NextMovie » Joss Whedon

Marvel Unveils First 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Promo

Scott Harris — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:04:29 +0000

For the past decade or so, critics and fans have put forth the theory that we are living in a new Golden Age of Television thanks to acclaimed shows like "The Sopranos," "The Wire," "Breaking Bad" and "Mad Men." But if that's the case, then it looks like we just got upgraded to the Diamond Age, because ABC has officially picked up the coolest TV show ever conceived, "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."

And thanks to YouTube, we've got the first promo spot right here.

Avengers, assemble!

Spinning directly out of the events of last summer's super blockbuster "The Avengers," "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." features Marvel Studios mainstay Clark Gregg as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson. Faced with more and more new superpowered menaces — and heroes — Coulson and his team of highly trained secret agents form the last line of defense between us and the world of supermen.

Of course, fans might be curious to know just how Coulson is around to lead this team, considering he apparently died at the hands of Loki in "The Avengers." That information, unfortunately, is not really hinted at in the trailer. But considering the series pilot is directed by "Avengers" mastermind Joss Whedon, chances are "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." features plenty of cool Easter eggs designed to answer that question and many, many others as it ties together all the crazy strands of Marvel's big screen universe.

Now this is what we call real destination television.

Joss Whedon Knew 'The Avengers 2' Plot Before the First Film

Amanda Bell — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:33:11 +0000

There's a reason Joss Whedon's got such a knack for fiddling with the otherworldly; the man's a bleeding superhero himself and had the x-ray vision skillz enough to know the plot of "The Avengers 2" before he made the first one ... or something like that.

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight at the MTV Movie Awards, Whedon explained that while he wasn't 100 percent sure there'd be a second "Avengers" movie — or that he'd be the one helming it — he did have an idea of what'd happen in it before the first was finished.

"I didn't think I was going to do the second one, but I had an idea for it before I figured out the first one," he explained. "You go into a movie not assuming there's going to be [a sequel]. I've seen plenty of movies that are the first part of a trilogy that never happened. It's terrible. You don't save anything for the trip back. Having said that, though, I did sort of know, well, if they were to come back I know what's going to happen, it's going to be awful." Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!

Whedon, of course, left it hanging at that but he did say that he's currently serving as a consultant for Marvel as it drums out the individual character films — "Iron Man 3" and "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" are next — to keep things in line with his ideas and that he expects production on "Avengers 2" to begin next February.

"I'm actually really excited because I've gotten to sort of look at everything and see behind the curtain on all the stuff, and [producer] Kevin Feige has a really clear vision and runs through all these movies. They're all very different, but they're all, they really are what the next story should be. So I'm very excited about it," said Whedon.

"The Avengers 2" is slated to hit theaters on May 1, 2015.

'Iron Man 3' Finale is Too Much Movie For Joss Whedon

Max Evry — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:32:14 +0000

Marvel Films

Joss Whedon made "Marvel's The Avengers," a film where New York City is ravaged by thousands of aliens and a handful of massive flying monsters while being fought off by six of Marvel's best and bulkiest.

With that in mind, an interview with Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige (via 2 Kids and a Coupon) reveals that Whedon was left flabbergasted by Shane Black's upcoming "Iron Man 3," to the point where he's not sure how to up the ante in 2015's "Avengers" sequel. Way to leave a dude out of the loop!

"We have what I think is the biggest, you know, most action packed finale we’ve had," Feige explained about Shane Black's "Iron Man" threequel.

"I showed the film to Joss Whedon, who is our writer-director of 'Avengers,' is currently working on 'Avengers 2,' and he saw the finale of this and he goes, 'Now what am I supposed to do now? What am I going to do in 'Avengers 2?'"

If you saw the blitzkrieg explosiveness of the "Iron Man 3" trailer then you already got a little taste of the SPOILERY GOODNESS, including a legion of Iron Man armors, one of which looks like it could bust a Hulk or two. Feige provided a bit more SPOILER detail, which you can relish below:

"There are a lot of (Iron Man) suits in this movie. While it is a movie in which he spends quite a bit of time outside of the suit… by the end of it we reveal that underneath the house, which is now covered with rubble, he’s got dozens and dozens of suits. And once all that rubble gets pulled aside by construction cranes, just when he needs them, he calls them to the rescue."

We're not sure what sort of kerfuffle Tony Stark and his "boys" gets into in the final reel, but given a Deep Space Suit toy that was leaked it's quite possible Robert Downey Jr. is reaching for the stars (actual stars) on this one. However, if we know you, Joss Whedon, we're pretty sure you still have an ace or two up your sleeves, or at the very least a Buffy cameo.

Herefore Art Thou Joss Whedon's 'Much Ado About Nothing' Trailer

Max Evry — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 23:25:56 +0000

"The course of true love never did run smooth."

No, those aren't R. Kelly lyrics — that be Shakespeare, fool! Joss Whedon shot his new black & white filmic version of the Bard's "Much Ado About Nothing" at his own (admittedly luxurious) house in Santa Monica, and even though the couplets are the same the feeling in the new trailer (via Yahoo! Movies) is very contemporary… and very Joss.

Much of the cast, including leads Amy Acker as Beatrice and Alexis Denisof as Benedick, are veterans of Whedon's Buffyverse. Then you've got guys like Nathan Fillion ("Firefly," "Dr. Horrible"), Fran Kranz ("The Cabin in the Woods"), or Clark Gregg ("The Avengers"), so it's okay if you think this looks like they videotaped some BBQ Joss had with his buddies. Then again, how many gatherings do you have where you speak in iambic pentameter?

Now since this is a low-budget affair, we don't expect to see Joss blissing out on production design a la Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet," but from the looks of things, some of the jazzy anachronistic details include modern handguns, pot smoking and… Cirque du Soleil? Sure, why not!

What better way to follow up the billion-dollar success of "The Avengers" than with a palette-cleansing exorcise in anti-commerciality? "Much Ado" will have its U.S. premiere at SXSW this week, meaning Whedon could be headed for another success story when it's released through Lionsgate on June 7.

Enjoy Everything Wrong With 'The Avengers' In 3 Minutes Or Less

Max Evry — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 17:04:20 +0000

If you've heard the Blu-ray audio commentary for "The Avengers," then you know that even Joss Whedon gleefully admits to committing more than a few cardinal sins of screenwriting, but apparently the nerdy filmmaker has a few more to atone for. Say a thousand Hail Mary's, Joss, you are not yet forgiven.

While Whedon is working on his Rosary, you can see all 64 of the horrible clichés and lapses of logic assembled into one super-reel of "Avengers" stupidity thanks to the fierce logicians at Cinema Sins, who somehow manage to top September's Honest Trailer.

In "Everything Wrong With 'The Avengers' In 3 Minutes Or Less" you will see Loki use the old "Lucy/Charlie Brown football prank" on Thor, Hawkeye's mind control undone with a knock on the noggin, and Iron Man falling towards Earth despite no Gravity in space.

Oh, and did we mention the utter lack of lapdances performed by Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow? That IS a sin! No wonder this is only the #3 highest-grossing movie of all-time, they truly dropped the ball.

'The Avengers' Almost Lost Black Widow, Gained the Wasp

Scott Harris — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:51:23 +0000

Marvel

Making movies is a strange and interesting process. Often the ideas you start with end up not even being in the finished film. Case in point: At a Directors Guild of America event recently, "The Avengers" director Joss Whedon revealed that the big star of his first draft of the screenplay was actually... The Wasp.

And leaving her out of the movie really stung.

So why The Wasp, who in the comics is a young socialite named Janet Van Dyne who can become really tiny, fly around and zap people with bio-electric stings? Simple: They weren't sure Scarlett Johansson would be coming back to reprise her "Iron Man 2" role as The Black Widow.

"There was a little bit of time where we thought we might not actually get Scarlett [Johansson]," Whedon revealed. "There was a very Waspy draft that I wrote. But it was way too Waspy. I was like, 'She's adorable! I'm just going to watch her!'"

And hard as it is to believe, there was a time when Whedon wanted to use a different villain because he wasn't sure Tom Hiddleston was quite cool enough to make Loki a credible threat to the Avengers.

"I definitely felt like, 'I've got Earth's mightiest heroes. I've got four of the biggest, baddest, toughest guys out there and I've got one effete British character actor,'" Whedon said. But he eventually came around to realize what everyone on Earth now knows: Hiddleston is awesome.

"The ace in the hole is Tom Hiddleston because he's so compelling and commanding and gracious about it that it became, 'Oh it's about how he gets in their heads – it’s going to be fine.' But it took me a long time to accept that because they need someone to hit!"

We think $1.5 billion worldwide shows Whedon made the right choices in the end.

Joss Whedon: Mitt Romney Will Lead ... to the Zombie Apocalypse

Amanda Bell — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:22:09 +0000

Getty Images

Talk about an October surprise.

Apparently, all that movie superpowering has given "The Avengers" director Joss Whedon his own special ability to predict the future and, when it comes to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, he's already got it all figured out.

If and when Mitt Romney gets into office, Whedon says, the United States of America will finally be on the right path ... toward the zombie apocalypse.

"Like a lot of liberal Americans, I was excited when Barack Obama took office four years ago, but it's a very different world now," Whedon deadpans in this new viral video. "Romney is ready to make the deep rollbacks in health care, education, social services, reproductive rights that will guarantee poverty, unemployment, overpopulation, disease, rioting — all crucial elements in creating a nightmare zombie wasteland — but it's his commitment to ungoverned corporate privilege that will nosedive this economy into true insolvency and chaos ... The one percent will not longer be the very rich, it'll be the very fast."

The public's best bet, he suggests, is to start learning parkour and stocking up on Spam now.

"Mitt's ready. He's not afraid to face a ravenous grasping hoard of subhumans, 'cause that's how he sees poor people already. Let's all embrace the future, stop pretending we care about each other and start hoarding canned goods. Because if Mitt takes office, sooner or later the zombies will come for all of us."

Bottom line: Zomney needs brrrrrraaaaaainnnnns!

'The Avengers:' 8 Things You May Have Missed the First Time Around

Scott Harris — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:00:54 +0000

Marvel/Disney

"The Avengers" arrives on Blu-ray this week and, as you might expect, it's chock full of bonus clips, special features and even a brand new 10-minute short film. It's pretty epic.

But before you start diving into the special features, there's something else you're going to want to watch first: The movie itself. That's because director Joss Whedon and the folks at Marvel crammed the film with so many Easter eggs, cameos and moments that make you go "hmm" that even the most dedicated fan couldn't catch all of them.

With that in mind, then, and with a great big spoiler warning, here are eight things in "The Avengers" you may have missed the first time around.

Marvel

1. Life Model Decoy: Right near the beginning of the film, Clark Gregg's fan favorite SHIELD Agent Coulson heads to Stark Tower to visit with Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark. Stark's a bit busy, though, so he tries to pretend he's a "life model decoy" in order to throw Coulson off the scent.

So why is this throwaway joke important? Because, in the Marvel Universe, Life Model Decoys are android duplicates that SHIELD agents use ins dangerous situations — and revealing that the favorite character you thought was killed was actually just an LMD is one of Marvel's favorite ways of bringing people back from the dead. Yeah, exactly.

2. Project 42: When Coulson leaves Stark Tower, he also leaves behind several files for Stark to study, relating to the destruction of Project Pegasus. If you look really closely, you can see that one of these files is slapped with the designation "42."

Is this the answer to life, the universe and everything? No, it's actually a reference to Marvel's infamous hero vs. hero comic throwdown "Civil War," which saw Iron Man help develop an extra-dimensional prison for captured bad guys (and rebellious heroes) called Project 42 — a project made necessary because the old housing facility, Project Pegasus, had been destroyed. Hmm…

Paramount

3. Huginn and Munnin: Nick Fury isn't the only character in "Avengers" who has lost his one good eye. That designation also belongs to Thor's pop, Odin the All-Father, lord of the Asgardian gods, who in the comics (and in mythology) sacrificed one of his eyes to gain wisdom. But considering he needs to know what's going on in all the nine realms at all times, Odin has a back-up plan: A pair of ravens named Huginn and Munnin that fly around acting as his mystical spies in the sky.

And spying is exactly what they are doing in "The Avengers," where you can clearly see them flying around the mountain peak where Thor and Loki are having their heart-to-heart chat on just before Iron Man interrupts. Sure, Odin himself doesn't actually show up in the movie (no doubt to the eternal dismay of Anthony Hopkins) but the ravens leave no doubt: Daddy is watching.

4. The Hulk's Suicide Attempt: Mark Ruffalo's version of Bruce Banner is a haunted guy. And it's no wonder, because the creature doing the haunting isn't the Hulk — it's the ghost of Hulk's past, Edward Norton!

Case in point: In one of the most memorable bits of dialogue from the movie (which is saying something), Banner says that he tried to kill himself, but the "other guy" spit the bullet out. That's not just a pithy bit of writing, it's actually a reference to a scene that was filmed for — and then cut from — Norton's 2008 film "The Incredible Hulk." Want proof? The sequence appeared as a bonus scene on the "Incredible Hulk" Blu-ray.

Marvel/Disney

5. Lou Ferrigno's Secret Cameo:Speaking of former Hulks, for many fans, there's still nobody who can compare to the original green skinned behemoth, Lou Ferrigno. But what most fans probably don't know is that Ferrigno, who played the Hulk in the popular '70s TV series "The Incredible Hulk," actually appears in "The Avengers" as well... as The Hulk!

No, we haven't gone nuts. You see, when the sound effects guys were working to create the perfect inhuman scream for The Hulk, they were having trouble getting it just right. So they decided to use Ferrigno's howl as the basis for the shout. It sounded so good that they left it in the movie, meaning every time The Hulk yells, it's Ferrigno helping power those vocal outbursts.

6. Are You An Alien?: One more little Hulk-related bit of inside humor: You know the scene where Hulk falls from the sky, only to be found by a concerned security guard who asks him whether he's an alien? Well, that line has a double meaning thanks to the fact that the guy speaking it is none other than Harry Dean Stanton, who is most famous for being part of the crew of the doomed Nostromo in the 1979 classic "Alien." We're guessing he'd rather deal with Hulks any time. (See more of this scene here.)

Marvel

7. What Happens in Budapest, Stays in Budapest:During the big fight scene at the end of the film, Hawkeye and Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow find themselves fighting back-to-back against an overwhelming number of enemies. Instead of being worried, though, they take this time to reminisce about a previous mission in Budapest, Hungary. Ah, the power of true love.

If you were looking closely, though, you may have noticed that this fight sequence bore a strong resemblance to an earlier scene of Hawkeye and Black Widow fighting back to back. It was only on screen for a few seconds, but if you rewind the movie an hour or so, you'll see a clip playing on a monitor on the SHIELD Helicarrier of the pair duking it out with a legion of unseen assailants. Sure looks like Budapest to us.

8. The Unofficial Marvel/DC Crossover: Marvel and DC Comics have long had a (sometimes heated) rivalry, so while crossovers between the two companies have happened, they are pretty rare. But while you shouldn't expect to see the Avengers meet the Justice League on the big screen any time soon, the Avengers have already met one of the Teen Titans.

Yep. That waitress at the end of the film who has those nice things to say about Captain America? Well, that's Ashley Johnson, who is known in some circles as Chrissy Seaver from "Growing Pains," but in other circles as the voice behind the animated version of "Teen Titans" character Terra. Seems like you can't go anywhere in Hollywood these days without running into a member of the spandex crowd, huh? It's a little game we like to call Six Degrees of Stan Lee.

New on DVD and Blu-ray: 'The Avengers' and More

Robert DeSalvo — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 19:00:54 +0000

Marvel Studios

This week: The biggest blockbuster of the year, "The Avengers," is likely to become the best-selling home video of the year as fans can't seem to get enough of Marvel's Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and Captain America teaming up to battle Loki and an army of hostile aliens.

Also new this week is the hilariously twisted Danish comedy "Klown," the thriller "Barricade" starring Eric McCormack and a collection of all 22 James Bond films called, simply, "Bond 50."

'The Avengers'

Marvel

Box Office: $622 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 92% Fresh
Storyline: Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and Captain America (Chris Evans) are recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to stop Thor's adoptive brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), from using the Tesseract to open a portal that will allow hostile extraterrestrials to obliterate the Earth. Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner return from the Phase 1 Marvel movies as Black Widow and Hawkeye, respectively, while Clark Gregg returns as Agent Phil Coulson, whose man-crush on Captain America is one of the funnier moments in this epic superhero team-up.
Extras! With a movie this enjoyable and massive you just want more, so dig into nine deleted and extended scenes on both the DVD and Blu-ray. (Watch one of the deleted scenes right here). To replicate the theatrical 3D experience, "The Avengers" can pop out of your TV screen with the Blu-ray 3D combo pack.
We Say: One could make a strong argument that this is the best superhero film in history. Critics loved it while audiences made it the biggest hit of the year and the third highest-grossing film of all time. The individual films of "Iron Man," "Iron Man 2," "Captain America: The First Avenger," "Thor" and "The Incredible Hulk" had us primed and ready, and director/co-writer Joss Whedon is a genius and geek champion for marrying all the elements from all those movies seamlessly. The biggest surprise is Ruffalo's Hulk, who steals scenes with his single-minded desire to "smash" everything, including taking cheap shots at Thor.

'Klown'

Drafthouse

Box Office: $68,559
Rotten Tomatoes: 79% Fresh
Storyline: Comedians Frank Hvam and Caspar Christensen play two clueless friends who embark on a canoe trip through the Danish countryside with the ultimate goal of arriving at an annual elitist brothel celebration in the middle of the wilderness. Hvam brings the young nephew of his pregnant girlfriend in order to prove to her that he has father potential while Christensen is only interested in having sex with as many people as possible.
Extras! Both the Blu-ray and DVD contain an episode of the "Klown" television series written by Lars von Trier.
We Say: This raunchy and ballsy R-rated Danish film crosses all kinds of lines and goes where no American comedy would dare. The prudish and politically correct should steer way clear but adventurous comedy fans that aren't allergic to subtitles are going to bust a gut watching what is probably the funniest movie of the year.

'Barricade'

WWE Films

Box Office: N/A
Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
Storyline: Eric McCormack plays Terrance Shade, a recently widowed psychiatrist who tries to bond with his young children during a holiday in the mountains. A fun night in the cabin quickly turns into a harrowing fight for survival as a sinister presence forces Terrance to overcome his fears and face what it means to be a parent. This WWE Studios production is only the second movie to not feature a WWE wrestler in any role.
Extras! "Breaking Type: Eric McCormack" examines the actor's transition from humor to horror and is available on both the DVD and Blu-ray.
We Say: What could ever go wrong when you take a trip with friends or family to a remote cabin in the woods? Despite the straight-to-video supernatural thriller's well-worn setup, it's good to see the likable McCormack — who plays a neuroscientist who helps the Feds solve complex criminal cases on TV's "Perception" — continue to tackle heavier material after years on "Will & Grace."

'Bond 50' Blu-ray

MGM

Box Office: $4.91 billion worldwide
Rotten Tomatoes: 71% Fresh (Average of 22 Films)
Storyline: This massive box set celebrates the six actors (Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig) who have played James Bond over the past 50 years. Twenty-two movies, from "Dr. No" to "Quantum of Solace," are included, many of which are making their Blu-ray debut in this set.
Extras! There are over 130 hours (yes, it would take you over five days to watch them all) of bonus content included in this collection, including the new special features "The World of Bond," "Being Bond" and "Skyfall" video blogs. "Bond 50" is also available on DVD, but … really? Bond begs for the royal Blu treatment.
We Say: This must-own collection featuring half a century of sleek cars, ingenious gadgets and sexy Bond Girls should render any 007 fan deeply shaken and thoroughly stirred. The films making their Blu-ray debut in this set, like "A View to a Kill," will eventually be available for purchase individually, but completists are going to want to just grab them all at once in this set.

Also New This Week:

"Damsels in Distress"
"The Samaritan"
"Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1"
"Resident Evil: Damnation"
"The American President" Blu-ray
"The Tall Man"
"Arachnophobia" Blu-ray
"Strippers vs. Werewolves"

'The Avengers' Blu-ray Deleted Scene

New on DVD and Blu-ray: 'The Cabin in the Woods' and More

Robert DeSalvo — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 19:00:19 +0000

Lionsgate

This week: Joss Whedon reinvigorates the horror genre with the shockingly clever "The Cabin in the Woods," starring a pre-Thor Chris Hemsworth.

Also new this week is the sweet senior comedy "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," the music documentary "Katy Perry: Part of Me" and the Blu-ray collection "Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures."

'The Cabin in the Woods'

Lionsgate

Box Office: $42 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% Fresh
Storyline: The initial premise will seem familiar to horror fans — five college friends go to a remote cabin in the woods to party for the weekend — until the group becomes pawns in a planned sacrifice that is bigger in scope than they could have ever imagined. This meta-horror mind-bender produced and co-written by Joss Whedon and directed and co-written by Drew Goddard stars Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchinson, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins and a certain genre legend in a cameo.
Extras! While there are many behind-the-scenes featurettes included on both the DVD and Blu-ray, the one to not miss is "We Are Not Who We Are: Making 'The Cabin in the Woods,'" in which Whedon and Goddard go full nerd and describe how they locked themselves in a hotel room for days and cranked out the first draft, their fortune of having "Thor" in the film and more.
We Say: What horror film ever gets a 90% Fresh rating? The brilliant part of "The Cabin in the Woods" is that when you find out what is really going on, it's nothing you could have predicted or expected. Although it's never truly terrifying, this loving send-up of the genre is not to be missed and the nods to countless horror movies will have fans geeking out right up until the mind-blowing finale.

'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'

Fox

Box Office: $46 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 77% Fresh
Storyline: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith and Tom Wilkinson star in this British comedic adventure about seven seniors that decide to "outsource" their retirement to a resort in India, where friendships and romances blossom in unexpected ways.
Extras! The best bonus features are exclusive to the Blu-ray, including a feature on the real hotel and "Trekking to India: Life Is Never the Same."
We Say: This isn't groundbreaking cinema, but it is a sweet story filled with emotional performances by its talented cast of veteran actors.

'Katy Perry: Part of Me'

Paramount

Box Office: $25 million
Rotten Tomatoes: 77% Fresh
Storyline: This music documentary for fans of the popular "Firework" songbird features behind-the-scenes interviews, personal moments between Perry and her pals, footage of rehearsals, a look at the choreography and more.
Extras! Both the DVD and Blu-ray contain more backstage footage from Perry's "California Dreams" tour. The pop doc is also available in 3-D in the combo pack for those that want their pop stars to pop out of the TV.
We Say: If you're a fan of Perry's spirited ditties, then this movie satisfies by showcasing the hard work and dedication that Perry puts into her hit-making machine.

'Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures' Blu-ray

Paramount

Box Office: $941 million
Rotten Tomatoes: "Raiders of the Lost Ark" 94% Fresh, "Temple of Doom" 85% Fresh, "The Last Crusade" 89% Fresh, "The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" 77% Fresh
Storyline: This collection of our favorite globetrotting archeology professor turned whip-cracking adventurer Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) features the coveted Blu-ray debuts of "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," as well as the more recent "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," which was previously available on BD.
Extras! The set contains seven hours of behind-the-scenes footage, including an hour of previously unreleased material.
We Say: This beloved quadrilogy by director Steven Spielberg and creator George Lucas (yes, even "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" got a "Fresh" Rotten Tomatoes rating, you hindsight haters) is the Holy Grail of Blu-rays. "Raiders of the Lost Ark" has been meticulously restored and looks like it came out yesterday, while "Temple of Doom" and "The Last Crusade" have also been remastered for their high-definition upgrades. A treasured franchise like this is the reason Blu-ray was invented.

Also New This Week:

"Hysteria"
"Bait 3D"
"Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3"
"Ed Wood" Blu-ray
"Halloween II" (1981) Collector's Edition Blu-ray
"Halloween III: Season of the Witch" Collector's Edition Blu-ray
"Queen of the Damned" Blu-ray

The DVDiva Tackles This Week's New Releases

Joss Whedon Is as Psyched for 'Guardians of the Galaxy' as We Are

MTV Staff — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:30:42 +0000

Get More:
Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

The powers that be at Marvel have broken their silence on "Guardians of the Galaxy" director James Gunn — and by "powers that be" we mean "Avengers" director Joss Whedon.

Whedon, a friend of Gunn's, recently spoke with MTV News at the Toronto International Film Festival (where he was busy promoting "Much Ado about Nothing," his modernized take on Shakespeare's classic play) about how Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" adaptation is coming together, and what the film's director brings to the equation.

"James is what makes me think it will work," said Whedon. "I myself was sort of like, 'Well, I liked Rocket Raccoon as a kid, but I'm not sure how that plays [to a wider audience].' And then they said, 'Well, we're thinking about using James Gunn.' And I said, 'Oh, then no, you're fine.' He is so off the wall, and so crazy, but so smart, such a craftsman and he builds from his heart. He loves the raccoon. Needs the raccoon."

Head to MTV's Splashpage for more!

Wanna See 'The Avengers' Gag Reel? Sure You Do

Max Evry — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:04:38 +0000

Marvel/Disney

You knew it was inevitable, that this day of reckoning would finally come: "The Avengers" has a gag reel.

And what a gag reel it is.

Set brilliantly to Jerry Reed's "Eastbound and Down," a.k.a. the theme song to "Smoky and the Bandit," these bloopers make it look like "The Avengers" may have been the most enjoyable $200-million Marvel Studios ever spent.

What marvels will you witness in this laugh-a-second clip? Chris Evans struggling to get a backpack on, Agent Coulson coming on to Captain America, Chris Hemsworth awkwardly juggling Thor's mighty hammer and Cobie Smulders ACT-ING!

There's plenty of crack-ups, corpsing and straight up mugging for the camera, as well as an occasional cameo from director Joss Whedon, who walks into a scene of the whole superhero ensemble having a bickerfest and proclaims, loudly, "STOP FIGHTING!"

Fans are also getting another unexpected treat with a deleted/extended scene of Loki while he still has Hawkeye under his wicked spell. The scene would have made it more blatant early on that Loki was deliberately trying to make a display of his villainy in Berlin to get caught by The Avengers so he could learn their weaknesses.

Release Date Announced For 'Avengers' to Re-Assemble

Max Evry — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 21:38:24 +0000

Paramount Pictures

Though Robert Downey Jr. suffered a setback on the set of "Iron Man 3" this week when he injured his ankle, fans are getting a leg up today as Marvel announces exactly when the Golden Avenger will fly again after the threequel.

Iron Man, along with Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Nick Fury will get more shawarma, and probably battle Thanos as well, when "The Avengers 2" touches down in theaters on May 1, 2015, according to Disney (via ComingSoon).

Their fearless filmmaking leader Joss Whedon will be back in the director's chair, possibly to make up for all the money he lost on the first "Avengers," which only brought in a measly $1.462 billion at the worldwide box office.

The team-up sequel will follow in the rocket-powered footsteps of "Iron Man 3" on May 3, 2013, the mighty hammer of "Thor: The Dark World" on November 8, 2013, the star-spangled "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" on April 4, 2014 and the cosmic raccoon-ness of "Guardians of the Galaxy" on August 1, 2014. Edgar Wright's "Ant-Man," which wowed fans at Comic-Con with test footage of the miniature hero, could also make a big splash sometime before "Avengers 2" debuts, but no firm date is set.

Most great sequels need at least 3-years to creatively simmer before they're just the right temperature, so that's great, especially with Whedon helping to guide the other Marvel superhero properties towards a unified vision of awesomeness that will culminate in "Avengers 2: Money Never Sleeps," or whatever it's ultimately called.

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Joss Whedon Assembles For 'The Avengers' Sequel

Bryan Enk — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 22:33:55 +0000

Getty Images

Here's another reason why "Make Mine Marvel" is such an oft-uttered phrase this year.

Joss Whedon, the writer-director of "The Avengers," is now officially the director of "The Avengers 2," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The news came via Disney CEO Robert Iger, who also reminded everyone that "The Avengers" is the third biggest-grossing movie of all time and announced that Disney has initiatives in the works to "leverage the power of 'The Avengers'" across the entire company, whatever that means. Sounds vaguely like a supervillain plot that the Avengers would team up to stop, doesn't it?

Whedon will also be creating a Marvel-related live-action television series, which, in true Whedon style, will probably garner a huge cult following even if no one actually watches it. It's now a race to see which will hit the small screen first: Whedon's project or the proposed "Hulk" series to which Guillermo del Toro is attached.

Despite the occasional display of his trademark seemingly clueless sexism (Pepper Potts in jean shorts?), Joss Whedon was the best thing about "The Avengers." He just got the damn thing better than anyone else could have, down to the slightest character nuance and throwaway pop culture reference ("Best clench up, Legolas"). If there's even a ghost of a chance that the sequel will be just as good if not better than the original, it's because Whedon is calling the shots again.

Meanwhile, "The Avengers" has made more money than any of us will ever see in a thousand centuries. The summer's No. 1 film will hit Blu-ray and DVD on Sept. 25.

Bossy Aussies Help Bring 'Cabin in the Woods' Down Under

Max Evry — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:16:02 +0000

Lionsgate

Those who have seen "The Cabin in the Woods" know it's not just a giant scare factory (though it is), but also a fiendishly clever satiric twist on the horror genre as a whole … "those who have seen" being the operative term.

Unfortunately, not enough people had seen it stateside to warrant a theatrical release from Village Roadshow in Australia, which The Sydney Morning Herald reports was going to send this clever splatter flick direct-to-DVD until a grassroots push from fans has given it a second lease on theatrical life.

A very outspoken social media campaign involving a "Save the Cabin" Facebook page and online petition has resulted in Roadshow giving the movie a limited release in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth on June 6 and a national one on June 14.

"It's the most political thing I've ever done in my life," said Robert Woods, a 26-year-old film editor from Perth who organized the petition. "I want the first time I watch the film to be with a big crowd, going through the experience with me."

While we'd like to think 900 signatures from fans was the deciding factor in this change of heart, there's a much more likely culprit: Joss Whedon. The co-writer/producer of "Cabin in the Woods" has another flick out right now, "The Avengers," that's making mad cheddar at the global box office (in less than a week, 15 times what "Cabin" made), and the distributor probably figures they can cash in on all the ink being spilled over Whedon right now.

Chris Hemsworth, a star of both "Cabin" and "Avengers," is a native Aussie, and that should be another incentive for folks down there to put their Fosters in the fridge and head to the cinema for a truly unique spin on "teens in peril."

Guess "Cabin in the Woods" is the little slasher film that could.

'Avengers' Director Joss Whedon Says Thank You to Everyone

Scott Harris — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:46:04 +0000

Marvel Studios

Joss Whedon has been a figure of cult adoration for more than 15 years now thanks to projects like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Firefly" and "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog." But now that he's become one of Hollywood's biggest power players thanks to the record smashing success of "The Avengers" ($702 million worldwide in its first 13 days) he has a message to all of his most loyal fans: Get bent.

No, just kidding. Actually, Whedon couldn't be more grateful for all the support he's received over the years — and he's written a special message to the world thanking pretty much thanking everyone he's ever known. Aww, we love you too, Joss.

Addressing the idea that his life is about to change thanks to "The Avengers," Whedon took to the internet earlier today, posting an open letter to fans on Whedonesque to assure them that some things aren't going to change.

"What doesn't change is anything that matters," Whedon wrote. "What doesn't change is that I've had the smartest, most loyal, most passionate, most articulate group of — I'm not even gonna say fans. I'm going with 'peeps' — that any cult oddity such as my bad self could have dreamt of.

"When almost no one was watching, when people probably should have STOPPED watching, I've had three constants: my family and friends, my collaborators (often the same), and y'all. A lot of stories have come out about my 'dark years', and how I'm 'unrecognized' ... I love these stories, because they make me seem super-important, but I have never felt the darkness (and I'm ALL about my darkness) that they described. Because I have so much.

"I have people, in my life, on this site, in places I've yet to discover, that always made me feel the truth of success: an artist and an audience communicating. Communicating to the point of collaborating. I've thought, 'maybe I'm over; maybe I've said my piece.' But never with fear. Never with rancor. Because of y'all. Because you knew me when.

"If you think topping a box office record compares with someone telling you your work helped them through a rough time, you're probably new here. (For the record, and despite my inhuman distance from the joy-joy of it: topping a box office record is super-dope. I'm an alien, not a robot.) So this is me, saying thank you. All of you. You've taken as much guff for loving my work as I have for over-writing it, and you deserve, in this our time of streaming into the main, to crow. To glow. To crow and go "I told you so", to those Joe Blows not in the know. (LAST time I hire Dr. Seuss to punch my posts up. Yeesh!) Point being, you deserve some honor."

Aw, Joss, you big loveable lug. The feeling's mutual.

10 Things You Need to Know about 'The Avengers'

Robert DeSalvo — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:00:34 +0000

Marvel/Disney

Two "Iron Man" movies, plus two interpretations of "The Hulk," plus "Thor" and "Captain America: The First Avenger" have led up to one of the most anticipated -- and teased -- superhero epics in cinematic history: "The Avengers."

Director Joss Whedon has miraculously melded together the different mythologies of these characters for a team-up that gives each character his or her due, yet still feels cohesive: a story about defeating Thor's half-brother Loki before he obliterates the Earth, now that he's gained access to the unlimited power of the Cosmic Cube, or Tesseract.

Fans worried about the end result of all of these heroes mixed together on-screen can officially breathe easy because "The Avengers" delivers on all levels, has unexpected bits of humor and is one of the choicest comic-book movies of all time. If you liked some or all of the individual superhero films that led up to "The Avengers," know that Whedon blows them all to Asgard. Yes, believers, it is truly that Marvel-ous.

Marvel/Disney

1. The Long Tease for 'The Avengers' Began in 2008 Because of Samuel L. Jackson

The idea for "The Avengers" first emerged during the production of "Iron Man," when producer Kevin Feige had a notion that S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement Logistics Division) could be a part of both "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk." "When the idea of a Nick Fury cameo started coming up, we called Sam Jackson and he thought it was a cool idea," Feige said at a recent Los Angeles press day for the film. "It was his enthusiasm that led us to shoot that end credit scene and what he says to Tony Stark in the scene: 'You're part of a bigger universe, you just don't know it yet.' The line was also Marvel telling that to the audience as well. The promise we made to Sam was, when we got to 'The Avengers,' it would be his time to shine."

Also Check Out: The Idiot's Guide to "The Avengers"

2. S.H.I.E.L.D. Is Finally Front and Center

"Up to this point in the previous Marvel movies, S.H.I.E.L.D. has just been this shadowy organization that pops out occasionally to give some advice and goes back into hiding," said Feige. "In this film, you really see the world through the eyes of S.H.I.E.L.D. and for the first time, audiences will get to see this big organization that has a lot of resources, a lot of equipment and has been tasked with keeping the world safe." The most iconic set of the film, the Helicarrier, is the headquarters for S.H.I.E.L.D. "It's basically an aircraft carrier in the sky," Whedon said. "It was always the idea of this flying fortress."

3. Pepper Potts Is the Only Superhero Girlfriend to Return for 'The Avengers'

Although "Thor"'s Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) is mentioned and briefly pictured in "The Avengers," Stark Industries president Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) is the only superhero girlfriend to make an appearance, at the insistence of Robert Downey Jr. "I said to Joss and Kevin, 'We really need Pepper to be involved in some way,'" Downey explained. "Tony and Pepper have grown to be pretty close, and it just makes sense that she would have some kind of influence over his decision to join the Avengers team." Paltrow added, "At the end of 'Iron Man 2,' Pepper and Tony had a real kiss, which was great because they had been building it up for two films. So in 'The Avengers,' the idea is that they're heading somewhere but it hasn't, shall we say, consummated yet."

Marvel/Disney

4. Hawkeye Is the Least-Seen Avenger Before 'The Avengers'

Although Jeremy Renner made a brief uncredited cameo as Hawkeye in "Thor," he doesn't shoot his first arrow on-screen until "The Avengers." Hawkeye is one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most elite agents and the greatest living marksman. Hawkeye's bow shoots distinctive deadly silver-tip arrows, but unfortunately for S.H.I.E.L.D., Hawkeye spends the early part of the movie fighting for the wrong team thanks to the power of the Tesseract. "I got banged around every day," said Renner. "I love being beat up by Scarlett [Johansson]. Wouldn't you? I also got to play with Thor's hammer, and he got to stroke my bow [pauses]. Oh, here we go ... "

5. Captain America's Manners Make an Argument for Nurture Over Nature

"[Captain America] has to deal with the emotions of finding out that everybody he knows is dead," said Chris Evans. "Every single person he called 'brother' on a battlefield is gone, and the world around him is a different place. It's more fast-paced and impersonal because new technologies have put barriers between people. In the '40s there was much more of a direct and honest sincerity in the way people behaved, and I think human interaction helps breed manner."

Also Check Out: 10 of This Summer's Blockbusters Re-Imagined as Indies

6. Aside from Being Sexy, Scarlett Johansson Is Not Like Black Widow

"Scarlett is probably the least like her character because she's so funny, delightful and just so darn cute," said Whedon. "I wanted her to play the role completely opposite of her personality because we wanted Black Widow to be a darker incarnation of who she was in 'Iron Man 2.'" Jackson added, "I want to be Scarlett. I want to be that cute for 15 minutes."

Marvel/Disney

7. Hulk Funny. No, Really.

The Hulk's personality really comes through in "The Avengers" thanks to advancements in motion-capture technology and the casting of Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk. "Very early on, we decided to build the Hulk's face off of Mark's, not just in terms of what he was going to do movement-wise in playing the character, but also the actual physicality of it, including the bone structure and contours of the eyes and mouth," said Whedon. "We really wanted to bridge the gap between the characters so that when he turns into the Hulk, you go, 'Oh my God, that's Bruce Banner!' Only he is big and green and very angry."

Hulk likes to smash lots of evil entities in "The Avengers," but he's not above quickly popping Thor if the Nordic god pisses him off. "I was surprised that the comedy in the film plays so well," said Chris Hemsworth.

8. Agent Coulson Has a Serious Man Crush on Captain America

Clark Gregg returns as Agent Coulson, a S.H.I.E.L.D. operative who loves his job and possesses some fighting skills and a dry sense of humor. "[Agent Coulson's] relationship with Steve Rogers is one of my favorites," said Gregg. "I wanted to find some other dynamic Coulson could have with Captain America and it hit me, 'Oh my God, he's a fanboy!' Giving him a man crush on Captain America not only lent itself to some of the funniest scenes, but also established the type of relationship they had, which led to the whole trading-card run in the scene -- possibly my favorite scene in the movie."

Marvel/Disney

9. Your Favorite Billionaire Philanthropist Playboy Genius Is Back the Way You Like Him

"Iron Man is a little more Han Solo than Luke," said Downey. "And he wears a Black Sabbath T-shirt for most of the shoot. He realized a while ago that he's not an island, and this time around he is beginning to understand that it's about a group mindset and that 'we' is better than 'I.' It was nice not having to carry a movie. Everyone is equal in this venture."

10. The Naked Truth About Mark Ruffalo

"My favorite moment was being naked in front of Harry Dean Stanton," said Ruffalo. Downey Jr. added, "How come it is only Harry Dean Stanton that gets to see Mark Ruffalo naked?"

Photos From the 'Avengers' Premiere

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Watch 5 of Earth's Mightiest 'Avengers' Clips

Max Evry — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:00:53 +0000

Marvel/Disney

Theater owners will have to add extra padding to their multiplex walls to absorb all the geeking out that's gonna happen when "The Avengers" finally assemble on May 4.

Director Joss Whedon, who singlehandedly orchestrated the Buffyverse, now has the whole Marvel Universe at his fingertips for one knock-down, drag-out comic book smorgasbord including Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) all fighting off a certain God of Mischief named Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and his army of Chitauri.

1. Black Widow gives these bad guys a little tae kwon ScarJo.

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2. Laser beams? Please. Captain America eats laser beams to the gut for breakfast.

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3. It's Iron Man taking on Thor, mano-a-mano ... or is that mano-a-GODo?

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4. Casually inserting the title of the movie into dialogue is no small feat, but twice in one scene? We salute you, Mr. Stark.

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5. Loki may have mystical powers, but between him and Nick Fury, only one of these fellas has a wallet with "Bad Mother F**ker" on it.

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Iron Man and Thor Duke it Out (With Joss Whedon Narrating) in This 'Avengers' Clip

Jenni Miller — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:55:46 +0000

Marvel/Disney

You won't have to wait much longer to see "The Avengers" in action, at least if you're reading this from the United States of Captain America. Of course, if you're anywhere else in the world, you've probably already seen it, and bully for you!

For the time being, you can get a glimpse of one of this epic superhero fights in this superhero extravaganza right now, with commentary from director/writer Joss Whedon. Find out what happens when Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr., natch) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) try and beat the heck out of each other.

What happens when a smart aleck in a spiffy metal suit fights the Mighty Thor of Asgard? Lots of lightning and hammer time, some serious damage to Tony Stark's outfit, and plenty of collateral damage.

"Thor is really losing it," Whedon explains. "Like, he's really losing his temper. By the end of the fight, he's seeing red, and that explains the escalation of the thing, and then it helped me work with Chris to make the fight go somewhere and not just be a series of blows."

Of course, Hemsworth is the one we're really checking out in this scene, if only because, well, he's the only one we can really see.

"Chris did most of the heavy lifting there because you can see his face," Whedon says. "Once you put the armor on [Iron Man], Robert is sitting in his trailer going, 'Uh…' Chris's physicality, his intensity is extraordinary." Yeah, it is! It also sort of sounds like Whedon says, "he has the sexiest face," which is also true.

The Idiot's Guide to 'The Avengers'

Scott Harris — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:00:46 +0000

Marvel/Disney

After months of unparalleled hype, "The Avengers" is set to hit theaters in just a few short days. For anyone who has seen Marvel's slew of superhero movies over the past four years, it's the culmination of an epic journey like no other.

And for those who haven't seen all of Marvel's movies… well, that's what we're here for.

In order to help you get ready for the movie event of the year, we've put together a comprehensive guide to "The Avengers." So whether you're a hardcore Marvel Zombie or a hero newbie who doesn't know your Pepper Potts from your Cosmic Cube, don't worry, because we've got it all covered right here.

Backstory

Marvel/Disney

Marvel Studios has been laying the groundwork for "The Avengers" ever since its first hit, "Iron Man," arrived in 2008. Overseen by shadowy spymaster Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), The Avengers Project is a plan to gather together the world's greatest and most powerful heroes, ready to deal with any kind of superhuman threat that is beyond the ability of our normal defense systems.

That threat comes in the form of Loki (Tom Hiddleston), who first menaced Earth in last year's "Thor." The finale of that film showed him trying to get his grubby hands on an incredibly powerful artifact called The Tesseract, which, by the way, was also the focal point of the Red Skull's nefarious schemes in Marvel's other hit from 2011, "Captain America." In "The Avengers," he finally gains control of The Tesseract, and Fury only has one option: a giant superhero movie crossover.

The Avengers

Marvel/Disney

Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.): A billionaire industrialist, playboy and philanthropist by day (seriously, just ask him), Tony Stark made his big-screen debut in "Iron Man," which showed how he created a suit of high-tech robotic armor from a BOX OF SCRAPS! IN A CAVE! In "Iron Man 2," Stark was deemed by SHIELD to be too unstable to join the Avengers, but imminent world destruction has a way of changing people's minds. Besides being super strong and super tough, Iron Man can fly and shoot force beams from his hands and do all sorts of other things … as long as his power supply doesn't short out his bum ticker.

The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo): The Hulk probably needs no introduction, but he's Dr. Bruce Banner, a scientist who was altered by the government in 2008's "The Incredible Hulk" in an ill-fated attempt to resuscitate the super soldier program that created Captain America. Instead, Banner developed the unfortunate habit of turning into a giant, enraged green behemoth whenever he stubs his toe or someone makes his latte wrong. He keeps saying that people woulnd't like him when he's angry, but fans actually seem to like him more and more the angrier he gets, so there goes that bit of conventional wisdom.

Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson): In her civilian identity as Natasha Romanoff, Black Widow infiltrated Stark Industries in "Iron Man 2," becoming Tony Stark's personal assistant in an effort to determine his suitability as a SHIELD operative. Trained as a super-spy, Black Widow is a martial arts and black ops expert and serves as the team's go-to agent when something more subtle than a hammer to the face is called for. In the comics, she was a former Soviet agent born in the 1930s with a mysterious past.

Also Check Out: It's Official: "The Avengers" Is Awesome

Thor (Chris Hemsworth): The son of the all-father Odin, Thor is the Norse god of thunder. And as shown in 2011's "Thor," he also was a bit of an arrogant d-bag until Odin cast him out of Asgard and forced him to spend some time living as a mortal man on Earth. Pretty much stronger and tougher than anybody except possibly The Hulk, Thor has the added advantage of wielding a giant magic hammer that allows him to control the weather and fly, among other things. Considering his stepbrother Loki is the main villain of "Avengers," expect to see plenty of Thor all up in your face.

Marvel/Disney

Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner): Glimpsed briefly in one of "Thor"'s many action sequences, SHIELD agent Clint Barton -- codename: Hawkeye -- is the world's greatest marksman, being able to do tricks with his bow that would make Robin Hood turn green with envy. If that doesn't necessarily sound like the most amazing power a superhero can have, it should be noted that he usually carries around a bunch of trick arrows that do things like short out suits of high-tech robotic armor (sorry, Iron Man) or detonate giant explosions. Plus, it takes serious cojones to stand up to a menace like Loki wielding just a bow and arrow; Hawkeye's biggest super power may just be courage.

Captain America (Chris Evans): Originally a spindly 98-pound weakling, 4F candidate Steve Rogers volunteered to be a guinea pig for the government's super soldier project during World War II. It worked, turning him into the perfect human weapon, able to run faster, jump higher and punch harder than any regular Joe alive. Armed with an indestructible shield, he took on the Nazis in 2011's "Captain America: The First Avenger," only to end up frozen in ice. 70 years later he's all thawed out, just in time to help SHIELD save the world.

Other People

Marvel/Disney

Loki (Tom Hiddleston): The Norse god of trickery, Loki has a bit of a chip on his shoulder due to the fact that he's not really Odin's son, but is actually the progeny of a frost giant king that Odin killed way back in the day. So he's got major daddy issues, not to mention a sibling rivalry with his beefcakier brother, Thor. But he has a pretty simple solution to working out his issues: ravaging Earth with the help of a horde of aliens. And, oh yeah, he's also an incredibly powerful wizard. Since the Avengers don't have Harry Potter in their lineup, that could be a major problem.

Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson): The leader of the secret high-tech spy organization known as SHIELD, Fury has the unenviable task of wrangling a bunch of prima donna superheroes. He manages this owing to the fact that he's Samuel L. MF-ing Jackson. Through the first few movies, he mainly showed up in cameos and post-credit sequences to drop a couple cryptic lines, but this time he takes center stage as the main man coordinating Earth's defense against Loki's invaders. Tough luck, Loki. You should have picked an enemy that wasn't Samuel L. Jackson.

Also Check Out: Loki and Iron Man Face Off in New "Avengers" Clip

SHIELD Agents Coulson and Hill (Clark Gregg and Cobie Smulders): Agent Coulson has been a cult favorite ever since he first showed up in "Iron Man." This time around, the understated operative is joined by Fury's understudy, Maria Hill, who is as feisty as Gregg is phlegmatic. Someone get these two a sitcom deal, pronto!

Behind the Scenes

Just about every major player from the first five Marvel movies is back on board for "The Avengers," but there is one exception -- one giant, green, angry exception. That's because "The Incredible Hulk" star Ed Norton had a falling out with Marvel over that film before it even arrived in theaters. As a result, Norton has been replaced by fellow Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo. But Ruffalo isn't the only major new addition, as "The Avengers" also boasts "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" creator Joss Whedon as its director. Talk about your geek heaven.

Reviews vs. Box Office

Marvel/Paramount

So how did the previous Marvel movies fare, both critically and at the box office? Pretty darn well, as it happens. Here are the stats:

"Iron Man": 94% Positive Rotten Tomatoes, $585 million worldwide
"The Incredible Hulk": 66% Positive Rotten Tomatoes, $263 million worldwide
"Iron Man 2": 74% Positive Rotten Tomatoes, $624 million worldwide
"Thor": 77% Positive Rotten Tomatoes, $449 million worldwide
"Captain America": 79% Positive Rotten Tomatoes, $368 million worldwide

The Comics

Created in 1983 by the comic book dream team of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, "The Avengers" was initially Marvel's answer to the DC Comics super-team The Justice League of America. After 40+ years of publication, Marvel rebooted the franchise last decade by adding popular heroes like Spider-Man and Wolverine to the team -- something we sadly will not be seeing in the movies, as the film rights to those fellows are controlled by other studios. Bummer.

What's Next?

With "Iron Man 3" set to begin filming next in May and both "Thor 2" and "Captain America 2" already planned, "The Avengers" franchise seems poised to become even bigger. Just how those films will fit together is anybody's guess at this point, but you can expect plenty of hints, teases and foreshadowing: Marvel already has announced that the three movies will help set up "Avengers 2." Plus, chances are we'll be getting some new members to the team, with the likely candidates being the synthetic hero known as The Vision and the size-changing husband and wife duo Hank Pym and The Wasp. Hang onto your shields -- we're just getting started.

'Avengers' Cast Still Filming Scenes?!

Scott Harris — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:06:41 +0000

Marvel

Generally speaking, once a movie has had its world premiere, that means it's complete. You know, Hollywood doesn't really roll out the red carpet unless there's actually a finished product. But since nobody ever accused Robert Downey Jr. and the folks at Marvel of being conventional, it appears that the cast of "Avengers" decided to just go ahead and film another new scene — a full day after the movie's premiere.

"Avengers" re-assemble?

Just what exactly the new scene is going to be is still unknown, but Downey Jr. spilled the beans himself during a post-premiere press conference yesterday. "We are shooting one more scene. Tonight," Downey Jr. said according to Collider, telling the disbelieving press that he was "not kidding."

And while director Joss Whedon pooh-poohed the idea that they would be shooting another scene just a couple of weeks before "The Avengers" is set to arrive in theaters nationwide (on May 4, of course), Mark Ruffalo apparently didn't get that memo, as the new Hulk actor confirmed to indieWire that the surprise shoot was a go.

"We're shooting a scene tonight. I'm not sure exactly where it's gonna go. All I know is that someone came in with the costume and said, 'Here's some wardrobe. We don't know where you're going to be or what you're doing.'" Ruffalo said. When asked if the new scene will be in the "The Avengers" when it hits theaters Ruffalo added, "Yeah. So I'm like, 'All right, when are we doing that?' Today after we're done."

So will the new scene be one of those infamous Marvel post-credit teases for the next film in their interconnected superhero world? Or did Whedon realize during the premiere that he just totally forgot to film something really important? Whatever the case, we've got to hand it to Marvel: Filming scenes after the movie is out is one great way to avoid spoilers leaking.

'Avengers' Photos

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We've Scared Up 3 Spooky 'Cabin in the Woods' Clips

Max Evry — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:00:39 +0000

Lionsgate

Like horndog lambs to the slaughter, a group of college kids get more than they bargained for when they travel to a remote "Cabin in the Woods" and encounter some things that mosquito repellent can't save them from.

This genre-bending experiment in fear is brought to you with tongue firmly in cheek by cowriter and director Drew Goddard ("Cloverfield") and "Avengers" helmer/geek deity Joss Whedon.

1. In a surprise to all of us, the tobacco-chewin', redneck, war-veteran gas-station attendant turns out to be an ornery cuss.

2. Chris Hemsworth gets infected with "stupid plot convenience" gas.

3. There could only be one thing down that creepy cellar door: raspberry preserves.

GALLERY: Marvel-ous Stars at the 'Avengers' Premiere

Bryan Enk — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:04:01 +0000

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Comic book characters and mere mortals alike walked the red carpet in Hollywood in celebration of the premiere of "The Avengers," Marvel's superhero mash-up featuring Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Black Widow, Hawkeye and even the Incredible Hulk joining forces to save the world from villainous tyranny.

Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner and Mark Ruffalo made out-of-costume appearances, as did director Joss Whedon and a slew of other celeb-types on hand to catch the summer movie season's first official offering.

Enjoy our collection of photos from the premiere and get ready to join forces with "The Avengers" yourself when it hits theaters on May 4.

Next Factor: 'Cabin in The Woods' Star Jesse Williams

Jenni Miller — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:00:10 +0000

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The buzz around "The Cabin in the Woods" is deafening, and Jesse Williams is in the middle of the beehive.

The former teacher, model and "Grey's Anatomy" hot doc is part of the ensemble headed off to the "Woods" cooked up by cowriter Joss Whedon and writer-director Drew Goddard. His character Holden is a smart cookie who can also kick some butt, which comes in handy when he and his friends run into some serious trouble during a weekend getaway. To know more is the spoil the fun, so don't read any reviews -- just head for the "Cabin," and get to know a little bit more about Williams first.

Age: 30

Hometown: Chicago, IL

What He's Done: He played model Leo in "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2," a cop in "Brooklyn's Finest" and Dr. Jackson Avery on "Grey's Anatomy." You might have also seen him in a music video by some pop star named Rihanna.

What He's Doing Now: He's Holden, the sexy and smart love interest for our heroine Dana (Kristen Connolly) in the awesome new horror film "The Cabin in the Woods."

Also Check Out: "The Cabin in the Woods" Trailer Has Evil Dead, Too

Reminds Us of: "Prison Break" star Wentworth Miller, fellow model and soccer lover David Beckham, and Michael Ealy from "Think Like a Man" and "Underworld: Awakening."

Fun Facts: His character in "Traveling Pants 2" drops trou as an artist's model for Alexis Bledel's art class. Obviously, his bum didn't make the final PG-13 cut.

Quotable: Williams dished on the secretive nature of being cast in the film at SXSW. "We were told from the beginning it's a horror film but it's more than that -- very much like how we are marketing it. Less is more would be the description. Our auditions were fake. The material we were reading totally wouldn't be in the film at all but you could still see the elements of it, that it was going to be a genre-bender."

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Shout Out: His "Grey" costar Ellen Pompeo had a ton of praise for her fellow on-screen MD at the Young Hollywood Awards last summer. "The cast of a TV show is often like a family," she said. "It takes a certain kind of person to break through and win everyone over. Jesse Williams is that kind of person … He's magnetic, on-screen and off, and we couldn't be happier to have someone who's so talented and amazing as part of our family."

Famous Friends: Williams is engaged to a real estate agent named Aryn, which means he gets bonus cool points for dating someone outside of the biz.

Twitter Handle: @JesseWilliams

What's Next: First, "The Cabin in The Woods" will knock your socks off. Then, Williams will be fielding offers right and left. Wait and see.

GALLERY: All the Photos From 'The Avengers' So Far

NextMovie Staff — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 21:08:02 +0000

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And there came a day, a day unlike any other, when we put together a gallery of amazing pics from the upcoming release of Marvel's mightiest superhero movie, "The Avengers."

Photos assemble!

Okay, so maybe we got carried away there, but once you get a look at the awesome images from Joss Whedon's cross-franchise heropalooza, which is set to destroy the box office beginning on May 4, we think you'll be feeling us. After all, "The Avengers" features all the biggest names from Marvel's biggest hits — including "Iron Man's" Robert Downey Jr., "Captain America's" Chris Evans and "Thor's" Chris Hemsworth among others — thrown together in one epic film that ties together every film the studio has done over the last five years.

So check it out — and get ready for an eyeful of awesome.

Warning: New 'Avengers' Trailer May Be Too Awesome For the Human Mind

Scott Harris — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:41:53 +0000

Marvel/Disney

Warning: The Surgeon General has determined that watching the new "Avengers" trailer may be hazardous to your health.

Symptoms include, but are not limited to, sudden and severe adrenaline rushes, elevated heart rate, uncontrollable fist pumping, spasmodic chest bumps with total strangers and the unquenchable need to shout "Hell Yes!" until your throat is rubbed raw.

You have been warned.

Of course, by now you probably figured it was physically impossible to be any more excited than you already are for the May 4 release of Joss Whedon's superhero crossover extravaganza "The Avengers," which stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans (among others) in their roles from "iron Man," Thor" and "Captain America."

But that's just because you haven't seen the newest trailer yet. Iron Man fighting Thor? Scarlett Johansson kicking ass as the Black Widow? Giant robot monsters destroying new York City? The assembled Avengers, face-to-face and fighting back-to-back?

Check it out, courtesy of Total Film -- and get the defibrillators ready:

Joss Whedon's 'In Your Eyes' Gets Good-Lookin' Leads

Bryan Enk — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:45:28 +0000

Getty Images

Zoe Kazan and Michael Stahl-David only have eyes for each other.

The two stars are set to get their Peter Gabriel on as they've signed on to play the two leads in writer Joss Whedon's science fiction romance, "In Your Eyes," according to Deadline.

Whedon's low-budget project had been previously described simply as "a metaphysical love story about two seemingly polar opposites who are deeply connected in ways neither could have ever imagined," but with the casting news come more details on the plot, or at least the basic premise.

Michael Stahl-David will play Dylan, a young criminal who served a prison sentence for robbery when he refused to rat on his accomplices and now lives in a trailer in New Mexico. Zoe Kazan, who replaces the previously cast Abigail Spencer, will play Rebecca, an attractive and slightly awkward young woman who's married to an older doctor and lives in Connecticut. The two have a powerful connection -- they can see and hear each other, even though they have never met and live on opposite sides of the country.

It still sounds a bit slight and abstract, but it also seems like the kind of low-key (and low-pressure) creative endeavor that might be just the ticket for Whedon as he comes down from the craziness that is (and will surely be) "The Avengers."

Michael Stahl-David is probably best known for keeping on his suit and tie as he traversed the monster-induced devastation of New York City in "Cloverfield." He appeared on the television series "Kings" and "My Generation" and is currently in post production on both "Mutual Friends" and the already-controversial revenge tale, "Girls Against Boys."

Zoe Kazan has quite an impressive resume with parts in "Happythankyoumoreplease," "It's Complicated," "In the Valley of Elah," "Fracture" and "Revolutionary Road." She also had a recurring role on HBO's "Bored to Death" and is currently in post production on "He Loves Me."

Production on "In Your Eyes" will begin soon in Los Angeles and New Hampshire under the direction of Brin Hill.

This New 'Avengers' Clip Is Super (Bowl, That Is)

Scott Harris — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:19:14 +0000

Marvel

In America, football is seen as the ultimate team sport, with eleven players on each side of the ball working together to accomplish a goal that no single player could accomplish alone. So it's only fitting that during this year's Super Bowl, the ultimate team game will feature a brand new spot for the ultimate team movie: "The Avengers."

And we've got your first sneak peek of it right here. Football Fans Assemble!

Of course, Marvel (and parent company Disney) don't want to spill the bean dip entirely, so they haven't yet posted the entire clip online. But even this ten-second teaser, which comes courtesy of The Film Stage, is enough to have film fans doing the wave, because it's basically an All-Star of cinematic superheroes, with Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and a CGI Incredible Hulk all making their appearance.

Add in some explosions and you'll see why this year's Super Bowl may be the Mightiest of them all:

Abigail Spencer Is The Light, The Heat of 'In Your Eyes'

Bryan Enk — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:11:37 +0000

Getty Images

Joss Whedon is in the mood for (supernatural) love -- and Abigail Spencer is near him.

The creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is returning to his roots with "In Your Eyes," a supernatural romance that is most assuredly named after the Peter Gabriel song made famous by a certain scene in Cameron Crowe's "Say Anything...," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Plot details on "In Your Eyes" are being kept closely under wraps, but the basic premise centers on two people who are preternaturally or supernaturally connected, despite being polar opposites. Abigail Spencer, who's probably best known for her role as Don Draper's mistress on "Mad Men," is attached to star, with Whedon writing and producing.

Whedon has managed to balance the gargantuan task of writing and directing (and promoting) "The Avengers" with some low-budget side projects, including a new contemporary version of "Much Ado About Nothing," which he shot in 12 days last October. "In Your Eyes," which will be directed by Brin Hill, will be set up at Whedon's new Bellwether Pictures, a "micro-studio" conjured to support these kinds of smaller-scale creative endeavors.

Abigail Spencer recently appeared as Alice in "Cowboys & Aliens" and will next be seen in "This Means War," opening Feb. 17. She also recently wrapped a role in Sam Raimi's "Oz, the Great and Powerful," which opens March 8, 2013.

"In Your Eyes" will probably be shot quickly and quietly later this year; meanwhile, "The Avengers" will be unleashed with much fanfare on May 4.

'The Avengers' Will Slam Evil in Three Dimensions

Bryan Enk — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:52:44 +0000

Marvel

Prepare for breathtaking feats of superheroic derring-do to just come flying out at you.

In a bit of news that should come as a surprise to no one, Disney has announced that its upcoming ultimate superhero team-up, "The Avengers," will get the 3D treatment, according to Deadline.

Director Joss Whedon shot the film in 2D, so this will be a post-conversion process -- something that usually gets people worried as they recall the nearly unwatchable "Clash of the Titans." However, Whedon himself told JoBlo that he knew from the beginning that "The Avengers" would eventually be converted to 3D and thought about the format "every second" while filming -- and assures us that the film won't be "obnoxiously 3D."

"There's no, 'Oh look, we're going to spend 20 minutes going through this tunnel because it's in 3D!'" says Whedon. "And no one is pointing at the screen the entire time. But it's an action movie. Things tend to hurtle toward the screen anyway."

Well, "Thor" and "Captain America: The First Avenger" both had 3D versions, so we guess there's no reason why "The Avengers" can't have one, too.

The third dimension for "The Avengers" isn't the only announcement Disney made today as it also revealed the title for the super-secret Pixar movie that has everyone buzzing. The title is "Frozen," which certainly fuels the rumors that the movie is about dinosaurs -- and shouldn't be confused with the horror movie of the same name (the one where kids get trapped on a ski lift whilst wolves circle below). Stay tuned for more details as they arise!

"The Avengers" will hit theaters on May 4, 2012 and "Frozen" arrives on Nov. 27, 2013.

'The Cabin in the Woods' Trailer Features Evil Dead, Too

Scott Harris — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:16:54 +0000

Lionsgate

Sam Raimi has been hard at work putting together the pieces for his long-awaited "Evil Dead" remake, but he might want to think twice, because if the new trailer for "The Cabin in the Woods" is any indication, it looks like Joss Whedon has already done his work for him.

And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Produced by Whedon and featuring a script he co-wrote with "Cloverfield" writer Drew Goddard (who also directs), "The Cabin in the Woods" makes no secret about he debt it owes Raimi's 1981 cult classic "The Evil Dead." In fact, for the first half of the trailer, "The Cabin in the Woods" seems like a faithfully spooky remake of "The Evil Dead," with "Thor" star Chris Hemsworth stepping into Bruce Campbell's iconic shoes as the lead character.

Then Whedon adds his signature sci-fi slant and the result is a trailer that will leave you as puzzled — and breathless — as anything in recent memory. Don't worry, Sam: It looks like your legacy is in good hands.

Here's the whole trailer, courtesy of Yahoo! Movies:

Joss Whedon Makes 'Much Ado About Nothing' Via Twitter

Elizabeth Durand — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:49:47 +0000

Getty Images

If you can't say it by tweeting maybe you shouldn't say anything at all. It seems more and more the Hollywood A-list is making its victories, challenges and catfights public through the highly followed site.

The latest star to tweet his big news is none other than writer/ director/ producer extraordinaire Joss Whedon. Bellwether Pictures tweeted that Whedon has just wrapped "Much Ado About Nothing," a movie he'd been filming completely in secret. That's quite an achievement. The Kardashians can't even get a haircut without the whole world knowing.

More impressively, Whedon's just-revealed flick looks promising—it boasts a cast that includes Reed Diamond, Sean Maher, Ashley Johnson, Nathan Fillion and Clark Gregg, Deadline reports. Oh, and did we mention the poster features a guy in snorkel gear chest deep in water, holding a martini? Because it does. And it's awesome.

In case the title doesn't give it away, "Much Ado About Nothing" is "based on a play" (probably by that Shakespeare guy). From what we can tell, we bet this is going to be a modern version of The Bard's work about two pairs of lovers—one wide-eyed and the other cynical—and how their relationships are tested.

Not that any of us would know anything about what that's like.

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Sweded 'Avengers' Trailer Will Make You Assemble in Your Shorts

Adam Swiderski — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:35:05 +0000

Marvel/Disney

If the recently-released "Avengers" trailer is to be believed, Joss Whedon's superhero crossover spectacle is going to be a an eye-popping special effects extravaganza featuring flying ships, lightning hammers, one big, green menace and explosions, explosions, explosions.

Which, you know, will be cool, but perhaps not as cool as this sweded version of the trailer, which features cardboard buildings, action figures, and also explosions, albeit of a much smaller variety.

For those unfamiliar, "sweding" was introduced to the wide world in Michel Gondry's "Be Kind Rewind" as the process of recreating big-budget movies with zero money and some of your friends in the parts occupied by Hollywood celebrities. It's a charming practice and sometimes works like gangbusters, as you'll see in the below video. Here's to you, chubby Captain America!

The First 'Avengers' Trailer Has Now Assembled

Scott Harris — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:39:03 +0000

Marvel

All superheros have their special accessories or gadgets that help them fight evil and save the day, even "The Avengers." Thor, for instance, wields the mystic hammer Mjolnir, while Captain America has his indestructible adamantium shield, Iron Man his suit of armor and Hawkeye his compound bow. So just what kind of accessory will you yourself need in order to handle the first "Avengers" trailer?

How about an adult diaper?

Yes, the hotly anticipated first trailer for Marvel's epic mega-blockbuster franchise crossover slash marketing experiment has arrived at last, giving fans their first real look at the movie that brings together the stars of the international hits "Iron Man," "Thor" and "Captain America."

And with Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans being joined by Scarlett Johansson (as "Iron Man 2's" Black Widow), Jeremy Renner (as "Thor's" Hawkeye) and Mark Ruffalo (taking the place of "The Incredible Hulk's" Edward Norton), as well as the ubiquitous Samuel L. Jackson, well, it's safe to say that no superhero movie has ever assembled this much firepower in one place before.

So does director Joss Whedon (who needs no introduction) pull it off? Check out the first trailer, courtesy of Apple Trailers and see for yourself:

'Avengers' Assembles New Character Portraits

Scott Harris — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:19:27 +0000

Entertainment Weekly

"And there came a day, a day unlike any other, when Earth's mightiest heroes and heroines found themselves united against a common threat. On that day, the Avengers were born—to fight the foes no single super hero could withstand!"

And we've seen the brand new cast photos to prove it.

Of course, assembling "The Avengers," Marvel's uber-crossover superhero epic, is no mean trick considering the movie features all of the big name stars from their blockbuster solo films, including "IronMan 2's" Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson, "Captain America's" Chris Evans and "Thor's" Chris Hemsworth. Considering how busy these guys are, getting them together is a logisitical nightmare; frankly, we're not sure how they have the time to defeat any supervillains what with their media schedule alone.

Which may help explain why the photo shoot from Entertainment Weekly doesn't actually show the team assembled together, but rather consists of character portraits of the six Avengers in the film (the other two being Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and Mark Ruffalo and The Hulk). A little disappointing, but still, it's very cool to see The Avengers in their costumes, even if Ruffalo appears to be auditioning for "Zoolander 2."

So for now, check out all the new mug shots on EW. And remember: Even for Earth's Mightiest Heroes, there is some assembly required.

Scarlett Johansson: Beware The Black Widow's Sting

Scott Harris — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:03:52 +0000

Getty Images

Black widows are notorious for being among the most dangerous spiders on Earth, not only to humans, but also to their male counterparts, whom they frequently eat after mating. And now we know why they are so militant when it comes to their gender politics: They're just trying to strike a blow for girl power.

At least, assuming the Black Widow in question is Scarlett Johansson, as ShowbizSpy is reporting that the fiery-haired actress is taking a stand for equality on the set of the upcoming superhero blockbuster "The Avengers." Watch out, Thor!

Of course, the likelihood of Johansson actually eating anyone, even someone as yummy as co-stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth or Chris Evans, is pretty remote. But one thing is clear: Johansson doesn't want to just be eye candy, she wants to be thrashing evil right alongside her male -- and superpowered -- companions.

"Scarlett is making a point of not being the token woman in the movie," the report states. "She has had extra action scenes already but is still wanting more. She’s also been very reluctant to have her character be a love interest for the male heroes. Scarlett wants Black Widow to be on a level with the guys if not even more super!"

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Of course, the Black Widow technically doesn't have any super powers, but we know what she's getting at. Honestly, though, we can't imagine that this is actually an issue; "The Avengers," after all, is being directed by Joss Whedon, who pretty much is the standard bearer for girls kicking ass. We're guessing that with Whedon in charge, it's more likely that Johansson's male co-stars are the ones who need to beg for some on-screen equality.

But if she gets her way, that's cool too. After all, "Black Widow and the Avengers" does have a certain ring to it.

First Official 'Avengers' Tease Is Marvel-ous

Scott Harris — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:27:17 +0000

Marvel

Last weekend, the movie event of the summer took place. No, we're not talking about Comic-Con, we're talking about the brief teaser trailer for "The Avengers" that ran after the credits for "Captain America: The First Avenger." It was enough to send your average fanboy into detox for treatment of a natural high.

Well, today, Marvel has released the first official clip of "The Avengers" onto the internet -- and what it lacks in running time it more than makes up for with awesomeness.

Not to be a tease, though, but before we get to the actual clip -- settle down there, hoss -- director Joss Whedon recently sat down with the folks at io9 to discuss just what makes "The Avengers" the biggest superhero film of all time, besides the fact that, you know, it has the main characters of "Iron Man," "Captain America," "Thor" and "The Incredible Hulk" all in the same movie.

"There is so much action in this movie, and there is a lot of testosterone just in these characters," Whedon said. "The actors themselves are much more giving than the characters are. The cast is a much better team [in real life] than the Avengers are. But the fact is, at the end of the day, everybody is posturing, everybody is trying to one-up the other person, whether it's a conversation or a fight or the movie as a whole, so it's a very macho thing.

"Although there is a lot of angst and a lot of human drama — which are the reasons you go to the movie, but you're not supposed to talk about them in an action film, there's also a lot of expression of this human drama through hitting each other in the face and blowing up cars, so I think everybody's going to win."

And that winning begins right now. This clip, which follows a short scene from the end of "Captain America," may be short, but if you go frame by frame -- which obivously we've been doing over and over again all morning -- you can see shots of all six of the "Avengers," including Hawkeye and Black Widow, as well as some new costumes to boot.

So here it is: Robert Downy Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johansson, officially assembled at last, courtesy of Yahoo! Movies:

'Avengers' Character Posters Revealed; Trailer Plays After 'Captain America'

Scott Harris — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:00:21 +0000

Marvel

Hey guys, remember all the chatter heading into Comic-Con about Joss Whedon's announcement that Marvel wouldn't be showing any footage from "The Avengers" over the weekend? And the disappointment over the fact that the first "Avengers" poster didn't have any characters on it?

Well, it turns out that the maestro of geekdom was just playing us all like a fiddle, because all that reverse buzz was apparently a big pysch-out, as the first "Avengers" trailer did actually debut over the weekend -- as did a set of awesome new posters featuring the entire line-up of Marvel's heaviest hitters.

Oh, Joss Whedon. You've done it again.

It seems like just a couple days ago that we reported that the first Avengers teaser poster was out -- actually, it was just a couple of days ago -- and that while the stylized "A" was kind of a cool nod to old-school fans of the comic, it didn't exactly have the pizazz fans were hoping for.

Well, time flies, because that's all gone by the boards as Marvel has since released a set of seven new character posters -- one each for Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). And best of all? As you can see in the gallery below (via Empire), they all fit together to form a panorama of Earth's mightiest heroes getting ready to kick some serious butt.

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And if that wasn't enough for "Avengers fans," there's this news: The long-awaited first footage from the film wasn't running at Comic-Con because it was already appearing in movie theaters around the world in a special sneak preview following "Captain America: The First Avenger."

While we're still waiting for Marvel to release an official version of it online, you can check it out at your local cineplex today (or, if you're feeling particularly saucy, you can try this unofficial bootleg, but it's just not the same).

New posters, new trailers and a crazy reverse psychology hype plan from Joss Whedon? All we can say is, "Avengers" Assemble!

The 9 Coolest Moments in Comic-Con History

Scott Harris — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:00:52 +0000

Getty Images

Around the country, people of every race, religion and walk of life are pulling out their Stormtrooper costumes, dusting off their "I Grok Spock" T-shirts and lovingly preparing their CGC-slabbed, 9.2-graded, personally autographed copy of "Brother Power the Greek" #3. It can only mean one thing: Comic-Con is about to return to San Diego.

Over the years, Comic-Con has provided movie fans with some of the most buzzed-about moments in pop culture history. In order to get y'all properly stoked for this year's edition of the world's preeminent fan festival, here's a look back at nine of the most buzzworthy moments in Con history.

'300'

Of all the success stories to come out of Comic-Con, perhaps none is as surprising and impressive as Zack Snyder's "300." Heading into the 2006 Comic-Con, only the most hardcore Frank Miller fans were paying much attention to the adaptation of his acclaimed mini-series about the Battle of Thermopylae. That group, however, happens to include everybody who attends Comic-Con, which helps explain why the "300" presentation became the stuff of Comic-Con legend, with buzz that propelled the film to a shocking $456 million gross worldwide.

'Iron Man'

Getty Images

Director Jon Favreau pulled off a Comic-Con coup when he jumped the gun in 2007; expected to debut a couple short shots from the film during his Saturday panel, he surprised everyone by appearing at a Thursday night event to premiere an extended trailer instead. Fan lapped up every second of it, turning "Iron Man" into the most buzzed-about project of the year and helping kick off the worldwide Marvel movie phenomenon that has continued since.

Harrison Ford in Handcuffs

Favreau managed to make headlines again last year, although not entirely for the right reasons. After decades of being conspicuously absent, legendary action hero Harrison Ford finally made his Comic-Con debut to hype "Cowboys & Aliens." As a joke about Ford's reticence in appearing, Favreau brought him out in handcuffs, pretending they had to arrest him to get him to show up. Unfortunately, this skit happened just hours after a fan was stabbed in the eye at another panel, leading some to conclude it was a very bad joke. The whole thing helped "Cowboys & Aliens" steal the spotlight, though, so all's well that ends well. Except for that guy's eye, anyway.

'Twilight' Mania

Hard to believe it's been less than three years since "Twilight" first hit the big screen. But fans at Comic-Con in 2008 got a sneak preview not just of the movie, but of the phenomenon itself. The first-ever "Twilight" panel quickly became the hottest ticket in town and when the stars took the stage, we all found out why, as hysterical Twihards regaled their idols with cheers, screams and swooning throughout. By the end it was clear that "Twilight" was going to change pop culture -- and Comic-Con itself -- forever.

Why So Serious?

MTV Movies Blog

When fans arrived at Comic-Con in 2007, some of them discovered something a little odd in their pocket -- it turned out the Joker was very happy to see them. That's because a number of $1 bills had been cleverly defaced, giving George Washington a Joker grin, accompanied by the tagline "Why So Serious?" The greenbacks also included a code that directed fans to a secret downtown location, where they discovered the money was kicking off the "Dark Knight" promotion machine. The film would go on to earn the late Heath Ledger an Oscar for his performance as the Joker, and the stunt would become the stuff of Comic-Con legend.

'Tron 2'?!

Fans heading into the Disney panel at the 2008 Comic-Con weren't really sure what to expect, but whatever they anticipated, it certainly wasn't several minutes of footage from "Tron 2." But to everyone's shock, that's exactly what they got, as Disney unveiled scenes from the film's signature light cycle duel -- before most fans even knew they were filming "Tron 2" at all. By the end of the day, "Tron 2' was trending all over the Internet, and the Comic-Con buzz machine had once again created a phenomenon.

'In Brightest Day...'

Comic-Con fans can get a little jaded -- after all, there are only so many Slave Leias and super-secret sneak previews you can see before you start to tune out -- but the little kid in everyone was cheering last year thanks to an actual little kid who popped up during the "Green Lantern" Q&A to ask star Ryan Reynolds what was on everybody's mind: just what does the Green Lantern Oath sound like? Charmed, Reynolds gave an impromptu performance that had audiences cheering -- and gave one young fan the memory of a lifetime.

'The Avengers' Cast Revealed

Getty Images

There's star power, and then there's what happened during last year's "Avengers" panel from Marvel Studios. The coolest person on the planet, Samuel L. Jackson, took the stage to talk about the film, but the ovation he received was was just the prelude for the madness that followed, as the entire cast of the film -- including superstars like Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth and Robert Downey Jr. -- appeared together, along with Comic-Con legend and "Avengers" director Joss Whedon. We still get goosebumps just talking about it.

'Star Wars'

And no list of Comic-Con buzz moments could possibly be complete without a nod to the film that started it all back in 1976, "Star Wars." When a handful of Comic-Con fans showed up that year for a little presentation about an upcoming film few had ever heard of, nobody could have guessed that the resulting buzz would help propel "Star Wars" to become one of the greatest cultural phenomenons of all time -- and help turn a little gathering of comic book fans in San Diego into one of the defining events in Hollywood. But it did and it did, and the rest, as they say, is history.

'Thor' Post-Credits, Brought to You by… Joss Whedon?

Elizabeth Durand — Fri, 20 May 2011 21:56:15 +0000

Marvel Studios

That's right. Joss Whedon—the man currently directing Marvel's mega-superhero flick "The Avengers"— had actually already gotten some practice with this action-packed genre before setting foot on set.

How, you ask?

It turns out that Whedon directed the post-credits sequence for "Thor," which involved Stellan Skarsgard and Samuel L. Jackson, Collider reports.

Skarsgard revealed that this ending was shot only a few months ago. And with the release date fast approaching, "Thor" director Kenneth Branagh was tied up with post-production work on the film.

So Whedon, who was probably drowning in "Avengers" prep and eager to get behind the camera, stepped in.

Isn't it nice when things just work out?

Hopefully all of Whedon's hard work will pay off. But with a cast that includes Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson (to name but a few), it's hard to imagine it won't.

"The Avengers" flies into theaters May 42012.

Whedon Was Offered, Turned Down Chance To Backpedal With ‘Buffy’ Reboot

Max Evry — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:22:30 +0000

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"Hey Joss, it's Chuck, Chuck Roven. Super, how are you? Good, good. Listen, babe, I was doing the backstroke in that swimming pool filled with Johnnie Walker Blue Label I bought with my 'Dark Knight' money, and I got an idea. I don't know if it was sheer inspiration or alcohol poisoning, but I had two words in my head: 'Buffy… Reboot.' I know you've done it twice before, but what do ya think, buddy, third time's the charm? Huh? Hello? Hello? You still there, Jossy?"

That's our speculative impression of what may have gone down when "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" creator Joss Whedon got the call from producer Charles Roven to reboot the franchise he created for the 1992 movie and then re-envisioned for the highly popular TV series, which ran from 1997 to 2003.

According to Heat Vision, this call really happened, although Roven may or may not have been swimming in a pool filled with $200-a-bottle whisky. Apparently after the original film's director Fran Rubel Kuzui teamed with Roven to jumpstart the reboot at Warners, they offered Whedon the pilot's seat but he declined in order to pursue other projects.

That other project turned out to be an obscure indie movie called "The Avengers," which will begin filming shortly starring washed-up actor Robert Downey Jr.

Of course in hindsight it would have been silly for Whedon to turn down an opportunity to make the star-studded, mega-budget "Avengers" for a project he already devoted half his career to. Like the fish and apes humans sprang from, Whedon must be allowed to evolve, and as he stated in his hilarious letter last week, to pursue original works "like I did with my 'Avengers' idea that I made up myself."

Joss Whedon Pens Hilarious Tell-Off Note To 'Buffy' Reboot Makers

Max Evry — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:40:12 +0000

Getty Images

Those of you still sitting shiva over yesterday's news that Warner Bros. will be birthing a surrogate "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" movie without the aid of the property's father can mourn in style today, as Joss Whedon has written a proper eulogy for his hopes and dreams.

In an often hilarious letter to E! Online, the creator of the beloved "Buffy" TV show and writer of the less-beloved original 1992 "Buffy" movie waxes philosophically about the situation surrounding what he refers to as "Buffy the cinema film."

Says the Sardonic Whedon, "This is a sad, sad reflection on our times, when people must feed off the carcasses of beloved stories from their youths — just because they can't think of an original idea of their own, like I did with my 'Avengers' idea that I made up myself.

"Then I thought," he continued, "'I'll make a mint! This is worth more than all my 'Toy Story' residuals combined!' Apparently I am seldom informed of anything. And possibly a little slow. But seriously, are vampires even popular any more?

"I always hoped that Buffy would live on even after my death. But, you know, AFTER. I don't love the idea of my creation in other hands, but I'm also well aware that many more hands than mine went into making that show what it was. And there is no legal grounds for doing anything other than sighing audibly."

He ends his good-natured kiss-off note with a promise to the reboot's producer, Charles Roven of "The Dark Knight" fame, to make "The Dark Knight Rises Way Earlier Than That Other One And Also More Cheaply And In Toronto."

Former "Buffy" star, Eliza Dushku, clearly shares some of those sentiments, tweeting, "Joss made the 'Buffster' & w/out him... I just don't trust the girl. Or the world."

Whedon is, of course, currently hard at work bringing one of the biggest tickets of 2012, Marvel's "The Avengers," to the screen, so this letter was probably his classy way to essentially tell his often-vocal fans, "Don't cry for me, Argentina." Way to go, Joss!

Robert Downey Jr. Shares His Thoughts on 'The Avengers' Script

Greg Tumbarello — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 21:19:53 +0000

Paramount

Robert Downey Jr. may have reinvigorated his acting career as Tony Stark: Iron Man and playboy billionaire, but is he also a Hollywood script doctor?

While the screenplay to the upcoming "The Avengers" film is on lockdown (most likely protected by a Helicarrier's worth of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents), Downey revealed he's had his security clearance upgraded.

"I just read the script and it's going to be fantastic," Downey told MTV News. "Joss Whedon is awesome and once I tear his script to smithereens and fix it, we're going to have a great movie," the actor said with a classic dry wit.

Was he kidding... or was the truth about the script just told in jest? You'll have to check out MTV Splash Page for more.

'Avengers' Director Joss Whedon Loves the Ladies

Scott Harris — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:25:09 +0000

Paramount

There's been a lot of talk this summer about The Bechdel Test, a simple criteria to determine if a movie is friendly to women or not. Well, "Avengers" director Joss Whedon has apparently been paying attention, because he's announced that there will, in fact, be more than one woman in the film.

She just won't be an Avenger.

Yes, sorry about that, Tigra and Scarlet Witch fans. As reported by Moviehole, Whedon revealed to Australia's Sunday Herald-Sun that he will be featuring more than one lovely lady in "The Avengers," she just won't actually be an Avenger herself, meaning that Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow will be the only distaff superhero on board.

"It is true that the movie is only going to have one female Avenger," Whedon said, "but she will not be the only female character."

So just who will the mystery woman or women be? Considering that each of the mighty menfolk in the film has a romantic interest, it's possible that one or more significant others will appear, the most likely being Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts character from 'Iron Man.' Betty Ross ('The Incredible Hulk') and Jane Foster ('Thor') are also possibilities, while Captain America squeeze Sharon Carter also has an in considering she is an agent of SHIELD, the government organization that founds the Avengers in the film.

Our guess? Whedon may have ruled out more female Avengers for this film but we know the creator of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' is itching to direct some ass-kicking hotties, so expect to see cameos from characters like Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel) and Janet Van Dyne (The Wasp) in preparation for bigger parts in the sequel.

After all, Whedon wouldn't want to fail that test, would he?