No, we're not talking about another remake of the old TV show, or a sequel to that Ralph Fiennes/Uma Thurman Avengers. We're talking about comic-book movies, which are big business, uniting into one big superhero slugfest, which would be even bigger business.
Warner Bros., the owners of DC Comics, has the luxury of tossing out a Justice League movie, where all their big guns like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, etc. can all be in the same movie, teaming up and beating up Lex Luthor's Legion of Doom. The casting is already underway, notably not using Brandon Routh (who may or may not still be the star of the franchise) and Christian Bale as Superman or Batman, but rather skewing young and relatively unknown to populate the cast (and likely keep the budget down).
Marvel Comics doesn't have the same luxury, as the rights for their characters are spread out among different companies. However, there are rumors that both Jon Favreau's Iron Man film and Louis Leterrier's Incredible Hulk relaunch starring Edward Norton, both due out in 2008, have filmed scenes to allow the movies to cross over and exist in the same world, which is a very interesting move to bring things more in line with the comics. It's also indicative of the greater strategy to angle for an eventual Avengers movie, a supergroup made up initially of Iron Man, the Hulk, the Norse God of Thunder Thor, the super-scientist Ant-Man and his socialite girlfriend the Wasp. The legendary Captain America joined up with the squad very early on, and he's become synonymous with them.
Now, an Ant-Man movie is already in development, last I heard as more of a kid's film, which you might expect from a superhero who's main power is to go "Honey, I Shrunk The Both Of Us." But the fact that Hot Fuzz's Edgar Wright is on board to direct means that all bets are off and Ant-Man could go any which way. There's also a Thor movie tentatively targeted for 2009, with Stardust director Matthew Vaughn attached. So when they finally get around to doing a Captain America movie in the way it needs to be done (it has to be set entirely in World War II, and end with him dropping into the icy North Atlantic and being flash frozen into suspended animation), the Avengers could finally assemble. And Jon Favreau, a card-carrying geek himself, may want to direct it, according to what he's said to MTV.
Favreau's Iron Man already looks like a godsend to fans of both comics and film, starring the always amazing Robert Downey Jr. and finally delivering a superhero movie with great dialog (something Spider-Man desperately needs).
Favreau insists that Marvel will only go ahead with the project if and when all the individual characters get their own story. It’ll be worth the wait, Favreau claimed, calling this way not only more impressive and formidable – but more consistent as well.
“I wonder if the tone of ‘The Incredible Hulk’ is going to be similar or different than [’Iron Man’],” Favreau questioned. “And ‘Captain America’ is a twinkle in Marvel’s eye right now. And ‘Thor’ and ‘Ant Man.’
“[But] in the case of Marvel they’re pretty clear on wanting to do it with the actors who’ve established the roles or to not do it at all. That’s what they’ve said to me,” he continued. “I think it’s a good idea if you use the characters established in the other franchises that then come together for an event. I don’t think they would do it like they’re doing ‘Justice League’ where it’s a whole different set of actors and a whole different take on the world.”
It's important to note that any potential Avengers movie does not require its canonical founders to be involved. Spider-Man, Wolverine and even most of the Fantastic Four have been members of the ever-changing team, and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine spin-off is set to start shooting soon. There's been a cavalcade of super-dupers in that book, so any of them could make the cut, and movies can always invent new members anyway. Don't hold your breath for Nic Cage's Ghost Rider or a big Wesley Snipes comeback as Blade, but since Favreau played Foggy Nelson, there's an outside shot he could ring back the dynamic Bennifer duo as Daredevil and Elektra. If anybody really wanted him to, that is.
