Disneys Marvel Studios just delivered the biggest superhero film in Hollywood history at a colossal world premiere event at the Los Angeles Convention Center that had costumed fans camped outside (some since last Thursday), a plum-colored carpet (to match the extraterrestrial complexion of Thanos, the alien despot portrayed by Josh Brolin with much galactic gravitas) and, at the center of it, a 40-foot revolving “A” symbol.
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Marvel Studios chief and Avengers: Endgame Producer Kevin Feige said the climatic installment of the Marvel saga is a film with its own shadings and stand-alone persona. “Two distinct experiences,” Feige said of Avengers: Endgame and the previous film, Avengers: Infinity War, which finished last year as the 2018s top-grossing release (with $2.08 billion in worldwide box office). The previous film ended with a grim situation — one-half of the universes living creatures having been erased by Thanos — and Feige said he was proud of the emotional resonance of the scenario. He quickly amended the statement with a caveat: “Its not that I like to see people cry or children cry, necessarily.”
Danai Gurira, who portrays Okoye in the Marvel films, summed up the dire situation that set the stage for the new film. “That was a traumatic mess for everybody at the end of that movie,” the Black Panther co-star said. The tears may come again, according to Mark Ruffalo, who portrays Bruce Banner and the Hulk. Ruffalo arrived on the carpet in celebratory spirits and joked around with Marvel Universe compatriots Anthony Mackie and Chris Hemsworth. Ruffalos advice to fans: “Bring some diapers and Kleenex boxes, thats all I have to say.” (The diapers are presumably intended to help fans cope with the films robust three-hour running time.)
Spoiler was the watchword on Monday. Karen Gillian, who plays Nebula, said she was ready to shed the burden of secrecy. “Can you imagine if this is where I dropped it? If I got this far and just gave it away,” Gillian said. Scarlett Johansson, who portrays Black Widow, sounded hoarse from the publicity tour and talk-show circuit and said she is desperate for the movie to open so she can escape the stress of secrecy, “I feel scared that at any given moment Im about to let some secret just fly out of my mouth,” Johansson said. “I just want the movie to come out so I dont have to hold anything in anymore.”
Executive Producer Louis DEsposito echoed that sentiment when he answered a question about his favorite moment during the production. “All of it is a spoiler,” the Marvel Studios stalwart said with some resignation, adding that he really couldnt offer anything without “getting in trouble.” DEsposito did say that he has watched the new film at least 50 times during the post-production process and that he was emotionally affected each time and choked back tears in several of the screenings.
“Its quite sad in a way,” DEsposito said wistfully, referring not to the plot points but to the Marvel Studios off-screen journey, which began with Iron Man in 2008 and spans 21 films to date. Jon Favreau, the director of Iron Man, marveled at the scale and spectacle of the premiere and also was somewhat dazed by the journey of it all. “It wasnt like this in the beginning,” said Favreau, joking that he was looking for a boat show. Robert Downey Jr., passing by, warmly chimed in that Favreau was “the man who literally started it all” with Iron Man, the 2008 studio-launching film.
While DEsposito and Favreau were a bit wistful, Executive Producer Victoria Alonzo was feisty and proud, especially when an interviewer asked her about the female empowerment movement in the super hero sector. “WRead More – Source
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