When Marvel Studios announced their slate of super hero films last summer was it pretty optimistic and wishful thinking? In a word, yes. Many of us have thought aloud, “uhh, with no final script, no actors cast and in some cases no filmmaker’s attached, how are you going to meet those release dates?” Well the truth is they’re not. Marvel has pushed back more than half it’s 2.0 slate.
-“Thor” originally pegged for a July 16, 2010 release has been moved back a whole year to June 17, 2011.
– “Captain America” initially scheduled for May 6, 2011 has been given a few short months of breathing room for its new theatrical date July 22, 2011.
– “The Avengers” once tapped for a July 15, 2011, has been pushed back a year as well to May 4, 2012.
Only “Iron Man 2 — which now co-stars Mickey Rourke and Scarlett Johansson — and its May 7, 2010 release has stayed put… so far.
Also, Sony Pictures’ “Spider-Man 4” now has an official release date and its May 6, 2011 (nevermind the date on the fan-made poster to the left). Notice how “Captain America” shuffled its release so Spidey and it would not go head to head.
The biggest pushes are obviously “Thor” and “The Avengers.” The Asgard fantasy drama will likely be helmed by Kenneth Branagh, but all sources say the script needs a lot of work and the special effects will obviously need a lot of thought and development. No leads have been cast, but obviously, there’s always rumors. “The Avengers’ is simply pushed back because its release is contingent on all the Marvel films that come before it. Don’t be surprised if this release schedule changes again. Especially “The Avengers” which will need a lot of work depending how the other films pan out – all the storylines culminate in that film so even if a script is written now, it’ll likely have to be reworked.
