With production on the Marvel sequel Avengers: Age of Ultron currently taking place in the UK, Total Film managed to catch up with director Joss Whedon who shared a few comments on the sequel to 2012’s mega-blockbuster The Avengers.
“The model I’m always trying to build from is The Godfather: Part II, where a ton has happened in between and it’s a very different movie, but you don’t need any information. You’re in the vernacular of the first movie and you’re ready to just pick up in this new place. It’s got a sci-fi element to it that’s stronger than the other film. And it’s a little bit darker. Getting the team together was so rousing, but keeping the team together is a completely different problem.”
Whedon also confirmed that Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow will be featuring prominently, stating that: “Natasha is a huge part of the sequel. You want to concentrate on the people who don’t have their own franchises.” The article then goes on to confirm that Cobie Smulders will be back as Agent Maria Hill, that Don Cheadle’s War Machine will have a “key role” in the final battle with Ultron, and that Tom Hiddleston’s Loki and Clark Gregg’s Agent Phil Coulson will be absent from Age of Ultron, with Coulson not expected to return to the big screen until Avengers 3.
Avengers: Age of Ultron is set for release in the UK on April 24th 2015 and North America on May 1st 2015, with Joss Whedon directing a cast that includes Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Mark Ruffalo (The Incredible Hulk), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Don Cheadle (War Machine), Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Paul Bettany (JARVIS / The Vision), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Quicksilver), Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch), James Spader (Ultron), Thomas Kretschmann (Baron Strucker) and Josh Brolin (Thanos).
Originally published July 7, 2014. Updated April 12, 2018.
