The ‘Secret’ Avenger in the New ‘Ultron’ Poster

You know that awesome (crowded) new poster that Marvel released to tease Avengers: Age of Ultron?

The one that featured all our returning faves, including Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson, who’s been in self-imposed exile; and newcomers Vision (Paul Bettany) — backlit by the sun; and the twins Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) in the upper right? That one?

Well, it turns out there’s yet another character on this poster. There is, in fact, an extra character hidden in plain sight: The text block on the one-sheet lists Anthony Mackie — which means the Falcon will at least make a cameo!

 

Marvel To Unleash All-Female Avengers Team: A-Force

An all-female Avengers team called A-Force will emerge from the Secret Wars event, taking over after older versions of the team have disbanded (or worse), Marvel Comics has announced.

The team will be led by She-Hulk; Dazzler; Medusa; Nico Minoru; Singularity, a new heroine with cosmic powers; and others to be announced.

The cover of the first issue, drawn by Jim Cheung,  features a huge potential roster, including: She-Hulk, Medusa, Singularity, Dazzler, Nico, Storm, Scarlet Witch, Rogue, Phoenix, Wasp, Captain Marvel, Spider-Woman, Pixie, Elektra, Rescue, Spider-Gwen, Black Widow, Moondragon, Snowbird, Aurora, Capt. Marvel II, Hellcat, Firestar, Vindicator, Jubilee and Spectrum.

Marvel Drops First ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ TV Spot

You don’t have to wait for the Super Bowl to see this cool commercial — the first official TV spot for Avengers: Age of Ultron!

This clip is heavy on Hulk and Black Widow action.

Directed by Joss Whedon, A:AoU opens May 1.

Here’s the Plot for ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’

Disney has released the official synopsis for Marvel’s latest blockbuster-in-the-making, Avengers: Age of Ultron:

When Tony Stark tries to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.

Best Look at Avengers’ Vision Yet!

Everyone knows that next summer’s Avengers: Age of Ultron is going to feature the Vision, the “synthezoid” artificial life form, but no one really knew much about how the character — played by the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S., Paul Bettany — would look.

Until now.

Web site IO9 obtained this image, apparently from Sideshow Collectibles, showing concept art of the Vision. The fact that it probably came from Sideshow makes me think maybe this is a design for one of the company’s high-end collectible statues — which are known for their painstaking accuracy. So if this is that, we can rest assured that the Vision will look exactly as depicted.

New Faces Taking Over for Two Avengers

Sam Wilson as Captain America

Female Thor

Sam Wilson as the Falcon

Male Thor

Two of Marvel Comics’ most popular characters — Captain America and Thor — are undergoing big changes in the pages of their comic books: an African-American will wield Cap’s shield, while Thor’s hammer will be toted by a woman!

Following the events in Captain America #21 — in which Steve Rogers’ super soldier serum was neutralized, causing him to age 65 years in a flash — Cap’s frequent sidekick Sam Wilson a.k.a the Falcon dons the iconic costume in October’s Captain America #25 and will fight on in the new ongoing series All-New Captain America in the fall, to be scripted by current Captain America writer Rick Remender and All-New X-Men artist Stuart Immonen, The official announcement was made by Marvel Entertainment’s Chief Creative Officer, Joe Quesada, last night on THE COLBERT REPORT.

Scarlett Johansson Finally Gets Superpowers

Scarlett Johansson has kicked more than her share of asses as Black Widow in her various film outings with members of the Avengers, Scarlett now has a summer movie coming out in which her character finally has superpowers of her own — in fact, she has a lot of powers.

In director Luc Besson’s Lucy, Scarlett plays an drug mule whose contraband cargo leaks and imbues her with any number of new physical and psionic abilities.

Perhaps the best news is that French auteur Besson is back in the action director’s chair after so many years of producing and directing subpar comedies like The Family. Besson is by far the most “Hollywood” of European directors, but he has a way with powerful female lead characters that is very un-Hollywood. The Fifth Element and La Femme Nikita are perhaps the best female-led action films ever made. And while Natalie Portman’s Mathilda is more of a supporting part in Léon: The Professional, I would add it to any list of the best action flicks with strong female central characters.

Now Scarlett should reap the benefits of working with Besson. This should also bolster the street cred of the Widow in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

I am really looking forward to seeing Lucy when it opens Aug. 8.

Chris Hemsworth Praises Joss and ‘Avengers’ Sequel Script

The mighty Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth, told the Wizard World Sacramento (Calif.) Comic Con over the weekend that he’s ready to pick up the hammer for his fourth sortie as the Norse god of thunder in Avengers: Age of Ultron — which will be truly massive in scope thanks to writer/director Joss Whedon.

“I’m really excited to start Avengers 2 in two months and get back on set. We’re going to meet in London and shoot there for four months, so I’m excited to get back together with everyone and catch up.

“Everything is ramped up. It kind of blew me away, reading [it]. I don’t know how Joss does it, but everyone has gone up another notch, and the whole thing is bigger and more exciting and crazier. Yeah, he’s a genius.”

Avengers: Age of Ultron is slated to open May 1, 2015.

Baron von Strucker Will Menace Cap and the Avengers… a Lot

Marvel Studios is about introduce another Big Bad in the tradition of Loki: one who can serve as the villain in any number of future superhero films.

German actor Thomas Kretschmann has signed a deal to play villainous former Nazi Baron Wolfgang von Strucker in several movies, including Avengers: Age of Ultron and possibly a cameo in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, according to websites ComicBookMovie.com and Dark Horizons.

Kretschmann, who has already played Nazi officers in films such as The Pianist and Valkyrie, will play the battle-scarred leader of HYDRA, whose agents were seen battling Captain America in the World War II period of Captain America: The First Avenger. In the comics, von Strucker is a nemesis of Cap, the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D., which makes him a particularly appropriate addition to the Marvel movie universe. Also, he can give Loki a break from multifilm villainy. After all, the Norse god of mischief cannot be in every Marvel film!

Pregnant Scarlett Johansson Still in Avengers Sequel

Scarlett Johansson is reportedly pregnant with her first child with her French journalist fiancé, Romain Dauriac, but that doesn’t mean the Black Widow will have sit out the action in the upcoming Avengers: Age of Ultron — and the role is not being recast.

Instead, Scarlett’s scenes are being moved to the beginning of production, so she can complete her filming well before her baby is due, in August. Word is Scarlett will report to the set for returning director Joss Whedon on April 5 — right after she finishes her press duties for Widow’s appearance in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.