James Spader Set To Play 'Ultron' In Joss Whedon's THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON
Marvel have issued a press release - once again on their own site rather than through a trade - revealing that Boston Legal and Lincoln star James Spader will play Ultron in Joss Whedon's The Avengers: Age of Ultron. This isn't a rumour; it's 100% confirmed! Read on for details.
James Spader will face off against Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as the villain in Marvel’s "Avengers: Age of Ultron," the sequel to 2012’s record-breaking "Marvel’s The Avengers." The Emmy Award-winning actor will play Ultron in the Avengers’ much anticipated return to the big screen from writer/director Joss Whedon. The film comes to theaters on May 1, 2015.
Spader earned three Emmy Awards for his role as Alan Shore on "Boston Legal" and "The Practice," and will return to television this fall in NBC’s highly anticipated series "The Blacklist." Most recently Spader was seen in the critically-acclaimed film "Lincoln" directed by Steven Spielberg and has previously worked with a long list of accomplished film directors including David Cronenberg, Curtis Hansen, Sidney Lumet, Mike Nichols, Tim Robbins, Robert Rodriguez, Steven Soderbergh, and Oliver Stone. David Mamet also directed Spader in the Broadway play Race.
"Avengers: Age of Ultron" will bring the Marvel Universe’s biggest heroes together again to face one of their biggest villains, with "Marvel’s The Avengers" director Joss Whedon returning to write and direct the sequel. "Marvel’s The Avengers" was released in 2012 and went on to earn $1.5 billion worldwide, making it the third-largest grossing movie of all time.
Spader is represented by ICM Partners and his lawyer Melanie Cook at Ziffren Brittenham.
As you can see from the above press release, Spader has a very impressive resume, and while my first reaction was admittedly, "Who?!, it's hard to not have faith in either Marvel or Whedon's casting decisions at this point! This also puts an end to the speculation from fans that J.A.R.V.I.S. and Ultron would be one and the same, thereby meaning that Paul Bettany would be on voice duties. How do you guys feel about this news? Sound off with your thoughts below!