More Avengers Rumors: Some Debunked While Others Begin, Plus How Robert Downey Jr. Convinced Mark Ruffalo to Take Hulk Role
Posted 12.30.10 by Ryan
There is plenty of rumor mongering occurring on behalf of Marvel Studios' upcoming adaptation of Avengers this week, and it hasn't been easy to tell fact from fiction, but we'll try our best.
One of the easiest to sniff out as false was the supposed casting of troubled Disney star Demi Lovato, who was reportedly "up for a role" in the comic book movie. THR reports that sources inside Marvel and Lovato's "camp" claim "there was no truth to the rumor."
The report also suggests another rumor that Marvel is looking to bring another female character into the movie, considering Scarlett Johansson is the only female member on the superhero team at this time. Director Joss Whedon revealed in August that the movie "is only going to have one female avenger," but, if the report is to be believed, that could have changed.
Another rumored cast member is Alan Tudyk, whom ComicBookMovie reported was cast as Dr. Hank Pym, a.k.a. Ant-Man, in both
The Avengers and director Edgar Wright's upcoming adaptation of Ant-Man. While Tudyk is familiar with Whedon after working together on the TV show Firefly and the subsequent movie Serenity, MovieFone spoke to Wright about the rumor, to which he replied, "News to me." Tudyk's Serenity co-star, Nathan Fillion, was also rumored for the Ant-Man role, but denied any involvement in the movie. Probably only a matter of time before Adam Baldwin is included in the Ant-Man rumors as well.
An Avengers cameo has also been rumored to appear in Thor, likely in the way that
Samuel L. Jackson made a surprise appearance in Iron Man, and Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, was found at the end of Iron Man 2. For those who wish to remain unspoiled by the potential truth of the rumor, skip to the next paragraph now, otherwise The Wrap reports that a source has seen an early cut of Thor and claims that Jeremy Renner will appear as Hawkeye in the movie. This isn't exactly a spoiler, since Renner had mentioned the possibility of a Hawkeye cameo in Thor back in 2009, even telling Empire that the character "would probably show up" in Thor, but that was before he was officially cast in the movie.
Lastly, a non-rumor. Mark Ruffalo, who will be the third actor to play Bruce Banner, a.k.a. the Hulk, in a Marvel movie, told the Belfast Telegraph that joining The Avengers was a real leap of faith.
You’re taking a flying f**k at a rolling donut in these movies because you don’t exactly have a finished script. The only thing you have any understanding of is the people you’re going to work with.
One of those "people" is Robert Downey Jr., whom Ruffalo says convinced him to join the production.
Robert calls me, and he’s like, "This is gonna be fun." Because we worked together on Zodiac, and I grew up with the Hulk, especially the Lou Ferrigno Hulk.
Speaking of Ferrigno, the body-builder-turned-actor told NuketheFridge that he will appear in The Avengers in an unspecified role, though it's likely to only be a cameo.
Seems like a good week for Avengers rumors. Check back with this site if any more spring up.
Next Showing: The Avengers opens May 4, 2012