Marvel's The Avengers begins production

MANILA, Philippines - Production has commenced in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Marvel Studios’ highly-anticipated movie Marvel’s The Avengers, directed by Joss Whedon (Serenity) from a screenplay by Whedon. The film will continue principal photography in Cleveland, Ohio and New York City.

Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man, Iron Man 2) returns as the iconic Tony Stark/Iron Man along with Chris Hemsworth (Thor) as Thor, Chris Evans (Captain America: The First Avenger) as Captain America, Jeremy Renner (Thor, The Hurt Locker) as Hawkeye, Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are Alright) as Hulk, Scarlett Johansson (Iron Man 2) as Black Widow, Clark Gregg (Iron Man, Thor) as Agent Phil Coulson, and Samuel L. Jackson (Iron Man, Iron Man 2) as Nick Fury. Set for release on May 4, Marvel’s The Avengers is the first feature to be fully owned, marketed and distributed by Disney, which acquired Marvel in 2009.

Continuing the epic big-screen adventures that were started in Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, Marvel’s The Avengers is the superhero team-up of a lifetime. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as Shield, finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster.  

Based on the ever-popular Marvel series, first published in 1963, Marvel’s The Avengers brings together the mightiest superhero characters on screen for the first time. The cast will be joined by Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) as Agent Maria Hill of Shield, Tom Hiddleston (Wallander) and Stellan Skarsgård (Angels & Demons, Mamma Mia!) who will both reprise their respective roles as Loki and Professor Erik Selvig from the upcoming Marvel Studios’ feature Thor.

Marvel’s The Avengers is being produced by Marvel Studios’ president, Kevin Feige, and executive produced by Alan Fine, Stan Lee, Louis D’Esposito, Patty Whitcher, and Jon Favreau. Marvel Studios’ Jeremy Latcham and Victoria Alonso will co-produce.

The creative production team also includes Oscar-nominated director of photography Seamus McGarvey (Atonement), production designer James Chinlund (25th Hour), Oscar winning costume designer Alexandra Byrne (Elizabeth: The Golden Age), Oscar winning visual effects supervisor Janek Sirrs (Iron Man 2, The Matrix), visual effects producer Susan Pickett (Iron Man), stunt coordinator R.A. Rondell (Superman Returns) and four-time Oscar-nominated special effects supervisor Dan Sudick (Iron Man, War of the Worlds). The editors include Oscar nominated Paul Rubell (Collateral) and Jeffrey Ford (Crazy Heart).