With Iron Man 3 being the first solo Marvel adventure to cross the billion dollar mark, Marvel have clearly proven themselves the new kings of summer, and so thoughts turn to the follow-up to their original smash-hit. The Avengers 2 is not due for release until 2015 but people just can't stop talking about it.
The extended Agents of SHIELD trailer is here and it's even better than that miniscule teaser.
The news that ABC have commissioned a full series of Marvel's Avengers spin-off, Agents of SHIELD, is if you believed ABC hated making money.
Marvel are currently locked in negotiations with Robert Downey Jr. to see the Iron Man star return for a second and third Avengers movie and, while not confirmed, it is expected that a fourth Iron Man movie will be included in the deal. Given Downey Jr has single-handedly delivered Marvel the second biggest opening weekend of all time (behind Marvel's own The Avengers), it's clear that Downey Jr as Tony Stark is a big draw for audiences. Marvel should play it smart, and not their characteristic frugal, because they need Robert Downey Jr.
Beyond two more Avengers movies, The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Marvel are actively developing a reboot of their newly acquired Blade, along with the already rumoured Doctor Strange and Black Panther movies.
Iron Man 3 is conquering the world right now, kicking off Marvel's Phase Two in grand style, so thoughts naturally turn to the big end-game of this latest cycle from the super-studio.
A week ago Joss Whedon hinted at what new additions to earth's mightiest heroes he would be including in the sequel. Whedon said that his first draft of the script contained "two of my favorite characters from the comic book, a brother/sister act".
Director/writer of The Avengers. God-King to comic book fans. Bushy gingerbearded nerd-gent. One of these descriptions probably comes to mind when you think of Joss Whedon. Speaking at the Iron Man 3 premiere, he confirmed that he had just finished the first draft of his script for The Avengers 2. When asked if the success of the first film (which earned $1.5 billion worldwide) had any effect on his writing of the sequel, he replied: "I try not to think of it as topping 'The Avengers,' I try to think of this as its own movie."
Patton Oswalt Pitches A Star Wars/Avengers Crossover In A Fantastic Parks & Recreation Deleted Scene
This will hardly constitute movie news, unless J.J. Abrams is a big fan of Parks & Recreation (and why wouldn't he be?), but it is worth sharing for the sheer overload of geekery. In this extended scene, comedy alpha geek Patton Oswalt plays a character who is attempting to filibuster a proposed bill by stalling for time with a lengthy and elaborate pitch for Star Wars Episode VII.
Morris Chestnunt, best known for his role in Boyz N The Hood and the Kick-Ass movies, slipped up on Twitter last night with the following entry:
"It's time to get familiar with the Black Panther character."
What a lovely problem to have!
In a recent interview, Marvel exec Kevin Feige gave away a few Iron Man 3 details (nothing you shouldn't already know if you've seen the latest trailer), and explained how Whedon has been given an early screening.
