Marvel waited until the last night of the Con to make their announcements and bring out their cast. Why last? DC comics announced their next movie first thing that morning - but Marvel wanted to wait. Were they trying to avoid questions about Edward Norton being bumped from the role of Incredible Hulk or why they have been so lax on the Avengers movie information (see earlier post - Joss Whedon confirmed, in a none Marvel panel, that he'd be directing the film)? No, it was to have the final word. 2 movies come out in 2011 for Marvel, Thor and Captain America.
Thor finished filming recently, directed by Kenneth Brannagh and starring Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek, briefly) and Natalie Portman (Star Wars, Episodes 1-3). Thor tells the story of the son of Odin that is banished to Earth by his godly father. On Earth he must prove his worthiness to regain his power and protect the planet, and former home, from his brother Loki. Anthony Hopkins and Rene Russo also star in the movie. With the filming completed we were treated to minutes of the movie. Brannagh did a great job of taking the pages of the comic book and bringing them to life on the big screen. He did a great job staying close to the style of the character as well. This will be a great addition to the Marvel Studios line with Iron Man.
Following Thor next summer will be Captain America: The First Avenger starring Chris Evans (Losers, Fantastic Four) and Hugo Weaving (Lord of the Rings, The Matrix). Filming has only been going on for a couple weeks but the cast seems very pleased with the direction the movie is going. We were treated to a quick glimpse of Evans in an early test costume and a scene showing Weaving's character, Red Skull, before his skull had turned...you know...red. The scenes were a perfect taste of the film to get us all salivating for more. The movie will take place during World War 2 and work to bring the Captain to the future (as he'll be part of that Avengers team up Whedon is directing).
After Captain America, we were given tickets good for a choice of either a Thor or Captain America tshirt - always like shirts!!! Then the audience Q&A started. Naturally, in the first few questions came the one all the fanboys wanted to ask Kevin Fiege (big exec at Marvel)..."EDWARD NORTON?! WTF Man?!!" He sorta brushed it off, stating different directions on both parties accord, then he mumbled something about the panel isn't over yet. No one seemed to catch that last part, but I sure did! Questions finished and the panel seemed to be over when Mr. Fiege approached the podium to introduce a little clip. It was a voice over talking about "assembling" heroes to fight the foes too big for just one hero and revealing the logo for the new Avengers movie. The audience started screaming like little girls at a Justin Beiber concert. Then as the lights came back on, Mr. Samuel L. Jackson, the badass himself, walked across stage. He was there as his role from the Iron Man movies, Nick Fury, to assemble "his team." ("Avengers Assemble" is a formal phrase of the group)He then introduced the Black Widow (Scarlett Johanssen), Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans)...the fanboys are now screaming at "Twilight film screening level." But Sam wasn't done yet. He then introduced the next guy that would introduce the rest of the Avenger crew. Iron Man himself walks out on stage, Robert Downey Jr.!!! A comic con favorite, Robert Downey Jr., in his Tony Stark/Iron Man persona, came out (asking the audience "not to stab anyone until he's done talking") to introduce himself as an Avenger, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and then Mark Ruffalo as the new Incredible Hulk!!! Remember that earthquake on Saturday around 7:45pm? That was caused by the sound of 6500 geeks having a nerd-gasm simultaneously over the sight of seeing the entire Avengers team assembled in one place, for the first time ever! Downey then introduced Joss Whedon as the director (although that news had already been broken). It was a sight to see. It took me a few minutes to get myself calmed down and realize the gravity of the situation of what just happened.
Calling it a historic day would be too small a phrase, it was LEH....GENDARY! Never have I been so blown away by a series of panels. I cannot wait for Comic Con next year to see what Marvel will have in store for us all at the 2011 Avengers Panel.
Tune in next for a quick rundown of my Sunday SWAG gathering affair, more pictures of the weekend, and a oh so big sum-up of the weekend.
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