Despite writing the mostly popular X-2, Zack Penn is not a popular screenwriter among comic book fans. Responsible for awful movies like Elektra and Fantastic Four (both of which saw major changes to the source material) there was a universal scream of horror when it was revealed that he would be penning the script to The Avengers. That's probably why so many of us were thankful to discover Joss Whedon was rewriting the damned thing.
Speaking to Collider, Penn is clearly still excited for the movie, but it certainly sounds as if Marvel Studios have no plans to work with him again any time soon. Here are a few excerpts from the interview, but you can read it in its entirety by clicking the link below.
On How The Script Has Changed Since He Was Involved:
Do you believe in Joss Whedon? I believe in him. That’s my comment. If you believe in Joss, you should be excited.
On How Excited He Is Regardless Of His Involvement:
Actually, Joss and I went to the same college, so we have a long history. I’m very excited. I can’t wait to see what happens with it. And, it’s weird because Alphas is almost the inverse. If you know the comic book world, this is the flipside of something like The Avengers. So, it will be weird, next year, to have The Avengers coming out while I’m working on this show.
On What He Thinks About Jeremy Renner As Hawkeye:
To be fair, I think he is in The Avengers because I pushed them. I said, “We’ve got to get Jeremy Renner for that part!” Him being a cool guy came full circle, in that he’s gotten what he deserves. So many people have loved his work. At first, everyone was like, “Who’s Jeremy Renner?” And, I was like, “Trust me, he’s awesome!” Now, he is Hawkeye and he’s in Mission: Impossible, and everything else. I had already written The Avengers, though, way before he was cast. I had already handed in the script. It’s off and it’s its own beast now. Joss is the man in charge of that.
On What He Can Reveal About The Avengers:
I can’t say. I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement for The Avengers, so I can’t really speak about it too much. I’m pretty limited.
On How Much Joss Whedon Has Changed The Script:
I just can’t answer that. I’m not allowed to. I have a big mouth and they made me sign a contract.
On Whether He Will Once Again Work With Marvel:
I hope it will go forward, in the future. Obviously, they’re now owned by Disney. I’ve done a lot of movies for them, so I don’t know what’s left for me to do. The Avengers really was the last big job. But, I hope so. I love Marvel, and I love all those people over there. I can’t even count anymore, how many movies I’ve done with them.
On Whether He Has Any Interest In Writing A Movie For DC:
I am, but if you know the comics, DC tends to be more larger than life and more mythological with characters less based in humanity. Superman is something out of fantasy and not out of science fiction, in my mind. So, I’ve always been more drawn to Marvel, even when I was a kid. By the way, I did read both, but the movies were just harder for me to imagine.
With an all star cast which includes Chris Evans as Captain America, Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Rufallo as Bruce Banner, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill, Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury,
The Avengers is set to be released on May 4, 2012!