Marvel has released an origin-oriented featurette that depicts how the upcoming Avengers film became a reality.
The short video includes official Marvel clips, as well as interviews with cast and crew, including Joss Whedon and Robert Downey Jr.
Basically, the featurette tells the story of how a small, Disney owned, comics backed film studio turned their very first movie into the begining of – not just a franchise – but a film universe. This allowed Marvel to achieve the incredible feat of putting every film the studio made so far into the same canon world.
Unfortunately, there is no new footage from the upcoming Avengers film to see, not that anyone is still trying to decide if they want to see this film at this point, right? Marvel’s superhero films have been the best superhero movies in history, as well as the most successful. As such, I honestly don’t think The Avengers will have any trouble with audience draw, since it – in box office terms – will be serving as a sequel for every film they’ve made so far.
Indeed, Marvel has already proven it cares about making the sequels great. To top it off, they’ve got Joss Whedon, who is a very hot director right now among genre fans.
We also have this promotional video featuring Black Widow. I can only assume they are planning on releasing additional featurettes for each of the six major characters. The promo is in Polish, but it’s no less awesome for it:
For reference, here is the most recent trailer:
Here is the official long-form synopsis:
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. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.
The Avengers continues the epic big-screen adventures started in “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor” and “Captain America: The First Avenger”. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since.
Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when Marvel’s The Avengers assemble in summer 2012.
The Avengers is slated to hit theaters on May 4, 2012, kicking off the summer blockbuster season.
