Case Study on The AvengersJennifer Templer

12.1

Part One: Pre-production

• The studio• The idea• The script• Production• Directing

THE STUDIO

Produced by MARVEL STUDIOS

Which is owned by MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT

Which is owned by THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY

Own the following film studios: (Which tend to be aimed at a much younger audience)

They also own the following media companies:

They make other media products such as: cable television, publishing, theme parks, broadcasting, radio, and web portals.

(80%) (27%)

THE IDEAThe film was based on THE AVENGERS comics by Stan Lee, which were all published by MARVEL COMICS (another subsidiary company of MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT).

It’s estimated that 125-135 million copies of the 600 monthlyissues of the main AVENGERS title have been sold.

THE AVENGERS comics had two spin-off animated series:

The Avengers: United They Stand The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroesand

There were also three animated films made by MARVEL ANIMATION STUDIOS:

Ultimate Avengers Ultimate Avengers 2 Next Avengers

THE SCRIPTThe script was written by Joss Whedon and Zak Penn.

Joss Whedon was involved in the pre-existing film CAPTAIN AMERICA.He has written for a variety of genres, but a majority of his work is science fiction/supernatural drama.He created Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Zak Penn co-wrote the script for X-MEN: THE LAST STAND and wrote early drafts of THE INCREDIBLE HULK.He generally works on genres similar to THE AVENGERS. Neither he or Joss were involved with the original comics.

PRODUCTIONIt was produced by MARVEL STUDIOS who earlier that year also produced the following:

GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE (supernatural/superhero film).

THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN (superhero film).

4.4 7.2

(as rated on IMDB)

DIRECTING

• It was directed by Joss Whedon, who was also one of the writers.

• He has previously won an Emmy, along with 11 other smaller awards.

• His last film was in 2005 and was the space-western film, SERENITY

• He has directed 3 films (and is directing THE AVENGERS 2, but that isn’t out yet).

• Audiences particularly involved with the Marvel comics would know/care about him.

He wrote the script for CAPTAIN AMERICA, which would have made him a sensiblechoice for the producers.

Due to his work on CAPTAIN AMERICA, he would have worked with the star Chris Evans Who features heavily in THE AVENGERS.