The Avengers Filming Article From New Mexico Film Organisation

Governor Bill Richardson and Marvel Studios Announce Largest Movie Production in New Mexico History

Marvel Studios will shoot ensemble comic book Super Hero film

SANTA FE, NM—Governor Bill Richardson and Marvel Studios’ Co-President Louis D’Esposito announced that Marvel Studios will film the comic book Super Hero adventure film THE AVENGERS primarily in New Mexico. The production will be the largest feature film ever made in the state as well as the largest Marvel production to date. The film is estimated to employ hundreds of New Mexican based cast and crew, and use hundreds of local service and supply vendors. Pre-production is already underway, with principal photography scheduled to start in April 2011 and running through September, 2011.

“In addition to being our biggest production to date, THE AVENGERS will be the most technologically advanced and will provide cutting-edge training opportunities for our crew,” said Richardson. “I’m announcing this as a Christmas present of sorts to the people of New Mexico. This is a perfect example of the incredible job creation, economic impact and global visibility this industry has brought our state over the past eight years, and of the need to keep it moving forward.”

“We are incredibly excited to be returning to New Mexico with THE AVENGERS. We had a terrific experience shooting portions of THOR in the Land of Enchantment and we are looking forward to making New Mexico even more of a home on our next production. THE AVENGERS is our biggest film to date and New Mexico is the right place for us to shoot the film,” said Louis D’Esposito, Co-President, Marvel Studios. “We welcome THE AVENGERS to Albuquerque and look forward to hosting Marvel Studios over the coming year,” said Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry. “Clearly, Albuquerque remains a premiere city in the U.S. for production.”

The production will occupy the available stages at Albuquerque Studios for the better part of a year in addition to considerable location work in regions still to be announced. Parts of the film will also be shot in New York and Michigan.

In May 2012, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes unite for the Super Hero team up of a lifetime. Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America and Thor assemble in the spectacular summer film event “Marvel Studios’ THE AVENGERS,” starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Clark Gregg and Samuel L. Jackson. Marvel Studios’ THE AVENGERS is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series The Avengers, first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since.

Joss Whedon is set to write and direct THE AVENGERS. Kevin Feige is the Producer alongside Executive Producers Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Alan Fine, Stan Lee and Patty Whitcher and Co-Producers Jeremy Latcham and Victoria Alonso.

A New Mexico connection to Marvel Super Heroes was first glimpsed in the plot of IRON MAN 2, when Thor’s hammer was believed to have been discovered in the state. Marvel also filmed a large portion of the feature film THOR in New Mexico earlier this year. THOR is scheduled to be released in May, 2011.

Since Governor Richardson took office in 2003, more than 150 major film and television productions have been made in New Mexico, with an estimated economic impact of almost $4 billion. There are 10,000 direct and indirect film-related jobs in the state, and more than 250 businesses and services directly related to the industry, with thousands more providing support goods and services.

Visit the New Mexico Film Office online at www.nmfilm.com, as well as on Facebook & Twitter

About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit www.marvel.com.

Crew resumes can be submitted to: “Group Hug” c/o Albuquerque Studios 5650 University Blvd. SE Bldg. C / 1st Floor Albuquerque, NM 87106 Or Email: [email protected]

© 2010 MVL Film Finance LLC. TM & © 2010 Marvel Entertainment, LLC and its subsidiaries. Super Hero(es) is a co-owned registered trademark.