Marvel Pushes Back Thor And The Avengers

Marvel Entertainment Inc said it rescheduled the release dates of some of its self-produced feature film properties through 2012.

Marvel has delayed its superhero blockbusters “Thor” and “The Avengers” by a year. Thor’s new release date is June 17, 2011, moved from July 16, 2010, while “The Avengers” is now on course for a May 4, 2012 arrival having been originally planned for July 15, 2011.

Marvel Studios chairman David Maisel said that the change of dates are in order to space out the release of their solo superhero movies before uniting the characters for ensemble film The Avengers.

“[It] maximizes the visibility of our single-character-focused films, leading to the highly anticipated release of the multi-character The Avengers film in 2012,” Maisel explained.

Initial plans would have seen two Marvel movies out in 2010 – “Iron Man 2” and “Thor” and three the following year – “The First Avenger: Captain America,” “Spider-Man 4” and “The Avengers.”

“The First Avenger: Captain America” has also been shifted back two months to July 22, 2011, instead of May 6, 2011.

Marvel also confirmed that Sony Pictures will release “Spider-Man 4″ on May 6, 2011. Marvel has licensed theatrical rights of “Spider-Man,” its most popular character, to the unit of Sony.

However, “Iron Man 2″ will be released as scheduled on May 7, 2010, Marvel said.

Joe Johnston to Direct Captain America

Joe Johnston has signed on to direct Marvel Studios‘ “First Avenger: Captain America.”

Johnston is currently directing “The Wolfman,” which hits theaters on April 3. He is developing “The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud.” Johnston previously directed “October Sky“, “Jumanji“, “Jurassic Park III“, “The Rocketeer and Honey“, “I Shrunk the Kids“. Johnston won an Academy Award in 1982 for Best Visual Effects for “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. He now joins the ranks of Jon Favreau, Louis Leterrier, and Kenneth Branagh as Marvel’s dream team of directors set to turn bring the real Marvel universe to life in a series of films that will eventually converge in The Avengers in 2011.

The superhero blockbuster, based on a character created in 1941 by Jack Kirby and Joe Simon, focuses on a weak man called Steve Rogers who is injected with an experimental serum which transforms him into a muscular superhero.

Captain America will be a World War II-set movie, and the character will appear in the modern day-set Avengers. No writers are on board but the studio expects to hire one shortly. Continue Reading…

The First Avenger: Captain America Synopsis

Marvel has released an official synopsis for “The First Avenger: Captain America.” Marvel is planning to keep the character true to his comic bookroots.

Born during the Great Depression, Steve Rogers grew up a frail youth in a poor family. Horrified by the newsreel footage of the Nazis in Europe, Rogers was inspired to enlist in the army. However, because of his frailty and sickness, he was rejected. Overhearing the boy’s earnest plea, General Chester Phillips offered Rogers the opportunity to take part in a special experiment…Operation: Rebirth. After weeks of tests, Rogers was at last administered the ‘Super-Soldier Serum’ and bombarded by ‘vita-rays.’ Steve Rogers emerged from the treatment with a body as perfect as a body can be and still be human. Rogers was then put through an intensive physical and tactical training program. Three months later, he was given his first assignment as Captain America. Armed with his indestructible shield and and battle savvy, Captain America has continued his war against evil both as a sentinel of liberty and leader of the Avengers.

“The First Avenger: Captain America” is scheduled to hit theaters on May 6, 2011.

Source: MovieWeb