Avengers sequel starts development as film breaks records

‘What now?’

Less than a week after the US premiere, the Avengers is quickly climbing the ranks of top money making movies for Hollywood. I’m a little confused by the comments that I have seen stating Avengers has broken the comic book movie fatigue (last year Captain America and Thor did quite well and support for Batman: The Dark Knight Rises and The Amazing Spider-Man has been consistently strong.

Via CBR:

Avengers passes $700 Billion mark:

Like a rampaging Hulk, Marvel Studios’ “The Avengers” seems determined to demolish the global box office — to say nothing of its competition — hauling in $702.2 million in just 13 days.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Joss Whedon-directed film has earned $226.4 million in North America, including an impressive $18.9 million on Monday, and $475.8 million internationally.

TheWrap contends “The Avengers” is on track to become a $1 billion blockbuster, a first for Marvel Studios. Jeff Bock, an analyst for Exhibitor Relations Co. told the website he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the film passed “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows — Part 2” ($1.3 billion) to become No. 3 on the list of all-time box office leaders, behind “Avatar” ($2.7 billion) and “Titanic” ($2.1 billion).

With a third Iron Man movie, sequels to both Thor and Captain America in the works, there is plenty to come from Marvel. Mark Ruffalo’s multi-picture deal also implies a revival of the Hulk which makes me very happy. A mystery project may center on Hawkeye and Black Widow as a team-up or possibly something else entirely.

I won’t spoil the film for anyone who hasn’t seen it, but the conclusion leaves the possibility of a sequel absolutely necessary. The cosmic-level threat will no doubt require new team members, possibly with higher power ranking, such as Captain Marvel, Hercules and others. I’m hoping that the Vision will also crop up soon as he’s kind of a mainstay of the team for me.

Due to legal entanglements, other characters such as the Silver Surfer, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man and all of the X-Men will not be available for subsequent Marvel movies, but there are plenty of other superheroes out there.

Which Avenger are you anxious to see in the upcoming sequel?

The Avengers – 1978-style

For those of you not following the DP Tumblr feed (what’s wrong with you???), here’s this amazing video showing what a 1978-era Avengers movie might have looked like.

Lou Ferrigno as Hulk, Eric Kramer shows up as Thor from The Incredible Hulk Returns and Reb Brown is Captain America. Iron Man only really appears from footage nicked from a pilot called Exo-Man… but Paul Lynde as Loki is an inspired choice. His fiendish army KISS led by the Destroyer himself is just too perfect.

Of course Hawkeye is… Hawkeye.

The addition of Peter Wyngarde as Tony Stark is… a kiss on my cheek.

(Thanks to Tom Briggs for this one.)

Avengers post-credit spoiler

Apparently video footage of the Avengers movie (opening on May 4th in the US) has been circulating on the web, especially the post-credit sequence which reveals the path that the franchise may take. It also fits with other rumored projects that Marvel wants to pursue. Having not seen the movie or the video, I cannot vouch for the authenticity… so keep that in mind should you read further.