Filming of The Avengers also took place at Creekside Mushroom Farms (Worthington, Pennsylvania) for a chase sequence which involved Loki, Agent Coulson and Maria Hill. The site has over 150 miles of abandoned limestone tunnels and encompasses 800 acres beneath the surface. It took months to prepare the location, although actor Tom Hiddleston explains why it all paid off in the end. "It was just extraordinary down there. We were shooting a chase scene with about fifteen SUVs, driving 50 mph up and down the tunnels. I was loosely strapped to the back of the truck, and there’s just no substitute for the real experience. It feels exciting, dangerous and dramatic and you can feel the energy and dynamism of the shot. I think the sequence is going to be extraordinary. Personally, I let everyone know on first unit that it was probably one of the coolest locations I have ever shot in."
Cobie Smulders is tasked with chasing after Loki after he escapes the S.H.I.E.L.D. compound. She had this to say on her experience.
"I had to drive this huge military truck with no doors, which was a little scary, but after a few takes I was leaning out of the vehicle and shooting my gun,” says Smulders. “It was just so much fun. They kept telling me, ‘We got it,’ but I was having so much fun, I kept asking for more takes."
Of course, it's not only Cobie Smulders who takes on Loki in Joss Whedon's epic superhero ensemble. Each member of the team eventually faces off with Loki as Tom Hiddleston explains.
"Loki goes toe-to-toe with Tony Stark, Nick Fury, Captain America, Thor, The Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye. It’s been absolutely amazing working with these actors. They’re some of the greatest actors and icons in their own right. It’s like being in the best kind of superhero rock band you could possibly hope for." Scarlett Johansson adds:
"When do you ever get to see this group of actors come together in this kind of fantasy world? For me, getting to work with everyone was just so incredibly rewarding. ‘The Avengers’ is a throwback to what people loved in the original ‘Iron Man,’ but with a sci-fi infusion. It is everything that Joss loves about sci-fi, which is being able to escape into this ultimate otherworldly reality, but still be heartfelt and sincere."
"Sometimes in the moment on this film, the gravity of the situation would hit me and I would catch myself thinking, ‘What a sweet deal this is,’" says
Robert Downey Jr. on his role in the superhero ensemble.
"I think more and more now that I’m 46, I should be in this phase of my development where you appreciate things while they’re happening and this is one of the first times I really had that feeling throughout the production and it just was a lot of fun to work and hang out with everyone."
•Kevin Feige, Joss Whedon and Robert Downey Jr. Discuss MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS
•The Cast Of MARVEL'S THE AVENGERS Discuss Their Characters In The Superhero Ensemble
•Kevin Feige Describes THE AVENGERS As Being From Nick Fury's Point Of View
•Joss Whedon, Cobie Smulders And More Comment On Maria Hill's Place In THE AVENGERS
•Robert Downey Jr.: "If Steve Rogers And Tony Stark’s Relationship Doesn't Work, Then THE AVENGERS Doesn’t Work"
•Joss Whedon Describes Agent Coulson's "Man Crush" On Captain America In THE AVENGERS
•Robert Downey Jr. And Gwyneth Paltrow On The Return Of Pepper Potts In THE AVENGERS
•Joss Whedon And Chris Evans Discuss The First Day Of Shooting THE AVENGERS
•Joss Whedon And Jeremy Latcham On The Challenges Of Writing THE AVENGERS
•Stellan Skarsgård And Patricia Whitcher On Bringing Back Erik Selvig For THE AVENGERS
•Tom Hiddleston Talks Stunt Training And Loki's Battle With Thor On Stark Tower
•Joss Whedon, Scarlett Johansson And Samuel L. Jackson Talk Black Widow
•Chris Hemsworth And Kevin Feige Talk THE AVENGERS; Reveal How Thor Returns To Earth
•Kevin Feige And Louis D'Esposito On S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Role In THE AVENGERS
•The Cast And Crew Of THE AVENGERS Discuss Assembling On Set For The First Time
•Scarlett Johansson And More Discuss Training For Black Widow's Fight Scenes
•Joss Whedon And Mark Ruffalo On Bringing A New Bruce Banner To The Big Screen In THE AVENGERS
•Tom Hiddleston And Chris Hemsworth Discuss Thor And Loki's Relationship And More
•The Crew Of THE AVENGERS Look Back On The Explosive Scenes Filmed In Cleveland
•Joss Whedon And Kevin Feige Discuss The Design And Introduction Of The Helicarrier
•Chris Evans And Chris Hemsworth Describe The Battle Between Cap, Thor And Iron Man
•Joss Whedon And Mark Ruffalo Talk Revealingly About Their Take On The Hulk
STARRING:
Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man
Chris Hemsworth as Thor
Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye
Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Ramanoff/Black Widow
Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/Hulk
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson
Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill
Tom Hiddleston as Loki
RELEASE DATE: April 26th, 2012. (UK) May 4th, 2012. (US)