by Scarlett Johansson. Director Jon Favreau stated in an interview with Wizard Magazine Johansson was originally lined up for Scarlett Witch.

 Of course this could also mean a slew other female characters could come into play. These could include Maria Hill, Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel), Mockingbird (Hawkeye's partner), Sharon Carter and Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman). 

Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye To Have Cameo In Thor

There had been word from Jeremy Renner (Hurt Locker, The Town) back in 2009 when he spoke to Empire that his character Hawkeye could appear in Thor. Now TheWrap reports that someone has seen an early cut of Thor and confirms that Hawkeye indeed is in the film. Nick Fury on the other hand who had been attached to early cast listings of Thor is not.

While they don't mention the extent of Clint Barton's involvement in the film. It's expected the cameo could be similar to apperances made by Nick Fury, Agent Coulson and Black Widow in previous films. It would be sort of an introduction to the archer before The Avengers in 2012 which is very smart on the studio's part. The less time spent explaining new characters in Avengers the better.

MARVEL UPDATES: Jon Favreau Not Directing Iron Man 3 & Pepper Not In Avengers

Vulture has learned that Jon Favreau has passed on directing Iron Man 3 for Marvel Studios. The site claims that Jon was frustrated over the studios' insistence to cram more of their heroes into the next film. One of the biggest hindrance of Iron Man 2 was the fact audiences has to endure over saturation of Marvel Easter eggs. From the pointless Captain America shield scene to the one to many Nick Fury appearances. While I doubt Iron Man 2 will be his last Marvel property I do expect him never to do another Iron Man. Of course this has yet to be confirmed by either Marvel/Disney or the director himself.

Jon is now branching out his genre brush with Cowboys & Aliens mixing science fiction with the classic western.  I'd love to see Jon tackle some hybrid Marvel heroes like Iron Fist, Black Panther and even Dr. Strange in the future. Now that Iron Man 3 is without a director I'm curious if they'll still be aiming for the May 2013 release date.

As expected Gwyneth Paltrow has confirmed that her character Pepper Potts will not be appearing in The Avengers. It's been mentioned previously that neither Jim Rhodes (War Machine) or Pepper Potts would be included in the Avengers films. Making perfect sense as not to over crowd the budding new franchise and to leave the Iron Man films somewhat separate.