I'm confident most of you have seen the film by now as if you're on this site then you're probably of the fanboy community and have most likely seen the movie more than once. To read my stellar review of Joss Whedon's film click here. Be forewarned, we are entering significant spoiler territory so for those random individuals who may stumble upon this post and have yet to see the movie I'll be taking special precautions for their benefit. Scroll down for the info.
HIGHLIGHT TEXT BELOW TO UNCOVER
If you've seen the movie by now, you are well aware that fan favorite S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson is killed by Loki. Or is he? As many have speculated already, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) calls in Coulson's death over walkie-talkie to Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) and tells her not to send paramedics as there are some already there who have pronounced Coulson dead. However, we never see any of this and have to take Fury at his word. By the end of the movie it's pretty evident that Fury has no qualms about telling lies and manipulating Earth's Mightiest Heroes as he see's fit. Two rumors already running wild are either Coulson did not die or he'll come back as Vision. I can't confirm either of these rumors but I can share an interview I did with Gregg back in December about what's next for Phil Coulson after The Avengers.
Here's the first interview where I asked Phil how many Marvel film's he's signed up for----
Mark Julian: Now originally no one knew how important your character would become after the first Iron Man. Are you signed for 7 pictures like Chris Evans and Samuel Jackson or do you renegotiate with each subsequent film?
Clark Gregg: I was signed up for a bunch of pictures, I think it was six.
MJ: There’s a new director joining the Marvel camp in Patty Jenkins. Have you had a chance to speak with her?
CG: No. But I’m going to be speaking with her very soon. And I’m looking forward to it because I’m a big fan of hers and I thought the movie she made [Monster] was great.
MJ: Marvel's got Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Guardians of the Galaxy, Namor, and [the Inhumans]; all in various stages of development. Has anyone approached you about being in any of those movies?
CG: The one’s you’ve named, no, not the ones you’ve named. I’m talking with them about doing a couple of other movies but it’s not the one’s you’ve named.
MJ: Aha! So what has come up in those talks?
CG: You’re trying to get me murdered. You’re trying to get me killed by my own S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and that would be bad.
The second interview was more cursory but Gregg did reveal that he's had conversations about potentially directing something for Marvel as well.
Obviously, I didn't get anything specific out of Gregg and know we all now why. However, it's very, very, very interesting that Gregg was going to meet with "THEN" Thor 2 director Patty Jenkins seeing as how he's "dead" and all (Filming wrapped in September so I'm fairly sure he knew he was supposedly dead.) And while he hasn't been approached for any of the films I named he did confirm that he's had discussions about appearing in one or more of Marvel's upcoming films. All in all, I'd have to say it's a good chance that Agent Coulson's role in the Marvel Universe is not over. Couple this with the recent reveal from Kevin Feige that Marvel has filmed a secret project that will be revealed in the coming months and I'd say it's a safe bet that it has something to do with Coulson. You can listen to our interviews below and hear for yourself.
The Avengers is an upcoming American superhero film produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name. It is the sixth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film is written and directed by Joss Whedon and features an ensemble cast, which includes Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson. In The Avengers, Nick Fury, director of the peacekeeping organization S.H.I.E.L.D., recruits Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, and Captain America to save the world from destruction.
Development of The Avengers began when Marvel Studios received a grant from Merrill Lynch in April 2005. After the success of the film Iron Man in May 2008, Marvel announced that The Avengers would be released in July 2011. With the signing of Scarlett Johansson in March 2009, the film was pushed back for a 2012 release. Whedon was brought on board in April 2010 and rewrote the screenplay that was originally written by Zak Penn. Production began in April 2011 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, before moving to Cleveland, Ohio in August 2011 and New York City in September 2011. The film was converted to 3D in post-production.
The Avengers is scheduled for release on May 4, 2012 in the United States in 2D and 3D.
Running Time: 2 hrs 23minutes
Release Date: May 4 2012 (USA)
MPAA Rating: PG 13 for for intense sequences of action and violence, some disturbing images, and language
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hiddleston, Cobie Smulders, Jeremy Renner, Clark Gregg, Stellan Skarsgård, Mark Ruffalo, Amanda Righetti, Scarlett Johansson and Lou Ferrigno
The Incredible Hulk (voice) .
Directed by: Joss Whedon
Written by: Zak Penn (initial screenplay), Joss Whedon (revised screenplay)