I've got to find a way to be in this movie-even if it's just third dork on the left!New Mexico Business Weekly wrote: After weeks of rumors, Marvel Studios finally reported that it will shoot “The Avengers” in New Mexico.
It will be the largest film production in the state’s history and will fill most of Albuquerque Studios for nearly a year. Parts of the film also will be shot in New York and Michigan.
“I’m announcing a Christmas present to the people of New Mexico,” said Gov. Bill Richardson.
The production will most likely employ hundreds of New Mexicans in its cast and crew, and use hundreds of local service and supply vendors, said Richardson. Pre-production is under way, with principal photography scheduled to start in April 2011 and run through September.
Louis D’Esposito, co-president of Marvel Studios, said his company is excited to be returning to New Mexico.
“We had a terrific experience shooting portions of 'Thor' in the Land of Enchantment, and we are looking forward to making New Mexico even more of a home on our next production,” he said in a news release. “'The Avengers' is our biggest film to date, and New Mexico is the right place for us to shoot the film.”
Joss Whedon of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Firefly” fame will write and direct an all-star cast that will include Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Clark Gregg and Samuel L. Jackson.
The movie is based on the Marvel comic book series of the same name and brings together an array of Marvel characters, such as Nick Fury, Tony Stark (Iron Man), the Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor and the Black Widow.
State officials did not reveal the budget for the film, but the Montreal Gazette lists it as $150 million, while also bemoaning that city’s lost bid for the production.
“Iron Man 2” offered a glimmer of a connection to New Mexico when Thor’s hammer was believed to have been discovered in the state. A large portion of “Thor” was produced here and that film is slated for release in May 2011.
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