SPOILERS, ETC.!
You've been warned twice on that, so don't yell at me in the strikebacks, because I ruined AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON for you. Truth be told, none of which we're about to spill should ruin anything. Quite the opposite, in fact. The following is from a trusted and proven source, but as always you can take it as rumor, hearsay, etc. What we have is a series of details for the forthcoming Marvel sequel that should ultimately make you nod with coolness and be on your way, leaving you with even more anticipation for Joss Whedon's next superhero opus. Without further ado, let's get into it:
ULTRON
There will be 3 different versions of Ultron throughout the movie. His original state is very rudimentary, but, as he does in the comics, Ultron is constantly upgrading. He is coated in Vibranium and spends the film seeking out more of the raw material to continue his "upgrades." (Speculation note: In the comics, Vibranium is found in the fictional African nation of Wakanda, home to Black Panther. Another clue to T'Challa appearing in the film? Perhaps). James Spader is playing the titular villain and our source says that he will be doing mo-cap for at least one iteration of the character, meaning that Ultron may be much more than "just a helmet" at some point.
THE AVENGERS
Tony Stark is indeed bankrolling The Avengers this time out. With the dissolution of S.H.I.E.L.D. in CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER and it's subsequent "handover" to Phil Coulson in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Tony Stark takes on the role of global security by housing The Avengers in the former Stark Tower, now Avengers Tower (featuring the "A" on the building, as teased in both Cap 2 and the end of THE AVENGERS), where he funds new tech, new costumes, and even a new Quinjet.
IRON LEGION
While that may not be the actual name of them, Tony Stark/Iron Man has created an army of Iron Man "drones" (much like he utilized at the end of IRON MAN 3) and uses them to "keep the peace." (Could that be who Quicksilver is pummeling through in the concept art above?) The Avengers are not in hiding or attempting to keep a low profile. They are very public and "out" about their intention of keeping the world safe, especially with the absence of S.H.I.E.L.D.
VISION
While the costume is said to retain the green/yellow color scheme, albeit with the usual Marvel Cinematic upgrade, our source indicates that, much like Ultron, Vision (played by Paul Bettany) is not expected to make his final, full reveal until the third act of the film. The how and why of that is wide open for discussion, but it makes sense. I wouldn't be surprised if Vision makes the "sacrifice play" for this one, but that's just my feeling.
COSTUMES and WEAPONS
All (or most) of The Avengers will be rocking an Avengers logo on their costumes, courtesy of the upgrade to each superhero's duds, thanks to Stark (We've already gotten a peek at this with Cap's new uniform from the set). Black Widow will have 2 batons that have shocking ability as part of her new arsenal and Hawkeye will indeed be rocking the long sleeve jacket that is reminiscent of his comics costume (again, as we've already seen in set photos). Hulk will now be wearing "stretchy pants" that grow and shrink with him when he goes back and forth between Banner and Hulk. Lastly, War Machine is confirmed for a cameo, but won't feature throughout the main storyline. There is also a very good possibility that you'll see Anthony Mackie's Falcon make a similar appearance, but that's unconfirmed (both by our source and officially).
OPENING BATTLE
There are going to be a number of cool battles in the film (duh), with one of them taking place in a forested area, which may or may not lead to a confrontation with Baron Von Strucker and their first encounter with "The Twins" aka Quicksilver and The Scarlet Witch. This sequence is said to be near the opening of the film and will be where we see our first "hero shot" of the team together. Could this be when we finally hear Cap or Iron Man yell out the famous battle cry, "Avengers Assemble"? Perhaps, but that's just my speculation/hope.
And, there you have it. Again, nothing that's going to make you lose your mind or cry foul over spoilers, but enough to get the gears grinding about how the sequel will shape up as we head into the tail end of Phase Two. As a huge fan of the characters, the comics, and the films, I love every little nugget I can get and this all makes me smile. I love the direction of The Avengers being "self regulating" and the idea of them being their own superhero entity. Ultron going through several iterations before getting to his "final form" is cool, too. I'm also digging the upgrades in costumes and weaponry; Stark just can't escape his past, can he?
So, let's hear what you have to say! How do these tidbits sound to you? Any new theories come to mind after hearing this?
AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON assembles on May 1, 2015.