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26 November 2008
Robert Downey Jr. Talks Avengers
Including hints about a BIG character
Source: MTV

Robert Downey Jr. Talks Avengers
Robert Downey Jr. – possibly the coolest man on the planet right now – spoke briefly to MTV about Marvel’s bold and ambitious plans for their Avengers movie, which will bring together Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Nick Fury and, of course, Iron Man in a mega-adventure due to hit cinemas in 2011. And by doing so, he seems to have dropped one hell of an interesting clue about one of the characters involved.

“The danger you run with colliding all these worlds is [director] Jon [Favreau] was very certain that Iron Man should be set in a very realistic world,” said Downey, before adding, intriguingly, “Nothing that happened in Iron Man is really outside the realm of possibility. Once you start talking about Valhalla and supersized super soldiers and jolly green giants it warrants much further discussion.”

Now, Downey’s mention of Valhalla is an obvious reference to Thor, the Norse God of Thunder who likes to hang out in Valhalla on his days off. Kenneth Branagh's directing that movie, for a 2010 release. Jolly green giants… well, that’s the Hulk, who is rumoured to be the catalyst that brings the Avengers together.

But it’s the other reference that has set internet tongues a-wagging, with some speculating that ‘supersized super soldiers’ is a clue that suggests that Captain America, who we’ll first see in World War II flick The First Avenger: Captain America, will be somehow bigger. But we say pish-posh: it could also be a reference to Hank Pym, the scientist who becomes Ant-Man (to which Edgar Wright is still attached), as he can also become bigger. Or could Tim Roth’s The Abomination feature as a bad guy? After all, he is a supersized super soldier.

We’ll find out soon enough. Just under three years to go. And even though that seems a long way away, Downey – who will reprise his role as Tony Stark/Iron Man for the movie and Iron Man 2 & 3 - is already aware of the immense pressure building on this ultra-ambitious project.

“It has to be the crowning blow of Marvel’s best and brightest because it’s the hardest thing to get right. It’s tough to spin all the plates for one of these characters,” he said. “If we don’t get it right it’s really, really going to suck,” said Downey. And, to be fair, he has a point. But somehow, we have a feeling than when the Avengers eventually assemble, it could be something pretty special.

Chris Hewitt

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Your Comments
RE: The Sentinels?
I think X-Men proved you don't need a whole backstory for everyone, they just need a good story and enough action to show off everyones powers. ... Read More

Dexter Morgan About me

17:47, 01 December 2008 | Report This Post
The Sentinels?
Or are they only in x men? ... Read More

shanewire About me

14:48, 27 November 2008 | Report This Post
RE: Robert Downey Jr. Talks Avengers
Saying that the Avengers movie will be a "stupid mess" is more than a bit premature . The mistakes made prior in say Spidey 3 when there were too many bad guys will be in the minds of the guys given the task of bringing Avengers to the screen . Also the mistakes with the reboot of Hulk will have been taken on board and brainstormed .There is tons of time to prepare and get it right , tons of time for us to see all the heroes unfold in there own instalments , tons of time to listen to the fans a... Read More

Beno About me

09:45, 27 November 2008 | Report This Post
RE: Robert Downey Jr. Talks Avengers
L: Wilbert L: Monkeyshaver Exactly. ngers movie will be a stupid messar too many characters & ruin the semi-realistic tone that Iron Man created. The ending of Iron Man with Sam fuckin’ Jackson turning up was awful & doesn’t bode well for the future.ote] Wow, what's it like being psychic? e ran out of stories about jonathan ross so decided to post yet more negativity about marvel films. hes trolled about in the marvel movies thread in the past, its all very sad. ... Read More

adambatman82 About me

21:40, 26 November 2008 | Report This Post
RE: The problem with Avengers
L: mighty mick It's not so much getting these heroes together that's going to be the hard part - rather getting them together by 2011! 3 years is definetly not enough time to establish these characters, who might need more than one film in order to do so. Ok, Ironman and Hulk already have the job half done, but it's Cap and especially Thor which worry me. Marvel's shot themselves in the foot by establishing a release date before even launching the films into official production, so my bigg... Read More

BatFan About me

20:02, 26 November 2008 | Report This Post
Will Edward Norton return as Banner?
Thats all i want to know.Theyve confirmed the Hulks appearance in the film but not Norton.Theyre not going to recast the role AGAIN are they? ... Read More

darth silas About me

20:01, 26 November 2008 | Report This Post
The problem with Avengers
It's not so much getting these heroes together that's going to be the hard part - rather getting them together by 2011! 3 years is definetly not enough time to establish these characters, who might need more than one film in order to do so. Ok, Ironman and Hulk already have the job half done, but it's Cap and especially Thor which worry me. Marvel's shot themselves in the foot by establishing a release date before even launching the films into official production, so my biggest concern is whethe... Read More

mighty mick About me

19:48, 26 November 2008 | Report This Post
Could work...
but then again, could be awful. They really should stick to the Ultimates version. That made an effort to fit all the disparate characters into the same universe (Thor even worked - everyone thought he was a superpowered nutter with delusions of godhood rather than an actual god). The Hulk movie already included Captain America's whole supersoldier thing. Character development is bound be as sketchy as in any other 'group' movie - there just isn't the time to focus on individuals - but it sounds... Read More

The_Hat About me

19:02, 26 November 2008 | Report This Post
RE: Robert Downey Jr. Talks Avengers
I was going to ask, "what's it like being a miserable c*nt?", but your question is probably the more diplomatic. Just kidding monkeyshaving bloke.  Smile ffs. ... Read More

KeithM About me

17:54, 26 November 2008 | Report This Post
RE: Robert Downey Jr. Talks Avengers
L: Monkeyshaver Exactly. ngers movie will be a stupid messar too many characters & ruin the semi-realistic tone that Iron Man created. The ending of Iron Man with Sam fuckin’ Jackson turning up was awful & doesn’t bode well for the future.ote] Wow, what's it like being psychic? ... Read More

Wilbert About me

17:38, 26 November 2008 | Report This Post
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