The Avengers So Should Louis Letterier Helm The Avengers or what?

[Son of Coul]

I know there's a "who should direct" thread already, but this guy's been more vocal lately and has more info and more discussion and stuff. I figure if there can be thread for one's opinion on Sam Raimi directing, why not this guy, eh?

So with Clash of the Titans premiering soon, Louis's been doing lots of press and he can't seem to escape Avengers questions- nor does he seem to want to. He's been very vocal about his pining for the job.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/portals/news/?a=13587

"I hope they don't find a director before I'm available, because I'd love to take a crack at [Avengers]," Leterrier told in an interview with MTV News. "It's just an amazing universe, and to have everybody involved..."

"Jon Favreau would've been the best director to do this thing, but now that he's a producing, I'd love to be able to work with him and continue what I started with 'Hulk' and what he started with 'Iron Man' and we do it together and continue that universe," he said.

"It's like an option," he said of his movie deal with Marvel. "I was optioned for two movies with Marvel. So every time I do a movie, like 'Clash of the Titans' for example, I say, 'Guys, I'm about to do 'Clash' — so can I do it?' And they say, 'Yeah, we have nothing for you, so go ahead.'"

"I love the Marvel universe," he laughed. "I love those guys."

We know he's on Marvel's shortlist, and that he's very enthusiastic about getting to toy with more than just Hulk.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/GulfCoastAvengers/news/?a=16097

"I am on the shortlist, but I'm at the bottom of the shortlist, I'm sure. (Laughs) I don't know who the other guys are, but I have a great relationship with [Marvel], and I've been very vocal to them and everyone else that I am the one to direct it. I loved my time at Marvel. I loved those guys. They're fantastic. Kevin is such a passionate boss; he gets his hands dirty. It's a universe I want to keep exploring. I was frustrated with [THE INCREDIBLE HULK]. It was like, "That's it? Only one superhero? Can I do more???" We'll see. Time will tell."

He acknowledges it won't be his movie, it's a collaborative effort to make THE definitive Avengers movie. Almost parallel to the teaming up of the characters themselves.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/portals/news/?a=14328

"I would love to do it. But Avengers can not be a single director’s movie. It has to be a team movie. And I think it makes sense, you have Jon Favreau as one of the producers, plus Kevin Feige, who knows the material inside and out, is a very hands-on producer," Leterrier said. "What I love about Avengers is the collision of human conflict on superhuman levels. I love analyzing what it means to be a superhero. But, budget-wise and the actors, I don’t know anything now."

Speaking of which, he's continuously talked about how character-driven the movie must be.
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/GulfCoastAvengers/news/?a=16234

Louis: No, because it's about the human side of it. You have to sit down in a theater and be able to relate to Iron Man or Perseus or The Hulk. It's like concentric circles. You have to feel for these guys and like these guys. As you fall in love with these guys and get to know these people, it's exciting. Same thing for the heroes and the gods. You have to get to know the characters first, and then you can broaden your circle and broaden your stakes.

http://splashpage.mtv.com/2010/03/22/the-avengers-louis-leterrier/

"It all starts with the ensemble... the cast," said Leterrier. "It's all about the cast. It's all about the characters. You have to find the way to enter the movie through the cast."

"With 'Avengers' it would be a little different, because a lot of the cast would have been casted by different directors from other movies, but you can still bring everybody together," he added. "That's what we did that was great on 'Clash of the Titans' — for the first three weeks, we brought everybody into a room and we workshopped the movie."

http://www.collider.com/2010/03/28/director-louis-leterrier-interview-clash-of-the-titans/

Leterrier: As a boy, we grew up reading this stuff. It’s amazing to tap into the superhero world. What’s great about The Avengers is that it’s the next step. It’s not just superhero fights super-villain and superhero wins. It’s about superheroes that come together and interact. It’s a clash of the egos. You could do Avengers 1 without a villain, just with all these guys coming together. They could sit down and just have a discussion.

One of them could sit down with Iron Man and say, “You’re not a superhero. You’re a hero that’s been made.” Thor could say, “I’m a god! You’re nothing! You take technology and make yourself a god, but I’m a god!” Bruce Banner could say, “We are humans. We shouldn’t play with fire.” It’s just fun stuff. And, what’s funny about all that stuff is that it all goes back to Greek mythology. All the superhero stuff is Greek myths and Greek gods, wearing tights and capes. That’s what they are. That’s what I gravitate towards, and that’s what I like now, at 36.

Not to mention the endorsements of two big-name actors he's worked with (Edward Norton and Sam Worthington), one of which who's potentially going to be in the movie.

So, how do I feel after gathering all this ****? I'm for it. I think he could do a great job with it. I loved what he did with TIH. He knows how to keep a good balance between the story and action. The most important thing to me is character, personally, and while some say TIH lacked that, I thought it did a damn good job, particularly the beginning in Brazil.

Not to mention TIH was a victim to Marvel's editing, likely in an attempt to play it safe after the AngHulk disaster of '03. It was reported just today how Letterier spoke of the original Director's Cut he and Norton worked on was "fatter" and had more substance. I know lots of people are saying they'll wait for Clash of the Titans first, but I'm gonna say right now there's not going to be a whole lot of substance to it, it's based on a silly popcorn blockbuster of the past remembered in movie history almost solely for its SFX. I read an early review saying at 1hr 45min it's edited with a pretty quick pace, which could be its downfall and possibly a studio decision yet again.

But if there is one thing Clash will probably show is how Letterier handles gods and mythology. Granted, it's not Asgard or Norse mythology, but it falls in that general field. It'll give him good experience for not only handling more of a fantasy element, but also a bigger, more "epic" tone and a team of characters (Hell, I read on a site that he actually developed real characters for Perseus's crew rather than just "cannon fodder").

And on that note- Back to the characters, the way he talks about them and how it's all about them interacting and how they're so rich you don't even need a villain to make the movie interesting (and he's not literally saying there shouldn't be a villain, guys) just gets me excited, like he really "gets it."

Oh yeah, and chances of Norton's return are highly increased if he's picked.

WHADDAYA THINK?

 

[Deaths Head II]

Maybe.

I will support him 100% if he can get Norton back and have Norton rewrite Zak Penn's script. Then it'll be like The Incredible Hulk all over again.

 

[giggs11uk]

Maybe.

I will support him 100% if he can get Norton back and have Norton rewrite Zak Penn's script. Then it'll be like The Incredible Hulk all over again.

I definitly agree with this if Letterier can get Norton back then he has my vote.

 

[Silvermoth]

I voted no. Louis is such an enthusiastic guy which is great but he doesn't really do drama well. He's brilliant at action but drama? forget about it.

I'm sorry but he's just not epic enough for the Avengers.

 

[KangConquers]

Abso-****ing lutely not.

 

[JP]

I wouldn't oppose. I think this upcoming weekend will determine how high or how low Letterier places on Marvel's list.

 

[Khemik@L]

Well I would like to know who else is on the shortlist but the way that LL is talking, if he does get it I wouldn't complain. As a matter of fact I think he deserves to be on the shortlist even though its at the bottom

And yea Clash of the Titans may determine his movement up or down Marvel's list.

 

[Son of Coul]

Just so everyone knows, by picking "yes" it's not like "YES YES YES! HE IS THE PERFECT MAN FOR THE JOB! DON'T EVEN CONSIDER ANYONE ELSE!" It's just saying you'd be good with him directing. The "maybe so" option is if you're more like, "eeehhhh, I'm kinda on the fence about it... Not sure if he could handle it, but I could be swayed."

"No" is for "AW HAYL NAW."

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

I definitly agree with this if Letterier can get Norton back then he has my vote.

Same here.

 

[KangConquers]

This movie needs a director with some hint of artistic abilities. Letterier was easily the weakest directoral pick of the four marvel films picks so far, yet he managed to squeeze out a decent (not great) Hulk movie.

This needs a director better than Favreau, Johnston or even Branagh. This needs to be truly legendary. I still think Riddly Scott is a great pick, though I doubt he'd do it.

 

[TheVileOne]

You guys are going to change your tune once you actually see how bad CLASH OF THE TITANS is.

 

[Son of Coul]

Like you did with Spider-Man 3?

HEYO!

 

[TheVileOne]

Spider-man 3 is what it is. It's not my favorite movie. I liked parts of it. But it was a disappointment. What's your point?

Also Spider-man 3 didn't get the HORRIBLE reviews that Clash is.

 

[Silvermoth]

Just so everyone knows, by picking "yes" it's not like "YES YES YES! HE IS THE PERFECT MAN FOR THE JOB! DON'T EVEN CONSIDER ANYONE ELSE!" It's just saying you'd be good with him directing. The "maybe so" option is if you're more like, "eeehhhh, I'm kinda on the fence about it... Not sure if he could handle it, but I could be swayed."

"No" is for "AW HAYL NAW."

See, I think it's like this...

If you voted yes you're like...

If you voted maybe so you are like this...

No is...

Gage your reactions appropriately

 

[KangConquers]

Spider-man 3 is what it is. It's not my favorite movie. I liked parts of it. But it was a disappointment. What's your point?

Also Spider-man 3 didn't get the HORRIBLE reviews that Clash is.

Spider-Man 3 got as good of reviews as TIH did.

 

[FaT_tONle]

As much as we need Norton back, LL appears to getting mixed reviews at best for CotT, in what seems to be yet another all style and little substance effort. Probably won't catch it in theatres so you guys be the judge, but if that's the case, Marvel needs to take him off the list. They can't afford another TIH movie even though it will make a lot more money for obvious reasons.

 

[conan69]

The few Clash Of The Titans advanced reviews havent been kind at all.

 

[DocHoliday]

I've seen a few websites and Ebert give it a seal of approval.

 

[Nirvana]

I think they should give him a shot. Honestly, I think any of the four current Marvel directors should do it with the others producing/consulting.

 

[[A]]

So Should Louis Letterier Helm The Avengers or what?

No.

I think they should shoot him.

Fixed t:

 

[TheVileOne]

Why should he get a shot? Because he did an average Hulk movie that had a lot of creative tension between Marvel and Ed Norton?

Leterrier can make a movie that looks decent and pretty, but he doesn't get the feeling and charm and excitement these movies should have.

Clash of the Titans was beyond dull. It proves he's not a true fan of the original nor does he understand what makes the original great. He compares comic book superheroes to Greek Gods, yet his interpretation of the Gods of Olympus was beyond lame. The Gods were all insignificant minor characters in his story.

 

[Son of Coul]

After the feedback for Clash (not just critic's reviews, but normal people's and geeks' alike), I'd like to change my vote to "maybe so." The good stuff cut out could've been the studio's fault again, but I'm more weary. I'd still be totally cool with him directing, I'm just not 100% yearning for him in the director's chair.

And the creative tension between him/Norton and Marvel has no impact on whether he should direct Avengers. At all. It's not like he was stirring up trouble behind the scenes, that's just grasping at straws. If you felt TIH didn't do it for you that's fine, but using the tension as a reason is really reaching.

 

[topdog1]

You guys are going to change your tune once you actually see how bad CLASH OF THE TITANS is.

I'm with HappyPalooza on this one and have changed from a "hell yes" to a "maybe so" after reading all the flack over Clash of the Titans.

I was originally a "hell yes" because I factored in what he actually shot for Incredible Hulk. If you include 20-30 minutes from his deleted scenes in to the theatrical release, IH would be a masterpiece. There's some key character development, relationship advancement and flat out intelligent stuff that Marvel forced to be cut. Can't wait to see a "Norton Cut" but maybe it was more Ed Norton and less LL???

 

[Kent]

I put "maybe so"... but I was ready to click "no" for a while.

I wasn't overly impressed by his work on TIH, and his previous work never struck me as great either. Now I hear Clash of the Titans is pretty bad...
So basically what he's got going for him is that he's passionate about it, he might be able to get Norton back (which would be a big plus), and he's a competent (albeit probably average) director.

 

[Kent]

Bah. Double post.