Avengers: Infinity War has finally arrived! Here are 15 things you may not have known about Marvel’s big movie…
1.) Tom Holland was not allowed to read the script because he revealed too many spoilers about Spider-Man: Homecoming. “I showed up and I was like, ‘Can I read the script?’ And they were like, ‘No, you’re terrible at keeping secrets,'” Holland said in an interview with CinemaBlend.
2.) Filming began back in January 2017 and wrapped a year later in January 2018. Infinity War and 2019’s untitled Avengers sequel were shot back-to-back with Thanos as the main anchor in both films. Between now and the sequel’s May 2019 release, Marvel will release Ant-Man and the Wasp (July 6) and Captain Marvel (March 9, 2019).
3.) Hugh Jackman expressed interest early in 2017 in appearing the the MCU but would only do so if he could reprise one character – Wolverine. Later that year, Jackman did a 180 and said that Logan would be his final turn as the character and that he would like to see another actor play the character.
4.) Robert Downey Jr. has a separate contract from the extension that he drew up with Marvel for Infinity War. The two-film starring role will net Downey Jr. a reported $40 million to reprise the role of Iron Man. His appearances in Captain America: Civil War and Spider-Man: Homecoming are a part of a separate deal. Appearing on the Forbes Richest Actors list in 2017, he currently has an estimated net worth north of $180 million.
5.) Avengers: Infinity War takes place four years after the events of the two Guardians of the Galaxy movies which took place in the same year.
6.) Liv Tyler had been rumored to reprise her role as Betty Ross from The Incredible Hulk (2008) but whether or not she makes it in to either Avengers mega-movie remains to be seen.
7.) Speaking of blasts from the past, Natalie Portman said that she would not appear in the two Avengers movies as Dr. Jane Foster, nor would she appear in any other upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
8.) This is Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans’ ninth time playing Iron Man and Captain America, respectively. That ties them with Hugh Jackman (Wolverine) for most appearances as the same superhero. They also achieved the distinction in much less time. Jackman’s nine Wolverine appearances are spread out over 17 years while Downey played Iron Man over the course of 10 years and Evans’ Cap during the past 7 years (yes, that’s one Marvel movie a year for Evans).
9.) For those wondering about Black Widow’s light blonde hair, she is mirroring the look of Yelena Belova from the comics.
10.) This movie reunites three cast members from The Losers – Zoe Saldana, Idris Elba, and Benicio del Toro. It also features two Oscar winners – Gwyneth Paltrow and del Toro, and eight Oscar nominees – Robert Downey Jr., Josh Brolin, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jeremy Renner, Bradley Cooper, Mark Ruffalo, Angela Bassett, and Don Cheadle. It now holds the record for most Oscar nominees (10 counting the winners) to appear in an MCU movie while Spider-Man: Homecoming and Thor: Ragnarok still hold the record for most winners with three.
11.) Early on in production, the Russo Brothers had said that Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) would appear in the films but later stated that she would make her debut in her own standalone film. While her character may not be in Infinity War, you can still look for a couple Easter Eggs.
12.) Speaking of Easter Eggs, the Russo Brothers continue to pay homage to their previous work. In the second and third Captain America films, they did a nod to their time working on Community and in this film, they pay homage to Arrested Development. On the show, the character Tobias Funke paints himself blue to resemble the Blue Man Group. In Infinity War, Funke can be seen as one of The Collector’s items.
13.) Filming part of the movie in Durham Cathedral provided certain challenges. For one, most of the pews had to be moved to make room for film sets. The sets had to be moved and the pews replaced in time for Sunday services after which the pews and sets were swapped again for Monday morning. Security was also so secretive and tight on set that not even cathedral wardens were allowed access inside.
14.) Black Panther returns in this film and along with it his various tribes. If you’re wondering what “Yibambe” means, it is Xhosa for “hold strong.”
15.) We all know that the cast for this film is massive but according to Marvel there are 64 – yes, sixty plus four – main characters in this film. How many of them will be a part of what Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige called “a major shake-up” between Avengers films? You’ll have to find out in theaters!