Word spread fast earlier today when Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) announced at the press conference for The Avengers that the cast was headed out to shoot one final scene for the film. “We’re actually not done shooting,” Downey said. “We’re shooting another scene tonight. I’m not kidding.”
The Playlist also quoted Mark Ruffalo (The Hulk) saying, “We’re shooting a scene tonight. I’m not sure exactly where it’s gonna go. All I know is that someone came in with the costume and said, ‘Here’s some wardrobe. We don’t know where you’re going to be or what you’re doing.'” When asked if this new footage would be in the final film when it hits theaters on May 4 Ruffalo added, “Yeah. So I’m like, ‘All right, when are we doing that?’ Today after we’re done.”
In all likelihood the filming will be for a post-credits sequence that will likely lead into Iron Man 3, which begins filming in five weeks for a May 3, 2013 release and is said to pick up right where The Avengers ends.
Where The Avengers will end at the box-office is part of a whole other story, but where it’s poised to begin according to Deadline.com is an opening weekend north of $125 million. Should reviews from critics be as glowing as those from bloggers last night, that number sounds entirely reasonable.
The highest opening for any of the films in the Avengers franchise thus far is Iron Man 2, which opened to $128 million back in 2010. The Avengers has 3-D and IMAX going for it so that could add money to the tally.
Finally, along with the new image of The Hulk, which you see at the top of this post, Collider spoke with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and learned Marvel has an option for Joss Whedon to direct The Avengers 2 when and if the time comes along with a collection of other nuggets regarding the several Avengers films coming up including Thor 2, Captain America 2 and Iron Man 3. Here are a few bullet points:
- Iron Man 3 is inspired by the first half of Iron Man 1 in that they’re metaphorically putting Tony back in the cave. He’s stripped of everything, back against a wall, and has nothing but his intelligence to get him out.
- Filming on Thor 2 begins in three months in London and it picks up where the first film left off in terms of Jane and Oden and addresses what’s been happening in the nine realms with the Asgardians unable to use the Bifrost.
- The crux of Thor 2 is continuing the dynamic between Thor and Jane (Natalie Portman), as well as the relationship between Thor and Oden.
- The primary story of Captain America 2 will be Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) figuring out his place in the world. For the time-being, he’ll be staying with S.H.I.E.L.D.
There is a lot more to learn, however, and you can get the full interview here.
