Avenge This!
Spring 2012, and The Avengers - or, in the UK, Avengers Assemble - is released to huge critical and commercial success. By the end of the year, it has pipped The Dark Knight Rises to become 2012's biggest box-office hit, earning $1.5 billion worldwide.
The closing credits hint at a sequel involving alien warlord Thanos, but there's a long way to go before The Avengers 2 is released...
Phase 2
Flashback to October 2011. While Joss Whedon was immersed in post-production on The Avengers , Marvel producer Kevin Feige announced the studio's future plans at New York Comic-Con. Specifically, he confirmed that Iron Man 3 "will be the first of what we sort of refer to as phase two of this...saga that will culminate, God willing, in Avengers 2 ."
The full line-up consists of Iron Man 3 , Thor: The Dark World , Captain America: The Winter Soldier , Guardians Of The Galaxy and The Avengers 2 .
Risky Business
While the success of The Avengers has made Phase 2 an easier proposition, Marvel was already prepared to take risks, as Feige explained to Moviefone in September. "It just solidifies the notion that for Phase 2, play the long game, stick with what you believe in, and when there is a fork in the road and one seems safer and maybe a little boring, and one seems risky and harder, we always go the risky and harder way.
"That’s what people will see in Iron Man 3 , Thor: The Dark World , Captain America: Winter Soldier and certainly in Guardians Of The Galaxy , which is one of the ones that I’m most excited about because it’s so outside the box and so weird and so different. People like grand experiments and things that haven’t been done before, the unexpected," Feige added.
Back In The Suit
First up is Iron Man 3 which hits most cinemas worldwide from 25 April 2013. Robert Downey Jr. is back in the suit as Tony Stark, joined once again by Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts and Don Cheadle as James Rhodes
Behind the scenes, the film (alongside The Avengers ) marks a transition for Marvel from previous distributor Paramount to new owner Disney, with the latter agreeing to pay Paramount at least $115 million for the privilege of releasing the two films.
Favreau out, Black in
That's not the only change. Jon Favreau, director of the first two films, passed on the threequel (although he'll continue to play Tony Stark's assistant, Happy Hogan). He confirmed on Twitter that, "It's true, I'm directing Magic Kingdom , not Iron Man 3 . I've had a great run with Marvel and wish them the best," wrote Favreau.
That paved the way for Shane Black to take on the double-duties of writer and director, reuniting with his Kiss Kiss Bang Bang star Robert Downey Jr.
Clancy Replaces Clanging
Ain't It Cool News reported that Black's approach is very different in tone from the first two Iron Man films. Speaking at the Omaha Film Festival, Black explained that - in Ain't It Cool's words - "The studio was not happy with the direction Iron Man 2 took.
" Iron Man 3 will not be another 'two men in iron suits fighting each other' film. Instead, it will be more like a Tom Clancy-thriller, with Iron Man fighting real world villains," Black advised.
Without A S.H.I.E.L.D.
Likewise, Stark doesn't end up calling on his Avengers buddies. Feige told Collider in April 2012: "the gut instinct on the next phase and Phase 2 is to not have Iron Man 3 be a pseudo- Avengers 2 … Iron Man 3 is a full-on Tony Stark-centric movie."
Expanding on this point, he explained that Stark is "stripped of everything, he’s backed up against a wall, and he’s gotta use his intelligence to get out of it. He can’t call Thor, he can’t call Cap, he can’t call Nick Fury, and he can’t look for the Helicarrier in the sky."
Enter The Mandarin
The first major casting coup arrived with the announcement that Sir Ben Kingsley would play the film's primary antagonist, The Mandarin.
According to Marvel comic lore, this Chinese villain is not only highly trained in science and combat, but has extra-terrestrial tech at his disposal in the form of ten rings he discovered in a crashed spaceship.
However, Kevin Feige has confirmed that the movie interpretation will have no magic rings or technological doo-das. Instead, he's a terrorist fashioned more from the countless iconographies of other cultures' evil warlords.
And if you've seen the movie already? Let's just say it's fair to say that he's not what you're expecting.
Deadly Duo
The next major casting news saw Guy Pearce and Rebecca Hall cast, respectively, as scientists Aldrich Killian and Dr Maya Hansen. Speaking about their roles, Pearce said, "I just think the films have a fun, joyful sort of quality about them. I've just enjoyed them. So I just felt like I wanted to be a part of this."
Meanwhile Hall told Entertainment Today that, "I decided to do Iron Man 3 because I've never done the 'Hurry Up And Wait' movie before. Even the studio movies I've done have been small studio movies, or indie films that we made on a wing and a prayer. I love those, but Iron Man is refreshing in a way because it's something out of my realm of experiences."
In Extremis
The names of Pearce and Hall's characters alerted aficionados to the fact that Iron Man 3 would be at least partially adapted from the acclaimed comic book arc, Extremis .
Published in 2005-6 and already an influence on Tony Stark's origins story in the first Iron Man film, the plot of Extremis revolves around a nanotechnology serum created by Aldrich Killian and Maya Hansen that transforms people into "super soldiers."
Iron Man 3 - In Summary
Director: Shane Black.
Writers: Drew Pearce & Shane Black.
Cast: Robert Downey, Jr; Gwyneth Paltrow; Don Cheadle; Ben Kingsley; Guy Pearce; Rebecca Hall.
Released: Out Now
Into The Dark World
Following Iron Man 3 , the next installment of Marvel Phase 2 will be Thor: The Dark World , released in October 2013.
As promised by Kevin Feige in 2011 to Disney magazine, "Thor will go off into a new adventure," which sees Chris Hemsworth as the titular Asgardian tussling again with The Avengers ' big bad Loki (Hiddleston) and reuniting with Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and Dr Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard), even as he faces a new threat.
Trouble Ahead
The official synopsis was released by Marvel in October, promising that "Thor battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself.... but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all."
In Marvel lore, Malekith the Accursed is the ruler of the Dark Elves of Svartálfar, a race who - like the Gods of Asgardia - are a sci-fi spin on Norse mythology. In August, it was confirmed that one-time Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston would play the evil elf, after Mads Mikkelsen dropped out.
Putting The 'Nah' In Branagh
One person not returning for the sequel is director Kenneth Branagh, who bowed out - according to the Los Angeles Times - due to the time pressures of script and visual effects development, which clashed with his commitments to starring in Wallander and working with his own theatre in Belfast.
Chris Hemsworth admitted his disappointment: "I learned so much from Ken while we built [ the first film ], so at least I had that time with someone like that. The start of anything creative is the most important period in a way. That’s when the most can go wrong, and Ken made sure we got it right.”
Taylor Made
The search for Branagh's replacement continued to the end of 2011, with Brian Kirk (a British TV director lately working for HBO on Game Of Thrones ) and Patty Jenkins ( Monster ) in the running.
When Marvel parted company with Jenkins due to "creative differences" (something that Natalie Portman wasn't happy about, according to The Hollywood Reporter ) it was announced that Alan Taylor - another Game Of Thrones alumnus, who also directed the first episodes of Mad Men - had got the gig.
Norsing About
The interest in recruiting from Game Of Thrones served notice of a possible new aesthetic, confirmed by Chris Hemsworth to Slash Film . "I think that is what’s exciting about the second one: making it sort of more tangible and having a more organic feel to Asgard and that world.. I think of big waterfalls and mountains and a Viking influence... Having that in Asgard is going to make it all the more special and that’s what Alan wants to bring to it."
Meanwhile, Kevin Feige teased extra details in an interview with Collider . "What’s been going on in the nine realms without the Asgardians being able to use the Bifrost? I will just say it’s not good."
Love Affair
One of the dangling threads left from the first film that there wasn't room to explore in The Avengers was Thor's relationship with Jane Foster. Kevin Feige told Collider that The Dark World will remedy this.
"Really they were only together for three days, and do they love each other? Do they like each other? Do they know each other? We’re acknowledging that that love story in the first movie was sort of a quick crush, essentially, over the course of three quick days in the middle of the desert."
Loki And Learn
What about Loki? Tom Hiddleston told MTV News that, after the events of The Avengers , "he’ll have to take responsibility for what he’s done" in the Thor sequel.
With Malekith in place as a new threat, is there the possibility of a fresh start for Loki? "I for one am championing the redemption," stated Hiddleston, adding, "This isn’t definitely going to happen, but I think there would be nothing more awesome than seeing Loki and Thor fight somebody side by side."
Trailer Breakdown
The first trailer for Thor: The Dark World dazzles with an array of teasing moments. Luckily, we're on hand to decipher the fanboy clues amidst the bombastic chaos.
Just give our Trailer Breakdown a read, for a host of questions raised, and answers given.
Thor: The Dark World - In Summary
Director: Alan Taylor.
Writers: Christopher Yost, Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, based on a story by Don Payne.
Cast: Chris Hemsworth; Natalie Portman; Tom Hiddleston; Anthony Hopkins; Stellan Skarsgård; Christopher Eccleston.
Released: 8th November, 2013.
Winter Wonderland
Chris Evans will return as Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, in April 2014 for Captain America: The Winter Soldier .
The title was revealed at the 2012 Comic-Con, confirming that the story will likely be an adaptation of the acclaimed comic arc where Cap's old war buddy Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) has been brainwashed into becoming the Soviet agent of the title.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Returns
Evans and Stan won't be the only returning cast members, as Marvel is set to use The Winter Soldier to bring back S.H.I.E.L.D. from the sidelines after sitting out Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World .
It was confirmed in Variety in June 2012 that Samuel L. Jackson will reprise his role of Nick Fury, with Scarlett Johansson and Cobie Smulders also set to return as Black Widow and Maria Hill, respectively. As Kevin Feige pointed out to Collider , "Tony goes back to Malibu, Thor goes back to Asgard, but there are a number of people who stay in S.H.I.E.L.D. Steve, for the time being, is going to be one of them."
The Modern Age
Much of the drama in Steve Rogers' story will come from the frozen WW2 hero navigating his way around the 21st Century, something that The Avengers only touched on slightly. The sequel will likely capitalise on a scene cut from Whedon's film, in which Steve searches for information on long-deceased friends.
Evans confirmed to Collider that "it is him trying to on a personal level adjust to the fact that everyone he knows is gone and the whole Peggy Carter of it all. There are a lot of things that he kind of has to come to terms with."
New Directors
One of the defining characteristics of Marvel Phase 2 thus far is that each hero has a new director. Accordingly, Captain America: The First Avenger 's helmer, Joe Johnston, isn't in the running. A shortlist of potential replacements was reported as being down to The Adjustment Bureau 's George Nolfi, The Italian Job 's F. Gary Gray and Community 's lead directors Anthony and Joe Russo.
By June 2012, Variety was reporting that the latter were in final negotiations, and then they were officially locked in. With their background in comedy, the appointment of the Russo brother suggests that the light-hearted style of The First Avenger will remain intact. Although that said...
Tom Clancy Inspiration
Yet while it'll likely be a shade lighter than the other Marvel movies, Kevin Feige's teased some interesting points about a shift in tone and genre, suggesting a story that'll mix up the story so far.
“What’s exciting to me about [Captain America 2] - sort of about Iron Man 3 too if you look at it - is it’s tonally almost like a different genre. Shane Black’s described Iron Man 3 as a Tom Clancy sort of political thriller, which I like a lot. We hired our directors on Cap because they loved our explanation that we really want to make a ’70s political thriller masquerading as a big superhero movie.”
The first released picture from the set, as seen above, certainly gives off a moody, darker vibe.
Mega Supporting Cast
The darker, more political tone certainly helps explain the addition of Hollywood veteran and critically acclaimed dramatic actor Robert Redford to the cast.
His addition back in April 2013 came with some ominous teasers about his place in the Marvel universe, and what drew him to the project.
"The Captain America thing is just a very simple thing I wanted to do something different," explains Redford. "I wanted to do something just to be different. Something bold, different."
"And that felt like a good thing to do," he continues. "That was it, nothing more to it than that. Well, it’s bold in terms of expectations, I guess."
He also went on to describe his character as "the head of S.H.I.E.L.D.", which is intriguing since Samuel L. Jackson is already on board as Nick Fury. Will Redford be playing an earlier incarnation of Fury (setting up the name as more of a cover identity than an actual person), or is he even higher up the chain then our favourite one-eyed badass?
Crossbones
The Winter Soldier himself won't be the only threat faced by Captain America. Variety confirmed in October 2012 that Warrior and End Of Watch actor Frank Grillo is to play the villainous Crossbones
In the comics, Crossbones is the alter ego of Brock Rumlow, a petty criminal who becomes a mercenary working for the Red Skull. So does that mean Hugo Weaving's fiendish mastermind will be back? Nothing definite is known as yet.
Comic Cameos
Another surprising addition came courtesy of UFC fighter Georges St-Pierre, who was cast as C-list comic villain Batroc the Leaper back in February 2013.
His main power is a speciality in savate, a form of kickboxing, but thanks to his garish purple costume and stereotypical French characterisation, he's been somewhat of a joke in the comics of late. The hiring of a genuine real-life fighting bad-ass suggests the movie could go down a different route.
Calling The Falcon
Alongside familiar faces from S.H.I.E.L.D., The Winter Soldier will see the big-screen debut of the Falcon, Marvel's first African-American superhero and Captain America's crime-fighting partner in the comics.
Variety reported in July 2012 that Anthony Mackie was the favourite for the role, becoming the second star of The Hurt Locker (after Jeremy Renner) to take a job with S.H.I.E.L.D.
Intriguingly, Mackie suggested things could've gone a whole other way before Chris Evans came aboard.
"I was offered Captain America," reveals Mackie. "It was just a straight offer. I met with the directors and the producers and talked to them and we were kind of on the same page about what it is we thought the character could be and they really were interested in my input and my ideas."
Lady Look
A huge number of actresses have been rumoured for Steve Rogers' modern-day love interest, including Brits Felicity Jones, Imogen Poots and Jessica Brown Findlay. But what of Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter? Nothing has been confirmed, but Marvel has been pondering the use of flashbacks to Rogers' previous life.
According to Kevin Feige in April 2012, "we’re still figuring that out. We love that cast, we love his dynamic with that cast and we want to see that again…the cast from the first movie; we want to see that again because I think it informs his character in a big way."
In February 2013, Emily VanCamp was confirmed for CA:TWS 's female lead.
Concept Art Explosion
In early April 2013, Marvel released a host of Phase 2 concept art, including the following snazzy shots.
Winter Soldier vs Cap Concept Art
If the actual fight scenes are even half as bad-ass as this, we're in for a treat.
First Glimpse at The Falcon
And it looks like they're going for a more robotic, Iron Man-inspired approach to his suit design.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier - In Summary
Directors: Anthony and Joseph Russo.
Writers: Stephen McFeely & Christopher Markus.
Cast: Chris Evans; Samuel L. Jackson; Scarlett Johansson; Cobie Smulders; Anthony Mackie.
Released: 4th April, 2014.
Into The Galaxy
Marvel's confidence in its back catalogue is strong enough now to make lesser-known properties part of its masterplan. Guardians Of The Galaxy will be released on 1 August, 2014, bringing together a rag-tag army of aliens and space adventurers to take Marvel Phase 2 into orbit.
The studio is promising a "big space epic," with Production Weekly quoting the plotline as revolving around "a U.S. pilot who ends up in space in the middle of a universal conflict and goes on the run with futuristic ex-cons who have something everyone wants.”
Aliens, Trees & Raccoons
The title was first published in 1969 and ran on and off until 1995, charting the adventures of a team of superheroes in the 31st Century.
A major rebranding took place in 2008 with the launch of the new Guardians Of The Galaxy , a team comprising previously stand-alone Marvel characters like Rocket Raccoon (a space-faring raccoon), Groot (a sentient tree creature) and Gamora (the alien adopted daughter of supervillain Thanos). Iron Man has also been one of the Guardians.
The Way Of The Gunn
In September, James Gunn - veteran screenwriter for Troma and director of cult hits Slither and Super - confirmed on his Facebook page that he will be director of Guardians Of The Galaxy .
"As a lifelong lover of Marvel comics, space epics, AND raccoons, this is the movie I’ve been waiting to make since I was nine years old. Kevin, Joss, and all the folks at Marvel have been amazing collaborators so far, and we’re committed to bringing you something majestic, beautiful, and unique."
Concept Art
Initial designs of the characters were debuted at Comic-Con 2012, showing how Drax The Destroyer, Groot, Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon and Gamora might look in the film.
The images were designed by Charlie Wen, who is credited on Marvel's last three films as "Visual Development Supervisor," which we think is a posh way of saying "concept artist."
Star Wars Inspiration
In April 2013, Marvel released even more concept art, with an epic scale and sweep (more on those to come). But we were noticeably intrigued and excited by this Star Wars cantina-ish look at the gang relaxing in a space bar.
Spaceships Agogo
Epic ships.
Concept Art Galore
More epic ships.
Planet-scapes
Epic planets.
Casting the Good Guys
The Internet rumour hotted up in November 2012 about the actors vying for the lead role of Peter Quinn, aka interplanetary policeman Star-Lord. Examiner reported that Joel Edgerton, Jim Sturgess, Jack Huston, Lee Pace and Eddie Redmayne were all screen-testing for the role.
Yet the coveted role went to Chris Pratt, an actor known primarily for his comedy work in Parks & Recreation , but who also had a minor role in Zero Dark Thirty .
And it appears James Gunn is a massive fan...
"I saw maybe 80 to 100 guys read for Peter Quill. I was very specific that I wanted it to be somebody really extraordinary," Gun explained. "I really had Robert Downey Jr. in mind a lot. You had this guy who came in and he inhabited Tony Stark, when you first saw Tony Stark he blew your mind, you couldn’t believe what you were seeing. I knew that I needed somebody to blow my mind like that."
Casting the Bad Guys
Michael Rooker - who appeared in both of Gunn's previous films - had originally expressed an interest in playing Rocket Raccoon, saying of Gunn, "he is a dynamite guy, and we have remained friends ever since we worked together on Slither ."
But he eventually won the role of Yondua, a blue-skinned alien warrior who could be a bad guy or good guy depending on your place in comic continuity.
The big bad, however, appears to have gone to Pushing Daisies ' Lee Pace.
Which is intriguing considering who we thought was in the frame for the movie's big villain...
Thanos Returns?
Cinemablend reported in September 2012 that the Guardians Of The Galaxy will likely be used as a major lead-in to the events of The Avengers 2 , with Thanos - the supervillain who made a cameo appearance in The Avengers ' post-credits tease - being the main antagonist of Gunn's film.
The rumour is currently unconfirmed, but suggests that the comic arc The Thanos Imperative , in which the Guardians battled with the titular alien, will provide the source material for the film.
Sexy Superheroes
What kind of superhero film is James Gunn likely to make? Well, there may be some indication in a blog that has recently resurfaced, titled "The 50 Superheroes You Most Want To Have Sex With," which the director wrote several years ago.
While Gunn has been forced to apologise for perceived sexist and homophobic comments in his post, it's a reminder that the director isn't noted for his good taste. With Super pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable in a superhero film, Guardians Of The Galaxy will likely be a highly irreverent - and possibly highly sexed - Marvel movie.
Guardians Of The Galaxy - In Summary
Director: James Gunn.
Writers: Nicole Perlman, Chris McCoy & James Gunn.
Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Michael Rooker, Lee Pace
Released: 1 August, 2014.
Home Viewing
So that's Marvel Phase 2 on the big screen… but cinemas aren't the only place where the studio has it going on. In August 2012, Marvel announced that Joss Whedon was developing a TV spin-off for ABC, which was confirmed soon after as being a pilot titled Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D .
According to Whedon, the idea is to keep things distinct from the movies. "What does S.H.I.E.L.D. have that the other superheroes don't? And that, to me, is that they're not superheroes, but they live in that universe. Even though they're a big organization, that [ lack of powers ] makes them underdogs, and that's interesting to me."
Yet when probed in April 2013, he conceded that the movie and TV worlds will co-exist.
“The S.H.I.E.L.D. show fits into the mythology of The Avengers remarkably well and they both complement each other. So it just seemed like a no-brainer – although it has required a lot of my brain to get it right.
"We have just finished shooting and I am excited. I think Marvel fans will appreciate what we have done.”
Back From The Dead
Casting was announced during the last few months of 2012, with a surprise name hired to top-line the pilot: Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson, last seen being speared to death by Loki in The Avengers .
Joss Whedon broke the news at New York Comic-Con in October, explaining that "From before we made The Avengers , we discussed whether there was a way for him to be a part of the Marvel Universe, perhaps a part of a TV show even after his death... He's headlining the S.H.I.E.L.D. show and always was."
Whedon Alumni Assemble
Unsurprisingly, Joss Whedon has roped in his TV alumni to star alongside Gregg.
Angel star J. August Richards will act in a currently unnamed role in the pilot - although fanboy speculation has already gone wild suggestion that he could potentially be bringing Blade back into the Marvel universe....
Avenge That!
But if Whedon is busy playing showrunner on the S.H.I.E.L.D. TV show, where does that leave The Avengers 2 ? Don't worry - he's doing both. Disney boss Bob Iger confirmed that "Joss Whedon has signed an exclusive deal with Marvel Studios for film and television through the end of June 2015," which will include the sequel to his box-office behemoth.
As for what the future holds, Whedon hinted to SFX what he'd like to do next time around. "[ It should be ] smaller. More personal. More painful. By being the next thing that should happen to these characters, and not just a rehash of what seemed to work the first time. By having a theme that is completely fresh and organic to itself."
London Bound
UK fans were super-excited to hear that The Avengers 2 will begin filming in early 2014, right in the heart of London.
Could Thor have wooed his fellow teammates over after his trip to The Big Smoke in The Dark World ?
Plot Hints
As of April 2013, Joss Whedon admitted that he had scribbled a first draft, but for obvious reasons plot details are still on mega lockdown.
He has, however, mentioned that he was looking to bring two of his favourite characters - a brother and sister duo - to the sequel. Could it be Magneto's children Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch - both bad guys turned good Avengers in the comics?
Not only that, but during press for Iron Man 3 , Don Cheadle teased that War Machine could have an increased presence in Avengers 2 .
“I know that [ there are ] conversations that have been happening, so we’ll see what happens,” says Cheadle. “If that’s able to happen and it makes sense for the story, I’m sure it’ll happen, and if not it’s fine. It has to work within the world and sort of the mythology of the whole Marvel universe.”
Phase 3 Begins with a Downsizing
The long process of bringing Ant-Man to the screen began as long ago as 2006, when rumours began to circulate at Comic-Con. Yet it won't arrive in cinemas until 6 November, 2015 - ensuring it'll kick-off Marvel's mega Phase 3.
So, what's taken so long? Marvel has bided its time, partly because Ant-Man is not one of the studio's most famous properties. The superhero debuted in 1962 as the moniker of Henry Pym, a scientist who developed a serum that allowed him to shrink to insect size, before a new Ant-Man - Scott Lang - adopted the identity in 1979.
The Wright Approach
One thing has remained constant during the film's long development - the attachment of director Edgar Wright. Back in 2007, as Hot Fuzz premiered in cinemas, Wright told IGN that " Ant-Man is in a bit of a holding pattern. We're figuring things out with the script and we haven't initiated casting. We still have quite a bit to do."
Fast-forward to 2010, and that was still the case, Wright explaining, "Because that character isn't one of their biggest properties, it’s not like a tentpole deadline. It’s more like me and Kevin [ Feige ] [ saying ], 'Let's make a really good script.'"
Avoiding Ant-ics
Given Wright's career, it would be easy to assume that Ant-Man will be a more comedic affair than other Marvel properties. Not so, claims Wright.
In 2008, the director revealed that, “It’s going to be less overtly comedic than anything else I’ve ever done. It’s more of a full-on action adventure sci-fi film but with a comedic element – in the same spirit of a lot of escapist fare like that. It’s certainly not a superhero spoof or pastiche and it certainly isn’t a sort of Honey I Shrunk The Kids endeavour at all.”
Attack The Script
As far back as 2006, Wright's co-writer on the project was Joe Cornish, aka 'Joe' from The Adam And Joe Show . At the time, he wasn't known in movie circles, and Wright had to explain to SuperHeroHype that "Joe is a very talented, multi-hyphenate. Joe is like a writer and director, and can we say that you're a comedian as well?"
Since then, Cornish has stamped his own identity on screen as writer/director of Attack The Block , and co-writer with Wright on Steven Spielberg's The Adventures Of Tintin .
Then And Now
The big question with any Ant-Man movie is whether it will adopt Henry Pym or Scott Lang as its hero. According to Wright, the plan is to involve both characters.
As he told SuperHeroHype , the "you actually do a prologue where you see Pym as Ant-Man in action in the '60s, in sort of 'Tales to Astonish' mode basically, and then the contemporary, sort of flash-forward, is Scott Lang's story, and how he comes to acquire the suit, how he crosses paths with Henry Pym, and then, in an interesting sort of Machiavellian way, teams up with him."
Stan The Man
With the film seemingly in endless development, Wright directed other films - first, 2010's Scott Pilgrim Vs The World and then the forthcoming The World's End . Yet Ant-Man continued to bubble away in the background.
In 2010, Stan Lee - Ant-Man 's creator - tweeted that, "I had lunch with the cool, young director Edgar Wright ( Shaun Of The Dead ) and, as you'd imagine, we had fun discussing the tiny hero."
Ant Avenger?
With the Marvel Universe increasingly tangled, many wondered if there would be a place for Ant-Man in The Avengers . Those rumours were scotched in 201, when Wright told Cinema Blend that, "my film is very much an introduction to that character, and so it wasn’t something where it felt right to introduce him in that film. Maybe if I do the solo Ant-Man film and maybe there’s a later Avengers then they could draft him in later. But it didn’t work with the kind of the angle that we were going to do with the origin that I’d written."
Testing, Testing
Speculation went wild when Wright teased an image via Twitter in May. All became clear at Comic-Con in June, when Wright shared test footage.
While still only at the pre-production stage, the footage below displays the director's kinetic pacing and wit with a sequence of Ant-Man launching an assault on a guarded door from the handy hiding place of a ventilation grille, and rapidly miniaturising before they can shoot him.
Testing, Testing
Speculation went wild when Wright teased an image via Twitter in May. All became clear at Comic-Con in June, when Wright shared test footage.
While still only at the pre-production stage, the footage below displays the director's kinetic pacing and wit with a sequence of Ant-Man launching an assault on a guarded door from the handy hiding place of a ventilation grille, and rapidly miniaturising before they can shoot him.
Ant-Man - In Summary
Director: Edgar Wright.
Writers: Edgar Wright & Joe Cornish.
Cast: To be confirmed.
Released: 6 November, 2015.
The Hulk Spin-Off
Considering Mark Ruffalo's brilliant, and commercially and critically acclaimed turn as The Hulk in Avengers Assemble, it's no surprise that chatter has begun regarding a possible solo outing.
Kevin Feige said back in September 2012 that he'd be keen.
"Do I think Hulk can carry a movie and be as entertaining as he was in Avengers ? I do believe that. I do believe he absolutely could. We certainly are not even going to attempt that until Avengers 2 . So there's a lot of time to think about it."
Latino Review ran with a story in early 2013 that suggested Avengers 2 will feature a post-credits scene that tees up a standalone Hulk movie that would tie in with the comics classic Planet Hulk story, in which everyone's green-eyed rage ball is flung in deepest, darkest space.
But Whedon pooh-pooed the idea just weeks later, telling IGN , "Well, I’m really not supposed to comment, but no, that’s nonsense."
