Jon Favreau Definitely WON'T Be Directing The Avengers

Jon Favreau Definitely WON'T Be Directing The Avengers

In fairness, it was always a long shot. The man behind Iron Man 2 has confirmed he won't be in the director's chair for The Avengers movie while talking to MTV, and we will not be seeing Ed Norton go green in Iron Man 2 either...

By MarkCassidy - Oct 14, 2009 11:10 AM EST
Filed Under: Avengers
Source: mtvsplashpage.com



He also confirms that we wont be seeing Ed Norton as The Hulk in "Iron Man 2:"

"We want to reinforce a lot of the stuff we started to tip off," Favreau told MTV News. "'The Avengers' is a much larger concern for Marvel and Kevin Feige, who runs Marvel. They're going to be doing 'Thor' and 'Captain America,' and the way we might start to tease those things in this movie, some of it is stuff that we've discussed [and] some of the stuff you do last-minute as you figure out how that stuff is coming together."

"It's an evolving, amorphous thing," he explained. "If we decide and commit too early, the secret always gets out."

Favreau then brought up the internet leak about the Sam Jackson cameo as Nick Fury at the end of Iron Man.

"As soon as we shot the Nick Fury thing—we had a closed set and nobody was supposed to know about it—a week later somehow it was all over the internet," said Favreau. "It's a little bit of a cat-and-mouse game."

He also flat out denies any connection between him and directing "The Avengers," he will be involved in other ways.

"They'll have to [find a different director], because I'm not going to be available," he explained. "It's something I'm the executive producer on, so I'll definitely have input and a say."

"It's going to be hard, because I was so involved in creating the world of Iron Man and Iron Man is very much a tech-based hero, and then with 'Avengers' you're going to be introducing some supernatural aspects because of Thor," he continued. "How you mix the two of those works very well in the comic books, but it's going to take a lot of thoughtfulness to make that all work and not blow the reality that we've created."

"That's why it's good that you have the guys from Marvel like Kevin Feige, who knows the books well and has been involved with the making of all the movies, and he'll be very involved with 'Thor' and 'Cap,'" said Favreau. "You need somebody who has the perspective of all the different franchises to bring them together. I have the myopic vision of just knowing and loving Iron Man."

Thanks to MTV for the info and the video
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LEEE777
LEEE777 - 10/14/2009, 11:26 AM
Noooooooooo!!!

I dont care to much about FAV, but we gotta have [frick]ing HULK!!!!!!!!!!
Mercenary
Mercenary - 10/14/2009, 11:26 AM
Then he better produce the hell out of it.
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 10/14/2009, 11:27 AM
Well i for one feel as though I have been punched in the gut
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 10/14/2009, 11:28 AM
Oh i misread that, its for IRON MAN 2 lol!

Thats coz he's gotta go HULK in AVENGERS of course!!



Oh ignore the ANT-MAN one thats roles for PATRICK WILSON! ; D
Whispers68
Whispers68 - 10/14/2009, 11:28 AM
@ Ror,

you stole my story bro. LOL
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 10/14/2009, 11:33 AM
Did you write it?;)..ah no, sorry man, but it wasn't in news when i added it...

As far as this goes, i dont think its necessarily such a bad thing...
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 10/14/2009, 11:35 AM
It's really too bad because I think he would have done a stellar job at it.

Above all other directors he has this unique talent with reverently and intelligently translating comics to film.
Whispers68
Whispers68 - 10/14/2009, 11:36 AM
Ror

Dude, I'm playing...there's so many users on the site, we are bound to come across writing the same piece at the same time

But you're right, it may not be a bad thing. In my article i asked who we collectively or individually feel could bring the characters to life in a manner similar to Jon's...so who would you or anyone else choose as the main director?

Spock
Spock - 10/14/2009, 11:36 AM
I love the honesty, that was pretty good!
Nice find Ror!
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 10/14/2009, 11:37 AM
Lol @ Multi!

Yeah @ ROR, this ain't that bad a news, as long as HULK makes it in AVENGERS, thats all that matters lol.
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 10/14/2009, 11:38 AM
Man, this is a double blow of bad news!!! :(

Im not that bothered about Hulk not being in Iron Man 2 as a cameo of that importance would steal the spotlight from Iron Man a bit too much. As for Favreau not directing The Avengers, well its a pity because he seemed to be the best choice!!

I guess that leaves the question now of who would be the best choice to direct that movie!?!
ThisFan
ThisFan - 10/14/2009, 11:39 AM
but hes the perfect director
Velox
Velox - 10/14/2009, 11:40 AM
@Darth: Well, he does with IM, anyway. Who knows? He might have fumbled the ball with some of the other heroes like Thor. But it certainly would have been interesting to find out...

And frankly, I'd just as soon that Feige stay away from future projects.
supermarioworldE
supermarioworldE - 10/14/2009, 11:40 AM
I hope that they don't have hulk as the villain in avengers. That would suck. Favreau would have been a good choice for Directing avengers, but who knows, maybe they'll get a director who would truly weave these characters together. It's too early to get anybody to direct when we don't even have Thor ( one of the greatest cbm's being worked on), and Captain America ( Has anything happened with production since Johnston got the job? ).
bullsize
bullsize - 10/14/2009, 11:40 AM
f**k!!!!
Die Jon Die,u ruined my day,u lazy,egoist n cocky coalsack.One movie and u r making decisions!!!!Zathura bombed remember,IM was lucky shot....

I'm angry,wish I was green to and I wud have brought ur house down.

Runefyst
Runefyst - 10/14/2009, 11:42 AM
@ Mercenary.

He won't be producing it according to this, just EX Producing it. Which basically means he's contributing $$$ to it.

But I DO hope he's got a lot've input on Avengers because he made an awesome Iron Man movie!

Would've liked to see Hulk in IM2. Oh well, I'll just have to hope he's in Avengers! :)
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 10/14/2009, 11:42 AM
This comes as no surprise. He has been kind of wishy washy when it comes to the subject of The Avengers movie all along.

I knew when he made that crack about how it "might not suck" I could just sense a certain diffidence about the whole thing.

But Rorschach01 I was wondering how did you know it was a long shot, sir?
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 10/14/2009, 11:44 AM
PETER JACKSON luvs IRON MAN!!

Perfect for AVENGERS!!!

Best choice there!
Velox
Velox - 10/14/2009, 11:45 AM
@Darth: I actually knew this already also. I couldn't tell you where, but I read what was essentially the same statement from Fav's about two months ago when they announced his EP title on the film.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 10/14/2009, 11:48 AM
Hey RUNEFYST @ I've seen that pic of VENOM as your AVATAR before lol! Very cool picture!!
Bijous
Bijous - 10/14/2009, 11:49 AM
At least he'll still be involved as a producer!
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 10/14/2009, 11:50 AM
God, Peter Jackson would be a terrible choice to direct The Avengers! After the guy got me (someone who hates stuff like Star Trek!) to actually enjoy this years Star Trek movie, Id say that J. J. Abrams might do a good job...whoever it is needs to know the characters well otherwise you'll end up with the crap team dynamic Singers X-Men movies had!!!

MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 10/14/2009, 11:53 AM
@ Darthmulder...Just because he was always very cagey about it. And i knew the studio would be dubious about allowing the man that has been behind one element of the team for so long to be trusted with allocating fair amounts of screen time and development to each of the other Avengers..obviously Fav feels the same way. Ideally, they need to get a [frick]ing genius to do a good job on this. Someone that has experience with ensemble movies as well as being capable of delivering the action and the drama. All of the directors of the previous movies(Fav, Brannagh, Johnson) should be very hands on and make sure there is continuity with the stories and characters from the other movies.

Whos the man for the job? I have no frakking idea! Snyder could do it..but hes not the right style...Lets see how Clash Of The Titans turns out, maybe Leterrier is our man.
bsprecher
bsprecher - 10/14/2009, 11:56 AM
Thanks for the plug, Bijous!

Yeah, in fact, Favreau basically said that he wouldn't be involved as director as far back as Comic-Con, but he has always claimed to be involved as producer. I think it's essential that he has input, considering how closely connected he is to Iron Man.

I really am curious how they are going to go from science/tech with Iron Man and Captain America to "magic" with Thor.
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 10/14/2009, 11:56 AM
Very true Velox.

It's obvious that he fears dealing with magic stuff from the comics and I understand that.

But just look at the considerable grace with which he handled Iron Man's repulsors. Scientifically there is no rational basis for a weapon that fits inside a fully amrored and articulated exoskeletal glove that works for in flight attitude control when in the air but doubles as a ranged energy weapon on the ground. So what did he do? He just didn't bother to explain it. BRILLIANT.

Very very well done. You don't don't have to make a thing out of the ins and outs of how it's all supposed to work. You just find a non silly way to represent it visually and contextually and let her fly. No prob.

I think he could have done the same with Thor in Avengers if he wanted. Well anyway a lot can happen in two years. We could still get lucky on the director.

I am not worried about Avengers yet lol. There are a lot more pressing issues at this point. namely that would be Thor, Captain America, and Green Lantern
Bijous
Bijous - 10/14/2009, 11:58 AM
@Brent: You're welcome! Can I have a job?
Runefyst
Runefyst - 10/14/2009, 11:59 AM
Haha, thanks LEEE, Venom's one've my fave Marvel characters. It's a shame what Sam Raimi did to him. :(
DrStrange
DrStrange - 10/14/2009, 12:01 PM
@Whispers: I think Favreau could have been the right director. But it's good to read that they're very thoughtfull of bringing the Iron Man, Cap and Thor characters together in the Avengers movie. Fortunately guys like Kevin Feige have input on all of those movies.
And about Hulk... sure there gonna be some other cameo's in IM2.
bsprecher
bsprecher - 10/14/2009, 12:02 PM
@Darth: I agree with you that they don't need to fully explain everything in movies to make it believable. But, regarding your statement about IM's repulsors; the key word is "yet." We don't have the capability to create something like that yet. But, in the comics (and, I suppose in the film), Stark is a "futurist," someone capable of anticipating future trends in technology and making it real.

@Multi: I don't think anyone's insistent on him doing it, he's just the one anyone thinks about because of the success of Iron Man. You don't hear anyone mentioning Louis Leterrier, do you?

@Bijous: Nope.
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 10/14/2009, 12:05 PM
awesome article, BTW Rorschach! Good timing putting up something huge like this during a relative news slump. Well done.

And same here on the director. I have no idea. I was thinkng maybe laTerrier also, but who knows?
Really the sky's the limit at this point!

JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 10/14/2009, 12:05 PM
Abrams has already shown that he can make a great ensemble movie so thats further proof he could handle The Avengers IMO!

Still, this movie will probably be the BIGGEST and most epic CBM ever! They need to find the right person or it'll fail! I mean, Zak Penn is writing it so its already not looking too good what with that hack being involved!!! :(
Velox
Velox - 10/14/2009, 12:11 PM
@Poni: To those people that insist that no one can do it like Favreau, I would remind them that prior to Iron Man, nobody would have thought to hire the 'Swingers' and 'Elf' guy to direct a CBM. So I'm sure that there's someone else out there that's up for the job, we'll just be uneasy about it until we see it for ourselves.
KeepItReal
KeepItReal - 10/14/2009, 12:12 PM
well aint that just the icing on the cake!
StrangerX
StrangerX - 10/14/2009, 12:12 PM
The only cameo I'm hoping to see is Hawkeye
Whispers68
Whispers68 - 10/14/2009, 12:14 PM
@multi

I think the reason many viewers see this as hugely disappointing is because of the direction he took with 'Iron-Man' so with the choice of directors who didn't bring their 'beloved' characters to life successfully, they feel someone else would do no justice to an array of characters on screen at one time.

I personally feel that isn't the case because 'The Incredible Hulk' was a good superhero flick, 'Hellboy' 1 and 2 were both adapted well,'Batman Begins' and 'The Dark Knight' are other examples. Favreau didn't bring those characters to life so the job can be successful in the hands of someone else possessing the ability of giving the necessary time to each character on screen as they should be.
Bamf7
Bamf7 - 10/14/2009, 12:14 PM
I don't think we need to see the Hulk in IM2. I'd be happy with seeing Dr. Banner instead, if there was to be a cameo. They DO need cameos though for the future films. Hulk needs to be in Avengers...NOT IM2. It's just too much.
JoshWilding
JoshWilding - 10/14/2009, 12:15 PM
At least we know that Raimi would never be able to handle directing The Avengers after the awful way he handled all those characters in Spider-Man 3!

I wonder why Favreau wont be available!?! Iron Man 3 maybe???
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