‘Ant-Man’ & ‘Spider-Man’ Are Comic Relief For CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR's “Serious Tone”
Hit the jump for more from Anthony Russo as he talks lengthily about how Captain America: Civil War balances so many superheroes as well as the serious and humorous tones, and the co-director also offers new details on Spider-Man, Black Panther, the Vision and Scarlet Witch.
After revealing that Spider-Man was always a part of Captain America: Civil War, co-director Anthony Russo talked more about what roles the Web-slinger and a certain other insect-inspired superhero will play in the highly-anticipated movie, as well as the Black Panther. The filmmaker also elaborated on the tone of Civil War, and how he and his brother/ co-director, Joe Russo, juggle so many characters in one movie and he even hints a destined romance finally being developed.
“The film definitely has a more serious tone I think than any other Marvel [Studios] movie yet,” said Anthony Russo of Captain America: Civil War at the Comic-Con Experience in São Paulo, Brazil. “And that's kind of natural to the process because you're really gonna turn these heroes, who have been friends and partners, against one another. And if we're gonna have them fight for a whole movie to the end, there has to be a serious issue because these are smart people, they're likeable people; they're not villains, they're good guys. And so you have to think very hard about a very complex situation that's gonna put them in conflict with one another for an entire movie.”
Even if Civil War might be Marvel Studios’ most serious movie, it wouldn’t be Marvel's without comic relief which, according to Anthony Russo, will be executed by characters that appear later. “At the same time, not all the characters in the movie have the same investment in the conflict,” he explained. “There are certain characters that come into the story a little later who don't have the same baggage that the Avengers have in terms of what's going on in the film. So they don't have as much darkness to deal with in the film, so they can be a little lighter and more fun. I think the movie has a healthy balance between very serious, interesting and very surprising storytelling, and sort of light, fun wits and humor.” As declared in the headline, Russo confirms “characters like Spider-Man and Ant-Man enter the story a little later” and bring the laughs.
One character who will help carry out the serious tone for Captain America: Civil War is none other than the Black Panther played by Chadwick Boseman, who, like Spider-Man, will get his standalone movie (scheduled for February 16, 2018). “Black Panther is, first of all, an amazing character,” said Anthony Russo. “We couldn't be more excited to bring him to the screen for the first time. He's very central to the story. He comes into the story pretty early, but what's great about Black Panther in this film is all the other characters break down into two sides - Captain America's side and Iron Man's side. Black Panther never quite chooses a side, he’s sort of on his own side for the whole movie which makes him very cool in this storytelling.” That underlined bit is very intriguing.
Finally, Anthony Russo discussed how he and Joe Russo manage to balance so many superheroes in one movie while still giving focus to the Sentinel of Liberty. “It's really difficult,” Russo started. “They're all amazing characters, we and the fans love all these characters. They're played by amazing actors, so as filmmakers and storytellers, we have to give all those characters their due. You have to come to this movie; you've got your favorite characters. You want to see them do something amazing, have fun with them, be surprised by them. Our job as storytellers to figure out how to give you that experience. Some people have more prominent roles than others in the movie; Captain America has the most prominent role. Iron Man is the next most prominent role because he has that primary point of view that's pushing against Captain America in the film. And then the other characters kind of fill in around them, but I think all of them have great moments. So, whoever you love, hopefully you'll leave the movie happy.” As for two of those characters, the Vision and Scarlet Witch, who have a romantic entanglement in the comics, Russo teases that “They both have strong stories that will cross at some point in Civil War.” What do you think?
Directed by Anthony & Joe Russo from a screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, Captain America: Civil War finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability. Get ready to pick a side and join the nonstop action playing out on two fronts when Captain America: Civil War opens in U.S. theaters on May 6, 2016. The movie has an ensemble cast led by Chris Evans, and includes Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Chadwick Boseman, Emily VanCamp, Daniel Brühl, Frank Grillo, with William Hurt, and Martin Freeman. What do you think?