subject: The Avengers Headed To The Big Screen [print this page] Marvel has never had consistent critical acclaim with their comic book adaptations until recently. Sure, their X-Men and Spider-Man films have been very successful, but other forays into the live action medium have not been met with as much success, such as the Fantastic Four and Punisher films. However, all of that changed when in 2008 Marvel released the 1, 2 punch of the Iron Man movie and reboot of the Incredible Hulk franchise. The films did surprisingly well, not only at the box office, but had very good critical reviews as well. To add to the delight of fans, the films also featured scenes that teased a crossover movie based on their Avengers franchise.
It did not take long before Marvel confirmed that an Avengers film was in the works, although no director was named. What is confirmed, however, is that Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America will be main characters in it. The addition of Captain America and Thor to the mix comes from the fact that there are currently movies already in development based on those characters. However, it is unknown whether or not the Incredible Hulk will be in the film, as Edward Norton, the actor who portrayed the character, is in the middle of a dispute with Marvel, so until a concrete bit of news is released.
So the question remains of just what the story of the film will be. Well, so far, nobody knows. Another question is whether or not additional characters will be introduced into the film. So far, nobody knows. And others are questioning who the villain of the film will be. And once again, nobody knows. Details of the plot are extremely scarce, practically non-existent.
However, what is known is who will be directing the film. The film will be directed by Joss Whedon, who is no stranger to comic book fans due to his extensive work writing X-Men, as well as for his TV shows Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dollhouse, and Firefly. However, while some fans are rejoicing at the decision for Whedon to be behind the camera, others are very skeptical that he does not have the experience to direct such a large work. Whedon is known for witty dialogue and character development, but is not so well known for his action capabilities, or for working with a big budget. Some fans have even pointed out that the fact that his past two TV series did not last long at all is a sign that he may not be a box office draw. Either way, fans will have to wait and see if Whedon is the man for the job.
