At its peak, the Marvel Cinematic Universe dominated the film industry, propelled by the massive success of the Avengers films. Starting with 2008’s Iron Man, fans were captivated by the intricate world crafted by numerous talented individuals, signaling the start of a remarkable and history-making cinematic journey. Interestingly enough, a James Bond director was turned off by a baffling pitch concerning The Avengers.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has undergone numerous changes and developments over the years, getting mixed responses from fans and critics alike. After all, fans still fondly remember the heydays of Marvel, especially when The Avengers came out in 2012. That film pretty much changed the course of superhero movies forever.
Also read: Marvel’s New Avengers Plan Will Dwarf Robert Downey Jr.’s Endgame Death
James Bond Director Wasn’t A Fan Of A Pitch Concerning The Avengers
After directing 2009’s Away We Go, Sam Mendes took some time before choosing his next project, ultimately landing on Skyfall. While speaking to Moviefone, Mendes revealed that he was invited, like many others, to pitch for The Avengers. However, he declined the opportunity, stating his lack of interest in that particular genre. Mendez added that although he enjoys watching such films with his kids, he didn’t want to direct one.
”With a lot of these movies, the date’s announced before anything exists, let alone a script. The funniest letter I got — they were sending [a packet for] “The Avengers,” right? For directors to pitch — and I got a package, which was full of comic books, but no treatment; there was no script.
Mended continued:
“But the cover letter said “Marvel’s ‘Avengers’ will be released on May 3, 2012” or whatever it was. That was the first sentence of the cover letter. Not, “We have the pleasure of enclosing the materials…” or “Here is the script for…” But the release date. That was the first sentence.’‘
Mendes also shared an amusing anecdote about the pitch packet he received for The Avengers. Instead of including a script or treatment, it contained comic books. What stood out even more was the cover letter, which, rather than introducing the enclosed materials, began with the release date announcement: Marvel’s Avengers will be released on May 3, 2012, or a similar date, highlighting what Mendes saw as a release-date-first approach by the studio – a major turnoff for the director.
Joss Whedon Was Taken Aback By Marvel’s Strict Mandate For Nick Fury In The Avengers
Marvel Studios was unwavering in its commitment to preserving the integrity of its major characters, particularly Nick Fury in The Avengers, as revealed by director Joss Whedon. The studio maintained a strict policy of zero tolerance for any alterations to Nick Fury’s background. In a conversation with Yahoo, Joss Whedon disclosed behind-the-scenes secrets from The Avengers, including breaking a major rule for Samuel L. Jackson’s portrayal of Nick Fury.
”Well, he is not going to be talking about his childhood, and you do want to keep a certain mystery. Also — and this is something that I was very pleased that Marvel actually mandated — they were very interested in keeping him, not just in the sort of a mystery of how the organization operates, but a real moral gray area where you really have to decide, “Is Nick Fury the most manipulative guy in the world? Is he a good guy? Is he completely Machiavellian or is it a bit of both?”
He added:
“And that was really fun to tweak. I felt that in the other movies, they had been cameos and he had been called upon to come in and be Sam Jackson and bluster a little bit. And I told Sam upfront that my big agenda was to see the weight on someone who is supposed to be in control of the most powerful beings on the planet. The weight on somebody who has to run the organization and the gravity of it. Not that we don’t have any fun with Nick, but he definitely — it’s, I feel like a much more textured performance and at times really moving.”
Joss Whedon emphasized that he faced a strict rule during the filming of The Avengers – he couldn’t make any major changes to Nick Fury’s background. Whedon found this restriction perplexing, highlighting the studio’s adamant stance on preserving the character’s established background without alterations.
