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It might've ended up as one of the biggest hits of the year, but director Joss Whedon and company had some big decisions to make during the development of The Avengers . How should the new characters look? What about the massive battle in downtown New York? Now, thanks to some early concept art, we know how Marvel's magnum opus evolved. Several pieces of concept art generated by artist Andy Park have been released online, many of which were featured in the recent book The Art of Marvel's The Avengers , and they reveal some of the earliest designs for characters like Hawkeye and Agent Maria Hill. It's interesting to see the tweaks made to the classic comic looks compared to how it ended up on screen. Some of the cooler pics are the designs for Thanos in space and the alien attack on Manhattan, both of which look fairly similar to what made it into the finished product. Park has released dozens of images on his official website , which is well worth a lo

Marvel films are notorious for their cameos. They were a major part of plotting their biggest film to date— The Avengers . Speaking of the superhero team, don't expect them to come to Tony Stark's rescue. In Iron Man 3 (aside from War Machine), he won't have any extra support. The Avengers experience had a major effect on Stark. According to Marvel chief Kevin Feige, the hero's world has been rocked. He tells Empire Magazine that he's a changed man. "By the end of Avengers, when a portal is opened up in Manhattan and he's met Thor and The Hulk and the Chitauri are coming down on him, he realises that he doesn't know everything; we think that has had an effect on his psyche, and then his world is blown out from underneath him. "Don't count on Stark's superhero peers to bail him out. They've got their own problems to deal with. Iron Man 3 will be light on surprise appearances. "Iron Man 3 doesn't feature any of the o

One of the nicest interviews and coolest guy I have met so far might be getting into the super hero film business. Though this remains one for the Rumor Files until the final decision is made, The Grey ’s Frank Grillo has hit Twitter to drop a hint that he has tested for a role in a Marvel film. He followed that up with one about Marvel fans with #bones and then radio host / comedian Matthew Aaron Show added fuel to the fire, saying that Grillo is close to scoring the role of Crossbones , one of the villains in Captain America: The Winter Soldier . You might not recognize the name but you are sure to know the face. He has starred in Edge of Darkness, Warrior, The Grey and End of Watch . With Joe and Anthony Russo set to start directing the movie in March, casting is naturally in full swing. Grillo certainly seems to fit the physical type for Crossbones , who is often seen in the comics as a henchman of Red Skull and has appeared in Cap’s titles in stories alongside Falco

While the success of The Avengers was certainly a firework under the rear ends of Warner Bros. and their plans to bring their DC Comics characters to the cinema, it hasn't been the smoothest process getting Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the rest teamed up for a Justice League film . But now, thanks to a legal victory over Krypton’s favourite son and some much-needed momentum, it appears Warners is ready to go head-to-head with Marvel, looking to get the League onto screens in 2015 , the same year as The Avengers 2 . Gangster Squad scriptwriter Will Beall has been plugging away since at least June and several possible directors, including Ben Affleck and the Wachowskis, have been thrown up in rumor stories. As regards the legal aspect, Warners scored a victory over the heirs of Superman's co-creator Joe Schuster yesterday, without which the studio would not have been able to make films, TV shows or comics featuring key elements of the characters mythos beyond next y

With The Avengers 4-Disc Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D+Blu-ray+DVD+Digital Copy+Digital Download of the “Inspired By” album)coming out on September 25th, Marvel is unleashing some tease for you would be buyers. The Alternate Opening Scene features Agent Maria Hill ( Colbie Smulders ) being interrogated by some unidentified suits. Watch the opening after the Jump... Providing viewers with the ultimate in-home experience, the premium 4-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack provides 5-unique ways to enjoy “Marvel’s The Avengers” (on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Copy and Digital Download of “Avengers Assembled” Music from and inspired by the film) and brings to life the Super Hero team-up of a lifetime in a whole new dimension on Blu-ray hi- def with stunning visual effects, superior sound and unparalleled bonus content. Extras include a gag reel, a first for a Marvel Studios film, the chance to hear from the cast and Joss Whedon on their experiences in bringing these larger than life characte

Watch it before it's gone. We got our hands on the Gag Reel from The Avengers Blu-ray Combo Pack , which will arrive September 25th. Please Leave A Comment-

Marvel reveals Whedon signed an exclusive deal with Marvel Studios for film and television through the end of June 2015. Writing and directing Avengers 2 is part of that deal. Joss Whedon will return to the Marvel Studios fold for a sequel to The Avengers . He also will create a Marvel-related TV series for ABC. Disney CEO Robert Iger revealed the plans during an earnings call Tuesday, during which he boasted about Avengers being the third-biggest movie of all time and that Disney has initiatives in the works to "leverage the power of the Avengers" across the entire company. That Marvel was planning a sequel to the $1.46 billion-grossing movie was not a surprise, but having Whedon back behind the camera definitely will make execs breathe easier. Whedon was one of the key components to the success of the movie, with his deft screenwriting and knowledge of the superhero characters frequently cited for the high marks the movie got from critics and fans alike. Having

After scoring huge at the box office with its Avengers movie, Marvel is looking to explore the mythology on the small screen too. I’ve learned that Marvel’s TV division is in conversation with ABC and ABC Studios about doing a drama series in the Avengers world. I hear that the connection to the Avengers franchise would be light as the project is expected to be set in the universe and feature some of its themes and feel, but may not include any characters from Joss Whedon’s blockbuster. I hear the project is in a nascent stage, described as “a kernel of an idea,” with a number of scenarios being explored, including a high-concept cop show. Marvel has already given the Avengers the animated treatment with Disney XD’s The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and the upcoming Avengers Assemble . Establishing a primetime foothold has been a priority for Disney-owned Marvel. The company has developed several projects for ABC Studios over the last couple of years, one of which, a Hul

Jay Baruchel is nearing a deal to join the cast of Robocop , MGM and Sony’s remake of the classic 1987 sci-fi action movie. Jose Padilha (Elite Squad) is directing the film, which sees Joel Kinnaman (The Killing) as the title hero, a cop named Alex Murphy who is brought back from the brink of death and turned into a cyborg police officer. Baruchel is one of the last major players to be boarding the film, which will begin shooting September in Toronto. Hugh Laurie, Samuel L. Jackson, Gary Oldman, Abbie Cornish and Jackie Earle Haley are already in the cast. Baruchel will play the head of marketing for Omnicorp, the company that is building the police cyborg. The actor will next be seen in David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis and just wrapped The End of the World, the directorial debut of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. Please Leave A Comment- Source- THR

This is one of the most coveted roles in Hollywood. And now, after critic- and fan-lauded star turns in Thor, The Avengers, and Snow White And The Huntsman , Chris Hemsworth will be working with Steven Spielberg . Deadline is reporting that Spielberg met and now wants Hemsworth in his next helming effort Robopocalypse , the big technothriller which is sure to become the director’s next big global popcorn film. The Disney-Fox-DreamWorks’ actioner is releasing worldwide on April 25, 2014. (That’s the same weekend that Marvel’s The Avengers was released internationally this year. Disney distributes Robopocalypse domestically, Fox overseas.) The script based on the Daniel H. Wilson epic novel about the human race’s attempt to survive an apocalyptic robot uprising was most recently adapted by hot screenwriter Kario Salem, who has been rewriting Drew Goddard. Robopocalypse puts Spielberg back into the large-scale terrain that is important in his relationship with Reliance. Now Hemsworth

Marvel isn't resting on its laurels after a victory lap at Comic-Con this weekend. The studio moving ahead on casting its latest project Captain America: The Winter Soldier . Anthony Mackie is in negotiations to star alongside Chris Evans in the sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger that is being directed by Joe and Anthony Russo. The film will be released April 4, 2014. Plot details are being kept under wraps, but the subtitle suggests a respected comic book storyline from the 2000s that resurrected Captain America's sidekick Bucky as a brainwashed super-assassin known as the Winter Solider. While Marvel would not comment nor divulge character details, it is believed that Mackie will portray the Falcon , one of mainstream comics' first black superheroes and perhaps its first American one. The character, Sam Wilson, is Harlem-based and had many street adventures with Cap in the 1970s comics, when he served as his partner. He derives his powers from a sui

You may have even noted their titles on the calendar – Thor 2 and Captain America 2 , respectively. Well, get out the Tipp-Ex, walk up to your calendar, and replace those with, again respectively, Thor: The Dark World and Captain America: The Winter Soldier . The move away from a simple numbered sequel, given that Marvel are hard at work on Iron Man 3, is certainly intriguing, and helps foster the idea that these movies are part of a richer, grander universe filled with continuing stories and not just numbered instalments. The Thor title change tallies with suggestions made recently to Empire by Feige, indicating that the sequel will explore the seedier side of Asgard, Thor 2 is now known as Thor: The Dark World. It certainly hints at a new direction for the character and the series; the first film had its melodramatic moments, but by and large it was a romp. It will be interesting to see Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder grappling with darkness from within and without. The ti

He’s ditched the cane and doesn’t have to maintain a near-constant level of scruffy chin stubble, but while Hugh Laurie is no longer playing House he has no plans to get back to bumbling do-gooders just yet. According to Variety, he’s in talks to join the Robocop reboot as the villain of the piece. The casting for Sony / MGM’s new take on Paul Verhoeven’s sci-fi classic is really shaping up in interesting ways. We already have Joel Kinnaman as Alex Murphy, the cop brutally gunned down and reborn as the cyborg lawman. Gary Oldman is playing a scientist named Norton who helps rebuild Murphy, with Samuel L Jackson taking the role of a powerful, uber-patriotic media mogul. And most recently, Abbie Cornish was offered the part of Murphy’s conflicted wife, struggling with the fact that she’s only about 80% a widow. Assuming he makes a deal, Laurie will be the moneygrubbing head of Omni Corp (we’re hoping they maintain the Omni Consumer Products name for nostalgia’s sake), the co

Anthony and Joe Russo are close to finalizing a deal to direct the sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger for Marvel Studios. The brothers continue Marvel’s strategy of finding unorthodox helmers for their movies. The Russos are known more for their work in comedy, having directed You, Me & Dupree and directing and executive producing the low-rated but strongly followed NBC comedy Community . The Russos beat out George Nolfi, the Bourne Ultimatum writer who made his directorial debut with The Adjustment Bureau . The bake-off lasted the better part of a month, with the contenders forced to study The Avengers as part of their exam. F. Gary Gray also was an early contender. Joe Johnston directed the first Captain America installment, starring Chris Evans as the titular hero. The movie, released in 2011 as part of Marvel's road to Avengers, grossed $368 million worldwide. Please Leave A Comment- Source- Heatvision

Samuel L. Jackson is joining the cast of Robocop , MGM and Sony’s remake of the classic 1987 sci-fi action movie. Jose Padilha is directing the film, which sees Joel Kinnaman (The Killing) as the title hero, a cop named Alex Murphy who is brought back from the brink of death and turned into a cyborg police officer. Gary Oldman has already been cast as his scientist-creator. Jackson will play Pat Novak, a charismatic media mogul and a powerful force in the Robocop world. Strike Entertainment’s Marc Abraham and Eric Newman are producing the movie, which is eyeing a September shoot in Toronto and has a tentative release date of summer 2013. Jackson, who is onscreen as Nick Fury in The Avengers , is shooting Quentin Tarantino’s revenge drama Django Unchained . Please Leave A Comment- Source- THR

Although Samuel L. Jackson has played S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury in Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America , and the record-breaking Avengers , his portrayal of the cigar-chomping Marvel Comics government agent isn’t definitive to everyone. Like, say, to David Hasselhoff — Baywatch legend, Knight Rider icon, and star of the upcoming Piranha 3DD — who donned Fury’s signature eye patch and scowl in his own 1998 telefilm, earned Stan Lee’s blessing, and claims that his is the “ultimate” Nick Fury. “I didn’t see The Avengers yet,” Hasselhoff admitted to Movieline while discussing his appearance — as David Hasselhoff — in the R-rated sequel Piranha 3DD. “I love Sam Jackson, but you know… my Nick Fury was the organic Nick Fury that was written and discussed with Stan Lee before anyone got in there to change it. Nick Fury was written to be tongue-in-cheek, and he had a cigar in his mouth, he was a tough guy — he was cool.” Hasselhoff says he had earned Lee’s praise for his tu

SATURDAY 9 AM, 5TH UPDATE: These official Friday and weekend numbers for North America are worse than anyone expected. Everything is tanking except Marvel’s The Avengers which sucked all the air out of the box office for the 3rd straight weekend. Today it will become the highest grossing domestic release in Disney’s history. Joss Whedon’s superhero assembly is already the studio’s highest grossing film of all time globally, and will pass the $450M mark this weekend. It is currently the #6 film of all time globally, the #10 film of all time domestically, and the #9 film of all time internationally. The new foreign gross is $682.6M and domestic $417.3M for a global cume of $1.099.9M. Demonstrating just how disastrous the new movies are opening, audiences gave Universal’s Battleship only a ‘B’ CinemaScore, Lionsgate’s What To Expect When You’re Expecting a ‘B-’, and Paramount’s The Dictator a ‘C’. So don’t expect word of mouth to improve these numbers. Overall moviegoing this weeken

The superhero tentpole hit $1 billion on Sunday and will shortly eclipse the $1.12 billion earned by " Transformers: Dark of the Moon ," the No. 4 grossing title of all time. The biggest one could be yet to come -- the Disney and Marvel Studios' film could match or overtake Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 to become the third biggest grossing movie in history behind Avatar ($2.8 billion) and Titanic ($2.2 billion), both from James Cameron. On Sunday -- only its 19th day in release -- Avengers hit $1 billion in global ticket sales, matching Avatar and Deathly Hallows 2 in terms of speed. That includes a domestic total of $373.2 million and an international cume of $628.9 million. Already, the event pic is the No. 11 top grossing title of all time, edging past The Dark Knight. Deathly Hallows 2 grossed $1.32 billion in global ticket sales, and some box office observers believe Avengers is destined to reach $1.35 billion to $1.4 billion. Whatever the ca

It's probably a no-brainer, but a sequel to The Avengers was made official Tuesday by Disney CEO Bob Iger, who made the announcement during a conference call with analysts to discuss quarterly earnings. Repeating previous announcements made by Marvel Studios, Iger said a third Iron Man and a second Thor are scheduled for 2013 and a sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger is in the works for 2014. He gave no timeline for an Avengers sequel. Iger boasted that Avengers "shattered domestic box-office records with a $207.1 million opening weekend for a global performance of more than $702 million to date." The CEO also said that there are Avengers-based attractions in the works for some of Disney's theme parks. Please Leave A Comment- Source- THR

The Disney and Marvel Studios tentpole makes history in nabbing the biggest opening of all time in North America; globally " Avengers " has earned a massive $641.8 million in 12 days. Joss Whedon's The Avengers has set a new bar in opening to a walloping $200.3 million at the domestic box office, the largest debut ever and kicking off summer 2012 in high style. The Avengers -- marking a major victory for Disney and Marvel Studios -- easily dethroned Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 , which opened to $169.2 million last summer, then the largest number in history. THE AVENGERS Movie Review By: Matt- Avengers opened a week ago overseas, earning $441.5 million through Sunday. The worldwide total of $641.8 million has already surpassed the lifetime totals of Captain America: The First Avenger ($364 million), Thor ($449 million), Iron Man ($585 million) and Iron Man 2 ($624 million). The 3D tentpole is now positioned to reach $1 billion in global gro