The team at MTV managed to get Marvel Studios Kevin Feige to talk a bit about their plans for Thanos after his tease in The Avengers, which of course is due out next Tuesday. Feige covers a few things about the character, from why they did it, how it’ll fit in over time in a very simple view and that they’re certainly not wedded to any particular actor at the moment, though the first appearance was done with Damion Poitier doing the role through the motion capture.
“Clearly, there’s a purpose to us putting him in the end of that movie. We do have plans for him,” said Feige. “I wouldn’t say we ever feel the need to rush anything one way or the other. We succeeded in Phase One because we stuck to our guns and stuck to the plan. That plan took place over many, many years and it ultimately paid off. I see Phase Two unfolding in the same way of us taking our time, us doing what’s right for each individual movie, while folding in elements that will not only build up to the culmination of Phase Two, but even Phase Three.”
When it comes to recasting as the role expands:
“I think we feel pretty free to recast. That was cast for literally that one shot. Depending on what the role requires from future movies, we’ll go from there.”
The most interesting piece of the interview though is the way that Marvel is using its fans as the best way to promote its properties and build excitement.
“Suddenly, you have a million people who had never heard of an Infinity Gauntlet or a Mad Titan learning those terms. I love that. I love when the experience goes beyond the movie theater and encourages people to look deeper into our universe.”
When you finish off a film and almost every group has that “in the know” friend, it becomes a great continuing conversation starter and does provide some hope that someone will investigate further, pick up a book and get to reading.
