Marvel Studios May Add The Wasp To ‘The Avengers’

When loyal Marvel Comics readers think of the female component of The Avengers superhero roster or their Ultimates counterpart, The Wasp is a character top of mind. With The Avengers thus far filling out its ranks with men, outside of Scarlett Johansson’s non-superpowered Black Widow, is there a spot to add a superheroine?

According to recent reports, Marvel is on the lookout to add another female character to The Avengers cast after rumors that Disney starlet Demi Lovato was in talks for a role in the film for which many speculate may be The Wasp.

Heat Vision confirmed that the Lovato rumor is just that, a rumor, but that Marvel is indeed after another actress to join Joss Whedon’s superhero epic. The leading theory still holds The Wasp as the most likely candidate.

If we take a look back two years ago, we can find the origins of the rumors of The Wasp playing a part in The Avengers. It all began when Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria was photographed leaving Marvel Studios with a business card and several issues of Avengers comics.

While there’s no confirmation on what character could be added or if that character has special abilities, the logical assumption is that it would be Janet Van Dyne (aka The Wasp) and that such a character could also play a part in Ant-Man.

Like Ant-Man, Janet has the ability to shrink down to the size of a small insect and in both the standard Marvel and Ultimate universe, she’s able to fire off energy blasts. She is a founding member of The Avengers and plays an important role on the team, holding special relationships with Ant-Man and Captain America.

While we don’t know how many is too many when it comes to heroes in The Avengers, it’s long been rumored that both Ant-Man and Wasp be introduced in the film. With Ant-Man helmer Edgar Wright emphasizing that Ant-Man needs to be introduced in his own movie before joining the team, it’s easily acceptable that they just take the other since their abilities are similar.

Could Longoria still be in the running for the part of The Wasp? Yes, her rumors began two years ago but Jeremy Renner was in talks for Hawkeye a long, long time before he signed on to play the skilled archer in The Avengers.

Whomever Whedon and co. choose to add to the cast, she’ll be standing strong alongside Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Clark Gregg and Samuel L. Jackson when the film begins shooting in April.

Thor opens May 5, 2011; The First Avenger: Captain America hits July 22, 2011 and The Avengers is scheduled to debut May 4, 2012.

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Source: THR

Header image edited from cover art by Mark Brooks

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‘Twilight’ Scribe Readies Marvel ‘Jessica Jones’ TV Project For ABC

Worried about getting your superhero serial fix once Smallville is finally put out to pasture? Don’t be. Between NBC’s The Cape, ABC’s No Ordinary Family, a possible Raven adaptation on CW and the forthcoming Hulk on ABC, comic book fans won’t be short of new shows to choose from.

ABC is currently preparing AKA Jessica Jones, a series based on Marvel super-heroine Jewel. Melissa Rosenberg, screenwriter of all five Twilight films, is set to write and executive produce.

Jessica Jones is a minor character in the Marvel universe, first appearing in her own comic series Alias (no relation to the TV show) from 2001-2004. She’s appeared alongside more mainstream Marvel properties ever since. A contemporary of Peter Parker, the comic version Jessica/Jewel possesses super-strength and flight abilities. The ABC project may differ greatly from its source material, however.

According to sources close to the creators, the TV version of Jessica Jones will operate her own detective agency after suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Her new gumshoe gig will allow her to serve the public good and will bring her in contact with other Marvel superheroes.

If you’re disheartened by the idea of a superhero project in the hands of someone best known for teenage vampires, hold your judgment for now. Rosenberg also has writing and production credits on shows like Dexter and the failed Batman spin-off Birds of Prey. Other names attached to the project include executive producers Jeph Loeb (Heroes, Smallville), Alan Fine (Iron Man 2) and Joe Quesada, who’s worked on all of Marvel’s recent animated shows. The character’s comic creator Brian Michael Bendis is a creative consultant.

ABC’s parent company Disney is clearly ready to make good on its acquisition of Marvel Comics late last year. With ABC laying claim to Marvel properties and The CW (Warner Bros.) providing DC Comics adaptations, the television landscape is starting to mirror that of the rival comic book publishers.

Assuming that Raven is greenlit for production on The CW, the two shows will be competing for a slice of viewership that’s grown surprisingly lucrative: female sci-fi fantasy fans. Both characters are self-reliant and deeply flawed, traits that might resonate with fans of the Twilight series and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Combined with the Guillermo del Toro reboot of the Hulk television series, the combination could provide a one-two punch for ABC to grab both male and female viewership.

ABC isn’t wasting any time in bringing Jewel to the small screen. Though no cast information is available at present and the network has not yet pulled the trigger on a full order, AKA Jessica Jones is tentatively planned for a fall 2011 debut.

Source: Variety

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Marvel Reveals International ‘Thor’ Release Dates

Thinking about lining up on May 6th to be one of the first fans in the world to see Thor and Loki battle it out on the big-screen? You might be surprised, and possibly disappointed, to know that over 40 countries will get to see the film before moviegoers in the United States.

According to the official International release schedule for the film Thor will open internationally on April 27th in Belgium, Egypt, and France, with many other countries following shortly after.

Marvel is known for planning ahead. It’s not the first time that Marvel has opened one of their tent-pole pictures to the international crowd before film-goers in the U.S. – as Iron Man 2 followed a similar release schedule. Director Jon Favreau’s heavy-metal follow-up opened on May 7th in the U.S. – with international audiences getting a look at the film starting on April 28th.

Check out the full list of international release dates – to see when Thor is opening in your country. You can also check the official Thor international release site for links to coverage of the film – specific to your region:

North America

Latin America

Argentina – April 28Brazil – April 29Chile – April 28Colombia – April 29Mexico – April 29Panama – April 29Peru – April 28Venezuela – April 29

Middle East / Africa

Egypt – April 27Israel – April 28Lebanon – April 28South Africa – April 29United Arab Emirates – April 28

Asia Pacific

Australia – April 28Hong Kong – April 28India – April 29Indonesia – April 29Japan – July 2Korea – April 28Singapore – April 28Malaysia – April 28New Zealand – April 28Philippines – April 29Taiwan – April 29Thailand – April 29

Europe

Austria – April 29Belgium – April 27Croatia – April 28Cyprus – April 29Czech Republic / Slovakia – April 28Denmark – April 28Finland – May 6France – April 27Germany – April 28Greece – April 28Hungary – April 28Iceland – April 29Ireland – April 29Italy – April 29Netherlands – April 29Norway – April 28Poland – April 29Portugal – April 29Romania – April 28Russia – April 29Serbia & Montenegro – April 28Slovenia – April 28Spain – April 28Sweden – April 29Switzerland-French – April 29Switzerland-German – April 27Switzerland-Italian – April 29Turkey – April 29Ukraine – April 28United Kingdom – April 29 "You tell those Americans they can wait."

While some Thor fans might be disappointed that they’ll have to fly to another country to be among the first moviegoers to see Kenneth Branagh’s Marvel superhero installment, the international Thor release will pale in comparison to the irony of the impending Captain America: The First Avenger release schedule.

Personally, I don’t see any problem with Hollywood productions opening in other countries before they hit theaters in the U.S. but I can imagine some die-hard Cap fans won’t be able to resist getting worked up if the titular American hero screens in foreign theaters first.

Thor, as we all know, is actually Scandinavian after-all.

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Thor opens on May 6th in U.S. theaters and a few days earlier almost everywhere else.

Source: Official Thor Site

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