Damsel in Distress: The Lack of Female Superheroes in Hollywood
In the '90s, my parents encouraged my tomboy ways and let me play with the boys toys, as if back then letting girls play with boys toys was taboo. They’re just toys, right? Almost 20 years later, I went to Target to grab some superhero merchandise for the opening night of The Avengers: Age of Ultron. To my dismay, all of the merch was located in the boy's toy section; including the female superhero items, which wasn't more than a pen-sized action figure or two. As I picked up the last Captain America mask, I passed the bright pink aisles where all of the "female-friendly" toys were. There wasn’t a superhero Barbie, plush toy or action figure in sight. What gives, Hollywood?
After seeing the film, I walked out disappointed. Scarlett Johansson played Black Widow in The Avengers: Age of Ultron, a former USSR assassin trained from a young age who uses her skills for her own gain and later on for the good of mankind. As a big Marvel fan, I was excited to see the return of the strong, female superhero in a Hollywood blockbuster (besides the X-Men). Unfortunately, her backstory was watered down as her relationship with Bruce Banner (e.g. Hulk) in the film grew into a sappy "woe is me" superhero complex as she revealed she was unable to bear children. As if in the year 2015 this was the number one, sure-fire way to humanize a former Soviet-bred killing machine to American women. Why does her mystery have to be washed over by pointless sentiments of humanity? They’re superhuman. Then, in the end, it’s Banner who ends up leaving her behind, despite their plans to run away together. Whether or not this was an accuracy issue from the comics to the big screen, why couldn’t Black Widow be the one to leave? Left at the altar, even in fantasy, the woman is still portrayed to be more vulnerable than her male counterpart.
I’ll admit, there’s the occasional female powerhouse (e.g. Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy, the ladies of the X-Men and Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises), but the damsel in distress routine is getting blase to say the least. These are the women who know they’re needed for a team to function and most importantly, vital in saving the planet if not the universe. In X-Men: Days of Future Past, without the women of the X-Men, the people of Earth would live forever in chains and the mutants of Earth left to be brutally murdered by robots. Without Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy, Star-Lord wouldn’t have been able to save the planet. In the comic book world, there are plenty of women superheroes, but until those books come to life in a way that empowers us mere mortals on Earth, it’s a man’s universe; real or fantasy.
When comics started in the '20s, it was a man’s world. While the comic book universe is booming with female leaders, it's Hollywood who pass over these women like they're minor characters. But, in 2015, something has to change. The question is: what is Hollywood going to do about it?
[Trailer] Avengers: Age of Ultron
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With May only two short months away, the hype machine is in full motion for Marvel and Disney to pimp out their next film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Age of Ultron. Released earlier today thanks to a social media push that saw thousands of fans tweet and share a link for the film, the trailer features all new footage that will be sure to entice any superhero film fanatic.
For those that may not know, Age of Ultron features Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) developing an artificial intelligence platform to help protect New York. However, the AI becomes sentient and turns on him and the rest of the Avengers, leading Earth's Mightiest Heroes to protect the city from the program they enacted to... protect the city. It all will lead into next year's Captain America: Civil War, which may or may not feature everybody's favorite web-slinger's MCU debut.
Enjoy the latest Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer, and expect a lot more from us when it's released on May 1st.
[Teaser Trailer] Avengers: Age of Ultron
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A funny thing happened yesterday. A few hours after the announcement that the first teaser trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron would premiere next week during the airing of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the trailer leaked online. Typically, film studios (especially ones as big as Marvel/Disney) will take the trailer down and feign ignorance until the scheduled release date. However, facing the unfortunate nature of the situation, they simply released the trailer less than a week early in complete 1080p HD quality alongside the film's first official poster.
Age of Ultron, as we've recounted since the film's announcement, is a direct sequel to 2012's The Avengers and represents the climax of Marvel's "Phase 2" of films in which a rogue A.I., Ultron (James Spader), goes on a rampage against the cast of superheroes. If you thought The Avengers was huge, just wait until Age of Ultron is released. As seen in the trailer (and hinted at dozens of times since its announcement), the film will feature new Avengers in the forms of Quicksilver (Aaron Johnson) and the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), as well as a glimpse of The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) fighting a Hulkbuster. While the trailer's a bit too gloomy, expect the same level of action and comedy when it hits theaters in May 2015.
Marvel Interested in Another Solo The Hulk Film
Most in film and comic book circles knew The Avengers was Marvel's test-run to see how Mark Ruffalo's take on The Hulk would do with audiences. Following the mess that was Ang Lee's take on the character in 2003's Hulk and Marvel's re-acquisition of his rights and subsequent release of 2008's The Incredible Hulk with Edward Norton (Birdman) in the lead, it appeared that the character finally found a home in Marvel Studios' plans for its Hollywood takeover. However, Norton didn't reprise the role in 2012's The Avengers, leaving Marvel to find the third Bruce Banner in as many films within a decade. Thankfully, Joss Whedon's take on the character was spot-on to his comic characterization, and The Hulk was a hit among audiences. Still, plans for a solo Hulk film were never made despite the green giant's popularity.
During an interview with Digital Spy, Ruffalo discussed the possibility of a standalone Hulk film:
I think they are, for the first time, entertaining the idea of it. When we did The Avengers it was basically 'No!', and now there is some consideration for it [...] But there's still nothing definitive, not even a skeletal version of what it would be. I look forward to going down that road, if we could crack that nut.
As a fan of Norton's take on Bruce Banner, I was heartbroken when I found out he wasn't returning to the character for The Avengers. However, Ruffalo's portrayal of the character was a huge surprise that definitely went over way better than most fans were expecting. 2008's The Incredible Hulk proved that, in the right hands, The Hulk can be portrayed properly on the big screen. For now, it's only a matter of time before we see Hulk smash things on his own.
[via Digital Spy]
[Video] New Concept Art for The Avengers: Age of Ultron Revealed
Yesterday, Marvel revealed some behind the scenes concept art for their upcoming 2015 blockbuster, The Avengers: Age of Ultron. The first looks at the designs for Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) are the most promising, as Disney is adapting their character designs in a significantly better way than Fox is with their out of touch, techno take on Quicksilver for X-Men: Days of Future Past.
Also revealed in the video is art of The Hulk and Black Widow, plus Iron Man's Hulkbuster armor. Sounds like an Iron Man vs. The Hulk fight is being set and prepped for Age of Ultron; it might not be able to top the funny Thor vs. The Hulk fight from The Avengers, but anytime Iron Man has to bust out the Hulkbuster armor is no laughing matter.
You can watch the video grab below, as well as a better look at the aforementioned concept art of The Hulk, Black Widow, Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch.
[via /Film]
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Aaron Johnson will kick ass as Quicksilver in The Avengers: Age of Ultron
If rumors are true, it appears that Kick-Ass star will be joining the (rumored) recently-cast Elizabeth Olsen in The Avengers: Age of Ultron as her Scarlet Witch's brother, Quicksilver. Obviously, Johnson has experience portraying superheroes on the big screen. However, joining the cast of The Avengers: Age of Ultron will be a boon for his young, promising career. Both Olsen and Johnson are up and coming actors whose careers are only just beginning.
Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch are twin siblings and the children of noted X-Men antagonist, Magneto. Quicksilver's specialty is speed, whereas Scarlet Witch's mutant powers involve probability manipulation (essentially, casting hexes on reality and those around her). More interestingly, the two are close with their relationship oftentimes bordering on incest.
Production hasn't officially begun on The Avengers: Age of Ultron, so it may be awhile until the castings are confirmed. However, considering Johnson's familiarity with superhero films, he would be a great fit to join the ensemble cast.
[via /Film]
Elizabeth Olsen unofficially confirmed for The Avengers: Age of Ultron by Samuel L. Jackson
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Samuel L. Jackson confirmed that Martha Marcy May Marlene actress Elizabeth Olsen has joined the cast of The Avengers: Age of Ultron. Back in late August, it was reported that Olsen was the front-runner for the Scarlet Witch role, and it appears that she will be portraying the mutant with magical powers. The award-winning actress will join a large stable of award-winning actors and actresses employed by Marvel Studios.
No official word from Marvel or Disney has been released to officially confirm Olsen's casting, but who would ever question Samuel L. Jackson's word? Jackson also revealed that shooting on the highly-anticipated film won't begin until March. He also shared that he hasn't seen a script yet, which could mean the script is currently being revised and finished, or Marvel's keeping him on his toes.
Olsen's participation in the franchise will further help the visibility of the upcoming Joss Whedon-directed sequel to 2012's The Avengers as she will be playing a large role in Spike Lee's controversial American remake of Oldboy that is sure to garner a lot of attention. Olsen will next be seen in Kill Your Darlings, a film that that illuminates the relationship between Allen Ginsberg and Lucien Carr that jumpstarted the Beat Generation movement.
[via Wall Street Journal]
James Spader cast as Ultron in The Avengers: Age of Ultron
While all of the details and casting come together for The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Marvel has found their villain for 2015's sequel to The Avengers. The Office star James Spader has been cast as the titular robot Ultron. While most may remember Spader as Robert California from the aforementioned TV series, he's won Emmys for his roles in The Practice and Boston Legal and was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for an Outstanding Group Performance in last year's Lincoln.
Spader will be providing the voice for one of the biggest antagonists to the group of superheroes. In the comic book universe, Ultron was created by Ant-Man Henry Pym as an artificial intelligence that would be able to adapt to any form of threat. However, the technology behind him backfires on Pym as Ultron begins to view the human race as a threat, thus establishing the decades-long conflict between him and The Avengers.
The Avengers: Age of Ultron will be in theaters in May 2015.