In light of reports pitting Marvel Studios against some of its stars of The Avengers, fans are puzzled whether the alleged salary dispute could really result in some Marvel actors NOT returning for the sequel. However, that unlikely possibility doesn’t seem to faze Samuel L. Jackson. When Metro asked the Oscar-nominated thesp about reprising his role as Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Jackson responded, “I don’t know. They don’t tell me that kind of stuff. All I know is that I am doing Captain America 2. It’s been cool. The Marvel universe continues to grow and get better. I think I have four or five pictures left on my nine-picture deal, so I will just keep showing up.”
Don’t fret! In an interview conducted before all the salary fuss, Kevin Feige reassured that “All of the Avengers from the first film will be back and they will be the core team.” Not sure if Nick Fury would be considered an Avenger, but it’s almost safe to say that Joss Whedon’s Avengers 2 outline includes the character that initiated the superhero assembly. Of course, with the S.H.I.E.L.D. organization and its director being featured heavily in Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier film next summer, a change may be in order for The Avengers 2; What do you think?
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” picks up where “Marvel’s The Avengers” left off, as Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and teams up with Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, to battle a powerful yet shadowy enemy in present-day Washington, D.C. Starring Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Georges St-Pierre, Hayley Atwell, Toby Jones, Emily VanCamp and Maximiliano Hernández with Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Redford, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is directed by the team of Anthony and Joe Russo from a screenplay written by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely and is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1941. Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing the film. Executive producers on the project include Alan Fine, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo and Stan Lee. The creative production team on the film includes director of photography Trent Opaloch, production designer Peter Wenham, editors Jeffrey Ford, A.C.E. and Mary Jo Markey, A.C.E. and three time Oscar®-nominated costume designer Judianna Makovsky. “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is set for release on April 4, 2014. In addition to “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” Marvel Studios will release a slate of films based on other iconic Marvel characters including “Iron Man 3” on May 3, 2013; “Thor: The Dark World ” on November 8, 2013; “Guardians of the Galaxy” on August 1, 2014; “Marvel's The Avengers” sequel on May 1, 2015; and “Ant-Man” on November 6, 2015!