Joss Whedon's Avengers 2 struggles revealed

[brightcove]1213024251001[/brightcove]

Given the box-office success of the first film, and the universal adoration with which it was met among fans, you would think signing on for The Avengers 2 would have been a no-brainer for director Joss Whedon.

However, Whedon apparently thought long and hard about whether he wanted to return for a second round, only coming to a final decision after a brainstorming session in London.

“There’s a business aspect to it and I would be disingenuous not to say that, but the question for me is, 'Do I have another story to tell about these people?' So we worked on the business side of it and I didn’t think it was going to happen - I was like ‘I’m never going to do this again.’

“But once they worked on the business aspect of it I thought, 'That seems fair and cool', so, the question was, ‘Do I have another thing to say?’ I was in London and I went to a pub and had some fish and chips and a pint and started writing in my notebook. I’m writing ‘if I was going to do this what would I say?’ and 40 minutes later I filled the notebook. So I text my agent and said to make the deal.

“I’m so in love with that universe and the characters and the way they were played and I have so much more I want to do with them. I know I can’t match the success of the first one but I can try to make a better film and that’s what I’m excited about. That’s the new room of fear I’m entering now.”

Proof, if proof were needed, that a pint and a plate of fish and chips is enough to make anyone see sense. The Avengers 2 opens in the UK on 1 May 2015.

George Wales

George was once GamesRadar's resident movie news person, based out of London. He understands that all men must die, but he'd rather not think about it. But now he's working at Stylist Magazine.

Latest in Action Movies
The cast of Thunderbolts
Marvel fans are revealing who they'd like to see added to the Thunderbolts lineup, from Moon Knight to a major Hulk villain
Black Widow
Scarlett Johansson doubles down on never coming back as Black Widow: “Natasha is dead. She is dead. She’s dead. Okay?"
Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn on set of Joker 2
Lady Gaga jokingly celebrates Joker 2 reception and Razzie nominations: "Joke's on them. I love winning things"
Jack Quaid in Novocaine
The Boys star Jack Quaid's commitment to the bit is unmatched as his latest marketing stunt for upcoming action movie Novocaine goes viral
Julian McMahon as Doctor Doom in 2005's Fantastic Four
The Doctor Doom actor from 2005's Fantastic Four thinks Robert Downey Jr.'s take on the role in the next Avengers movies will be "pretty extraordinary": "I love watching his work"
Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
James Gunn reveals Jason Momoa text him about Lobo the day he was announced as DC Studios co-head
Latest in News
Dragon Age 2
Veteran Dragon Age dev says one big delay is better than several small ones: "You are laying band-aid on top of band-aid on top of band-aid"
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Dark Souls 2 fans remind Death Stranding 2 director Hideo Kojima that he won’t be taking the DS2 acronym that easily
Minecraft Diamond Armor
Minecraft Pocket Edition got its name because one of its devs was a big "Nintendo nerd" who wanted to pay homage to the Game Boy Pocket
Death Stranding 2
Hideo Kojima says Death Stranding's themes of connection came about because "I thought I lost everything when I became alone nine years ago"
Monster Hunter Wilds trailer screenshot showing a young woman with long blonde hair tied back into a ponytail smiling slightly, pumping her left fist in the air
Monster Hunter Wilds' infamously confusing menus spare no player, not even Gemma's voice actor herself: "This is honestly what I’m struggling with the most"
Death Stranding 2 kiss
Hideo Kojima says "it was very difficult to direct" Death Stranding 2's big kiss scene, but Norman Reedus thinks "it was niiice" locking lips with Léa Seydoux