The Avengers: Age of Ultron kicks off production in Johannesburg!

February 11th 2014, 11:18am

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

After amassing more than $1.5 billion at the global box office, THE AVENGERS sequel, THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON is kicking the tires on production. The film begins shooting today in the city of Johannesburg, where it is expected “to cause major traffic disruptions for the next two weeks” according to the Independent online. Director Joss Whedon is back at the helm for the follow up, although none of the major cast are expected for the two-week shoot in the region according to the Gauteng Film Commission, which reports that “action photography sequences will not include main cast members such as Scarlett Johansson or Chris Hemsworth.”

The Commission’s chief executive Phindile Mbanjwa said: “We’re thrilled that Marvel Studios is bringing a major motion picture project to Joburg, and we’re committed to showing them the very best our region has to offer.”

The good news here is that the film IS underway, especially for those of us that loved the first film and are ecstatic to see the next entry in Marvel’s phase two topper. So far, almost all returning castmembers are on deck to reprise their respective roles, including Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Mark Ruffalo as Hulk, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill, and newcomers to the franchise, Don Cheadle as War Machine, James Spader as Ultron, Paul Bettany as Vision, Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlett Witch, Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Quicksilver, and Thomas Kretschmann as Baron Von Strucker. It’s likely there are still a few casting surprises left, but Marvel has yet to announce them.