Joss Whedon talks Avengers plus a look at some new products

With the release of yesterday’s Empire magazine covers and new images, there was also some conversation with the filmmakers, including writer/director Joss Whedon, who shared these bits of information, giving a picture into the process of filming the monster that is Marvel’s THE AVENGERS:

On the challenge of penning a story servicing each characters’ existing storylines, as well their future solo ventures, Whedon says:

“It was an up-all-month job. Finding the characters’ voices was not only easy, but glorious fun – it doesn’t suck to write Tony Stark – yet finding the structure was just brutal. I haven’t had that much trouble making a screenplay work since Serenity, and embarrassingly, for the exact same reason: there’s just too many characters.”

Rehashing on initially approaching the story as “Iron Man and friends,” Whedon assures us that:

“It’s a full ensemble. Some people may feel they’re a little more marginal, but nobody was counting the lines, or going, ‘How come he’s got and I don’t got?’ At the end of the day, they knew they were going to get their moment and I was going to give them something glorious.”

Discussing an unexpected reality during filming, which shot down nightmares that the ensemble cast wouldn’t get along, Whedon amusingly says, while affecting a serious manner:

“When I had everybody on screen, you really saw an uglier side of all these guys, because they would not stop chatting. Giggle giggle giggle, chat chat chat. Literally the only time I raised my voice when were filming was because these guys would not shut up and we had to roll. Don’t get me wrong – you would see them standing next to each other going, ‘Is his costume cooler? Are his muscles bigger?’ But every single one of them was rooting for the other.”

Commenting on the pivotal post-production stage, when asked about his mental state in the middle of the editing process, Whedon admits:

“It’s like a sea. I can’t see either shore. I’m pretty sure I will drown. Don’t even call me Ishamael. The experience doesn’t feel any different from when I was running three TV shows and my son was born. Really the same. Not so huge. As far as the press goes, they don’t put it on me,” reflects Whedon. He pauses. “And I don’t feel it. It ain’t my money. I don’t care!”

I always find Whedon’s perspective interesting in terms of the process. He seems to be very grounded with such a huge weight on his shoulders, realizing what’s at stake, but at the same time remaining focused on the outcome of the product, not the stress of getting it done.We’ll find out how well he did very soon.

Coming on the heals of THE DARK KNIGHT RISES Bane figure tease yesterday, Hot Toys has released a similar tease of the Bad Motherf*cker himself, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in THE AVENGERS. I’m looking forward to seeing the full reveal of Hot Toys’; line up for both franchises as they will no doubt be amazing. Check it out:

Lastly, we have a bit of a spoiler with a look at Iron Man’s armor in THE AVENGERS, courtesy of toy manufacturer Kotobukiya. It’s still the standard cool-looking armor only with more silver highlights and bigger shoulder armor. The main difference is the arc reactor in his chest.

Here, it is the circular one as seen in the first IRON MAN film instead of the “new element” triangular version that Stark created in IRON MAN 2.


A lot of speculation over this for some reason, but it falls in line with the Tony Stark ever-evolving state of armor in the comics. He always seems to have a newer, better suit waiting in the wings for when the shit gets thick (i.e. “final battle” armor), so perhaps this is the case?

Based on the recent trailer for THE AVENGERS, Iron Man is seen with the triangular version throughout. May 4th, 2012 will reveal all when The Avengers assemble and fight NOT the skrulls.