UPDATE 2/9: The Avengers (movie)

[ckal]

UPDATE 2/9:

RUMOR DEBUNKED?: IGN Movies is now claiming that a Marvel spokesman contacted IGN and let them know that "this particular press release is a fabrication."

RUMOR: According to a source which reported this info to Big Shiny Robot, a portion (could be a small piece) of 'The Avengers' will be filming in NYC. While they are there, the actors listed in the quote below will be available for meeting and pictures.

Also, will Quasar be in 'The Avengers'? SHIELD Agent Wendall Vaughan (aka Quasar) is listed as being played by Kevin Pennington, and among the actors who will be available to meet and take pictures with. If this is true, he may not appear in his super hero form in the movie, but just as a SHIELD Agent before he gets the Nega Bands. In the Ultimate Universe, Wendall Vaughan was a SHIELD agent, and the head of security for Project Pegasus.

S.H.I.E.L.D. invites you to join the AVENGERS initiative

Meet the cast of S.H.I.E.L.D. and join the Avengers initiative! Marvel Studios to announce an S.H.I.E.L.D. Assembly in New York City for spring 2011. During principal filming, S.H.I.E.L.D. will be out in full force in NYC to recruit and find new members. Cast members on hand include Samuel L. Jackson (Director Nick Fury), Clark Gregg (Agent Phil Coulson), Cobie Smulders (Agent Maria Hill) and Kevin Pennington (Agent Wendell Vaughn). Fans will get the chance to meet the stars and get their photograph taken with them at the event.

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Will Loki appear in the Avengers? There have been talks and hints about it for a long time, and it was looking like that would actually happen (which should appease most fans). According to the same article at Deadline which reported Cobie Smulders being the front runner for Maria Hill, it stated that Loki will be back as Loki in the Avengers. Could they simply have made a mistake, or do they know something we don't know? It hasn't been announced officially yet, so it is not set in stone. Check out the quote:

The Avengers will be released by Disney May 4, 2012, and it shapes up as the equivalent of a superhero All Star game written and directed by a filmmaker beloved by the geek crowd. Robert Downey Jr brings his Iron Man character, Jeremy Renner is Hawkeye, Scarlett Johansson is Black Widow, Chris Hemsworth is Thor, Mark Ruffalo is Bruce Banner/The Hulk, and Chris Evans is Captain America. Tom Hiddleston is Loki and Clark Gregg reprises the role of SHIELD agent Phil Coulson that he played in the last Iron Man.

Deadline is reporting that Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) is the front runner for the role of Maria Hill in The Avengers. This deal could be done as soon as this weekend.



The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that the actresses being considered for the role of Nick Fury's female side-kick in 'The Avengers' are the four following names: Morena Baccarin, Jessica Lucas, Cobie Smulders and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.



Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury) let slip some details on 'The Avengers' on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show. He said that he will soon be screen testing with some actresses for the role of Nick Fury's side-kick.

Jackson also stated that he was asked to film some scenes for Captain America: The First Avenger, as well as Thor. It seems that these would either be minor, or after credit scenes.
--CSiCON

[ckal]

UPDATE 2/5: Cobie Smulders front runner for role of Maria Hill

[Erik-El]

Cool. Thanks ckal.

[Erik-El]

Morena Baccarin is my favorite but only because I already know that she looks the part.

[ckal]

How would you feel about Morena Baccarin playing the Wasp?

[Erik-El]

That could also work. I think she would fit in both roles actually. Well, as far as appearance anyway. I am not familiar with her acting chops.

[ckal]

I'm not familiar with her work either, but she has worked with Joss Whedon on multiple occasions.

[Admin]

I can't really say I care at all for the addition of Mariah Hill, since Clark Gregg's character appeared to already have virtually the same role.

[ckal]

Feb 5, 2011 22:35:19 GMT -5 Admin said:

I can't really say I care at all for the addition of Mariah Hill, since Clark Gregg's character appeared to already have virtually the same role.

Agreed. But Marvel realizes this movie is a literal sausage fest and needs some female addition to the equation. There's been talk about it for a while, and originally it was thought they would be including a female super hero. But honestly, who really knows what they are going to do.

[Admin]

They could have just included Black Widow. ;D

[ckal]

Black Widow is going to be one of the members of the Avengers. I should have said aside from her. Even if "Wasp" doesn't appear, I have a good feeling that Janet Van Dyne will still make an appearance. I don't have a problem with the male-female ratio because let's face it, that's the way it usually is. I don't think most fans would have in issue with it.

The only other female super hero I would mind seeing in addition to Black Widow would be Ms. Marvel. But now its over crowded, and you don't want to be introducing characters in the Avengers that will take some time to explain. Hawkeye for example will be easy: SHIELD agent, best marksman in the world, boom, done. Ms. Marvel: Ehhhh this is gonna take a while.

[Admin]

"I don't have a problem with the male-female ratio because let's face it, that's the way it usually is."
EXACTLY. You don't force a character just to meet a quota.
"Wait, there's only one black character? Quickly! Add Luke Cage and Falcon!"
"Oh God, there's NO native Americas? Write in Warpath, quickly!"

I just don't see her as a requirement since Clark's character appears to be directly under Fury, but whatever, I doubt adding her will really harm or add to the movie, TBH.

[ckal]

Before Nick Fury's female side-kick role was revealed to be Maria Hill, it was said that the only scenes they would be filming would only involve her and Nick Fury. So I've got to imagine its a small role just to add more female presence because like you said, Agent Coulson seems to have been filling her role so far.

A writer at Latino Review, "Elmayimbe" updated his twitter a little while ago with this:

"I been tracking the female sidekick role in Avengers for months. Its not The Wasp. They are going to cast an unknown...no name actress. All of her scenes are only with Sam Jackson, which leads me to believe the female sidekick is one of shields administrative characters. They were looking at Asian and white girls. Sam Jackson DID NOT want an african american sidekick. There is an unknown actress who had callbacks that Joss liked. Calm down folks, it aint gonna be action heroine type role. The breakdown said administrative. Sam Jackson blew my cover."

[Admin]

So, in short, definitely Mariah Hill...And just there to function as Nick Fury's administrative assistant

[Erik-El]

To be honest, I got the feel that Black Widow kind of doubled in that role as well as a field operative.

[jakefury]

Ehhhhh....any random hot chick can just stand there and do nothing.

[ckal]

She's the Pepper Pots to Nick Fury.

[ckal]

UPDATE 2/6: The Avengers (movie)--Could Loki be in the Avengers?--

[Admin]

There's always been the rumor of Loki controlling Hulk in an attempt to replicate the plot from 'Ultimates' but I'd prefer a new villain instead of re-using Loki from Thor.

[Erik-El]

Loki had his hand in the first issue of the Avenger if I remember right. He framed Hulk for destroying a train. They retconned it so that Hulk was attacking Loki in the Avengers Origin trade.