The Avengers The Avengers: News and Speculation - Part 27A sub-se - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Part 27

[cherokeesam]

Well, in the sequel they have to have at least one female character in it to please the fanboys I suppose. It can't be a total sausage fest...though I gotta say Scarlet Johannsen must feel like the luckiest girl in the world. No wonder she's been on a hugging fest with the male cast members.

Hope it's *more* than one female character. The Avengers has always had a strong female contingent --- Wasp, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, Tigra, Mantis, Photon, Mockingbird, Crystal, Spider-Woman, Firestar...a lot of non-fans don't realize it, but Janet (aka Wasp) was actually *the* leader of the Avengers for a large portion of their existence.

 

[S.A.A.D.]

Well, in the sequel they have to have at least one female character in it to please the fanboys I suppose. It can't be a total sausage fest...though I gotta say Scarlet Johannsen must feel like the luckiest girl in the world. No wonder she's been on a hugging fest with the male cast members.

You're right, it can't always be a sausage fest. An Avengers movie wouldn't be complete without at least one female Avengers member.

 

[Iceman]

I still get excited over the fact that Feige has said that Loki's army is great in numbers, and how the Avengers will face many situations in the film where the odds are seemingly stacked way against them in the film.

Considering on what we know each Avenger is capable of doing, it's going to be awesome to see them all put to the test with their abilities and end up kicking all sorts of ass on the battlefield.

Exactly. First the audience will be made aware how powerful the guys are from when they are trying to get Hulk & Thor. Then we show this team of super powerful guys being almost overwhelmed by the weight of the forces against them with a real chance of defeat. All spells epic!

lol; I think that if he were to show up in the Avengers, we would have heard about it now, and Feige's comments in the EW article pretty much sealed the deal for me that he's not appearing, and I'm glad honestly because War machine being there takes away the unique factor that Iron Man has on the team personally for me.

I agree especially in the 1st Avengers film that a full WM role might take away from IM's uniqueness. That said I definitely think he should be involved in some small way either as Rhodey or a small WM assist to Avengers.. (or even something as small as a background TV screen showing WM doing something to help the forces in a different country). This continuity between projects is one of the things that most attract me to MU films & Marvel comics.

 

[Shadowlord X]

It's interesting how many people would like to see a BLACK PANTHER. I agree that MARVEL could make a really good movie based around that character; he has a rich mythology and there are many themes that the story and his character arc could be based upon:
- exploitation of underdeveloped countries' natural resources by foriegn powers wrt the vibranium
- cultural resistance to modernisation
- science vs mysticism
- the readaptation of a son who has been educated and raised in more modern cultures

There's a lot of potential.

The only issue I feel is that traditionally black superheroes and indeed movies with black actor leads do not achieve blockbuster success, the exception being Will Smith. Even Denzel Washingtons movies rarely make over $100 million domestic gross.

This could be the one factor that would cause MARVEL STUDIOS to hesitate on moving forward with that project.

 

[Chewy]

Well when have we ever seen a good superhero movie about a black superhero? The Blade movies were low budget R-rated niche vampire fare, so they don't count.

Steel? Spawn? Those movies were trash.

No one has ever bothered to put the effort into a movie about a black superhero that has been put into the likes of Batman or Spider-Man or Thor. Same thing with female superheroes.

Cast Denzel as T'Chaka and a really good up-and-coming actor as T'Challa and with everything BP has to offer as a character you've got the recipe for a big hit

 

[Shadowlord X]

Chewy, I agree with you (although BLADE 1 & 2 were great IMO) but it's not simply a matter of quality of film. With respect to BO success, quality of film is most of the times simply a modifier; the real determinants are awareness, mass market appeal (MMA), and hype. Black superheroes simply have not been shown to have great MMA. I would dearly love that to change because as you say this project can have the recipe for a great film and a big hit. I'm just saying that MARVEL studios might not move forward on it for the reason I've stated. Or at the very least keep it's budget moderate.

 

[Godzilla2000]

Hope it's *more* than one female character. The Avengers has always had a strong female contingent --- Wasp, Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, Tigra, Mantis, Photon, Mockingbird, Crystal, Spider-Woman, Firestar...a lot of non-fans don't realize it, but Janet (aka Wasp) was actually *the* leader of the Avengers for a large portion of their existence.

My vote would have to go with Wasp in that she's the more well known female character aside from Black Widow. Of course I'm just imagining her flittering about like Tinkerbell or something. How are they going to explain her pretty small size in comparison with the normal sized cast members? I know there's the whole Suspension of Disbelief thing, but the average Joe and Jill might not be as accepting of miniaturized people outside of a fantasy film. Like I said, it's a bad thing Fox still owns the rights to the X-Men franchise or else I'd recommend Storm as an addition to the roster.

 

[Chewy]

Chewy, I agree with you (although BLADE 1 & 2 were great IMO) but it's not simply a matter of quality of film. With respect to BO success, quality of film is most of the times simply a modifier; the real determinants are awareness, mass market appeal (MMA), and hype. Black superheroes simply have not been shown to have great MMA. I would dearly love that to change because as you say this project can have the recipe for a great film and a big hit. I'm just saying that MARVEL studios might not move forward on it for the reason I've stated. Or at the very least keep it's budget moderate.

Based on what, exactly? If you could back that statement up maybe this could be an actual discussion

Black Panther was about as well known and popular as Thor prior to his film. Skin color is not relevant.

 

[Shadowlord X]

Ok you're starting to sound argumentative so I'm going to drop it and move on.

 

[Godzilla2000]

Ok you're starting to sound argumentative so I'm going to drop it and move on.

Blade 1 & 2

 

[Vartha]

Well when have we ever seen a good superhero movie about a black superhero? The Blade movies were low budget R-rated niche vampire fare, so they don't count.

Steel? Spawn? Those movies were trash.

No one has ever bothered to put the effort into a movie about a black superhero that has been put into the likes of Batman or Spider-Man or Thor. Same thing with female superheroes.

Cast Denzel as T'Chaka and a really good up-and-coming actor as T'Challa and with everything BP has to offer as a character you've got the recipe for a big hit

Thing is, with the way Marvel is stingie on cash Denzel will never be cast sadly

 

[Godzilla2000]

For Black Panther they need to find an actor that has a presence about him, even if he's not very well known to American audiences. He's playing an African Prince so there has to be some sort of nobility there in his character. Marvel has been pretty good in that respect, like with Chris Hemsworth, whose biggest role before Thor was playing Captain Kirk's dad and with Tom Hiddleston, whose first big Hollywood movie was Thor.

 

[T"Challa]

For Black Panther they need to find an actor that has a presence about him, even if he's not very well known to American audiences. He's playing an African Prince so there has to be some sort of nobility there in his character. Marvel has been pretty good in that respect, like with Chris Hemsworth, whose biggest role before Thor was playing Captain Kirk's dad and with Tom Hiddleston, whose first big Hollywood movie was Thor.

he's not well known to american audiences but Ejiofor is a hell of an actor. he's got an african background and he's a martial artist as well. Dude was built to play BP. It also helps that he has a history with Whedon

 

[cherokeesam]

Why do people always leave Hancock out of discussions about black superheroes, or about superhero films in general?

Hancock grossed 664 million, and is firmly entrenched at the #10 highest grossing superhero film of all time. That puts him in very rare air with Batman, Spider-Man, Iron Man, The Incredibles and X3. Wayyy ahead of Cap, Thor, Hulk, Superman, most of the X-films and that whole host of also-rans below those.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Because Hancock sucked.

 

[kedrell]

Hancock wouldn't have made $10 dollars with out Will Smith in it. People didn't go to see the character Hancock. They went to see what Will Smith would be like with superpowers.

 

[T"Challa]

Hancock wouldn't have made $10 dollars with out Will Smith in it. People didn't go to see the character Hancock. They went to see what Will Smith would be like with superpowers.

+1..That movie was nothing but a testament to Will Smith's star power. Dude took a completely new superhero idea and made 600 mill of it. Put Anthony Mackie (a pretty talented actor in his own right) in place of smith and that movie wouldnt have made 60 mill, much less 600

 

[chiefchirpa]

he's not well known to american audiences but Ejiofor is a hell of an actor. he's got an african background and he's a martial artist as well. Dude was built to play BP. It also helps that he has a history with Whedon

Agree. Really the prime choices are 2, Ejiofor or Elba. Under consideration is two biggest black Marvel characters, Luke Cage and Black Panther...

Ejiofor is more clean cut, friendly looking look fit for a kind yet smart king. Elba is more grizzled and muscled. Elba has done Heimdall so interacting as BP with Thor would be jarring. On the other hand Luke Cage can be presented as a separate character to the Avengers series.

My personal pick, and should have been yours to:
Elba as Luke Cage (which is the role he wanted)
Ejiofor as T'Challa (Ejiofor knows the rumor already)

 

[cherokeesam]

Because Hancock sucked.

Hancock wouldn't have made $10 dollars with out Will Smith in it. People didn't go to see the character Hancock. They went to see what Will Smith would be like with superpowers.

+1..That movie was nothing but a testament to Will Smith's star power. Dude took a completely new superhero idea and made 600 mill of it. Put Anthony Mackie (a pretty talented actor in his own right) in place of smith and that movie wouldnt have made 60 mill, much less 600

So effin' what....?
Again: Hancock. made. $664 million.

That shoots a great big ginormous hole in the whole "black superheroes don't have mass market appeal" theory altogether, wouldntcha say? That's why I brought it up.

 

[chiefchirpa]

Hancock wouldn't have made $10 dollars with out Will Smith in it. People didn't go to see the character Hancock. They went to see what Will Smith would be like with superpowers.

Will Smith should be mold into Adam Brashear a ka Blue Marvel, "Hancock" of the Marvel universe.

Give Smith Carte Blanche of how he's going to portray the relatively new character with a note don't try to follow RDJ semi-comedic act too much or turn it to Hancock.

 

[Spider-Fan]

So effin' what....?
Again: Hancock. made. $664 million.

That shoots a great big ginormous hole in the whole "black superheroes don't have mass market appeal" theory altogether, wouldntcha say? That's why I brought it up.

I think Will Smith being the main star does raise the mass appeal more than you think it does. Put Elijafor in that same movie, it doesn't make 664 million dollars.

 

[BobbyCorwin88]

Because Hancock sucked.

Hancock wouldn't have made $10 dollars with out Will Smith in it. People didn't go to see the character Hancock. They went to see what Will Smith would be like with superpowers.

+1..That movie was nothing but a testament to Will Smith's star power. Dude took a completely new superhero idea and made 600 mill of it. Put Anthony Mackie (a pretty talented actor in his own right) in place of smith and that movie wouldnt have made 60 mill, much less 600

Strongly disagree.

Roger Ebert even gave it two thumbs up. That dude usually hates superhero movies. Will Smith has a lot of star power for one reason, he's a great actor. He played the heck out of that role.

The story was very well crafted and the destiny of the characters turned out to be a really cool idea. I was extremely surprised with Hancock, I wasn't expecting much to begin with.

If you thought it was stupid, please take a second look. That is not a movie I would brush off so easily.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Strongly disagree.

Roger Ebert even gave it two thumbs up. That dude usually hates superhero movies. Will Smith has a lot of star power for one reason, he's a great actor. He played the heck out of that role.

The story was very well crafted and the destiny of the characters turned out to be a really cool idea. I was extremely surprised with Hancock, I wasn't expecting much to begin with.

If you thought it was stupid, please take a second look. That is not a movie I would brush off so easily.

I hated it. Its 3rd act was lazy. It was good until Charlize Theron had powers. Then it went downhill fast.

 

[cherokeesam]

I think Will Smith being the main star does raise the mass appeal more than you think it does. Put Elijafor in that same movie, it doesn't make 664 million dollars.

Put anyone besides RDJ in Iron Man, and it doesn't make money, either.

But if you're worried about star power being a determinant of box office, then give BP to Samuel L. Jackson or Denzel Washington or Cuba Gooding Jr. or Martin Lawrence or Ludacris or Tyrese or Laurence Fishburne. Or Will Smith.

Not that I'm seriously suggesting any of those for the roles, but I'm saying you put any box office draw into a BP movie, and the audiences will be there.

But on a more realistic note: aside from IM and, presumably, Avengers, none of the Marvel Studios heroes has set the box office on fire, exactly. So if Marvel would be content with numbers similar to Thor and CA:TFA and TIH, I could easily see some of the suggestions like Ejiofor, Mackie, Hounsou and the like drumming up the same kind of business.

 

[~fox~]

The Avengers still believe in Santa t:

http://comicbook.com/blog/2011/10/17/prep-landing-to-meet-the-avengers/

Prep & Landing meet the Avengers