In addition to the reveal of
new photos, inside the latest
Empire magazine, in which four of Earth's Mightiest heroes
cover, Marvel's
The Avengers movie director-writer Joss Whedon discussed the "300-million behemoth, once-in-a-generation blockbuster," as Empire describes. Courtesy of
Alicehills, and transcribed by yours truly.
Dotting on the challenge of penning a story servicing each characters' existing storylines, as well their future solo ventures, Whedon says:
"It was an up-all-month job. Finding the characters' voices was not only easy, but glorious fun - it doesn't suck to write Tony Stark - yet finding the structure was just brutal. I haven't had that much trouble making a screenplay work since Serenity, and embarrassingly, for the exact same reason: there's just too many characters."
Rehashing on initially approaching the story as "Iron Man and friends," Whedon assures us that:
"It's a full ensemble. Some people may feel they're a little more marginal, but nobody was counting the lines, or going, 'How come he's got and I don't got?' At the end of the day, they knew they were going to get their moment and I was going to give them something glorious."
Discussing an unexpected reality during filming, which shot down nightmares that the ensemble cast wouldn't get along, Whedon amusingly says, while affecting a serious manner:
"When I had everybody on screen, you really saw an uglier side of all these guys, because they would not stop chatting. Giggle giggle giggle, chat chat chat. Literally the only time I raised my voice when were filming was because these guys would not shut up and we had to roll. Don't get me wrong - you would see them standing next to each other going, 'Is his costume cooler? Are his muscles bigger?' But every single one of them was rooting for the other."
Commenting on the pivotal post-production stage, when when asked about his mental state in the middle of
the editing process, Whedon admits:
"It's like a sea. I can't see either shore. I'm pretty sure I will drown. Don't even call me Ishamael. The experience doesn't feel any different from when I was running three TV shows and my son was born. Really the same. Not so huge. As far as the press goes, they don't put it on me," reflects Whedon. He pauses. "And I don't feel it. It ain't my money. I don't care!"
Marvel Studios presents in association with Paramount Pictures “Marvel’s The Avengers”--the super hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel super heroes Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.
Starring Robert Downey, Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, & directed by Joss Whedon from a screenplay by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when “Marvel’s The Avengers” assemble on May 4, 2012. The film is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. In addition to "Marvel's The Avengers," Marvel Studios will release a slate of films based on the Marvel characters including "Iron Man 3" on May 3, 2013!; and “Thor 2” on November 15, 2013.