Marvel pulled off the most spectacular on-screen heroic team-up in the record after building up The Avengers flawlessly with a story arc of popular solo superhero films starring Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America. Not only did The Avengers gross over $1.5 billion globally in 2012, but comic book fans liked the narrative and critics praised it, as indicated by its 92 percent fresh Rotten Tomatoes score.
Ever since, new films starring Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, Spider-Man, Black Panther, and the Guardians of the Galaxy have been released, expanding the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even if you've seen the first Avengers movie a couple of times, we think you'll be surprised by some of the following Avengers facts. Did you recognize that Captain America in the post-credits sequence isn't eating? Did you know that the accent of the Hulk in The Avengers was provided by Lou Ferrigno, the original TV Hulk? Continue reading to learn more about one of the most popular superhero films of all time.
#1 Black Widow could replace The Wasp
While we didn't meet The Wasp until 2018's Ant-Man And The Wasp, Evangeline Lilly first debuted as her alter-ego Hope van Dyne in Ant-Man three years prior. In The Avengers, though, we came close to meeting her. When the filmmakers weren't sure if Scarlett Johansson would be on board, Whedon stated he developed a draft of the film on the role.
#2 Hulk Actors Edward Norton and Mark Ruffalo are close friends
In 2008's The Incredible Hulk, Edward Norton played Bruce Banner (aka The Hulk), and he was set to return for The Avengers. However, discussions with Marvel Studios fell through, and he was replaced by his close friend Mark Ruffalo."The way I see it is that Ed has bequeathed this part to me," Ruffalo explained. "I look at it as my generation’s Hamlet."
#3 Jane Foster Isn't In 'The Avengers'
Jane Foster, Thor's leading female, is significantly missing from The Avengers. After appearing in Thor and Thor: The Dark World, the character is only depicted as a photograph that appears on-screen.
#4 Agent Coulson's Trading Cards Features Captain America's First Comic Book
Agent Coulson has an obsession with Captain America like no one other. He has a vintage trading card collection, and one of them has a famous comic book cover on it. It's from Captain America No. 1, which was published in 1941, and it features Captain America knocking out Adolf Hitler.
#5 Agent Coulson's Death Scene Almost Earned The Movie An R Rating
This cost Joss Whedon 3 attempts to gain a PG-13 rating from the MPAA instead of an R and the death of Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) played a big role in that. We would have seen Loki's staff breaking through Coulson's chest in the original version, but Whedon toned it down.
#6 Stark Tower Stands Where The MetLife Building Should Be
In New York City, the Stark Tower sits where the MetLife Building formerly stood. The MetLife Building's form is preserved in the lower third of Stark Tower, while the building's upper third was digitally rebuilt by producing designers.
#7 The Chitauri Have Four Thumbs
The Chitauri have 4 thumbs (two on each palm) to give off an alien impression, according to James Egan's 1000 Facts About Superhero Movies Vol. 3. When Loki is chatting with the Other, you may see this close-up.
#8 Joss Whedon Thought Introducing Ant-Man Would Be Confusing
Even though Ant-Man is one of the Avengers' founding members in the comics, Whedon stated that there was no place for him in the film. In the comics, the original Ant-Man is scientist Hank Pym, and ex-con Scott Lang takes over later. However, with Tony Stark and Bruce Banner already in The Avengers, Whedon felt that adding another scientist would be excessive.
#9 Hawkeye Was Originally Going To Be The Avenger Interrogated At The Beginning
After Joss Whedon was hired to direct, he made several modifications to the original script, one of which we see nearly right away. Three men interrogate Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) when she is bound to a chair early in the film. That was going to be Hawkeye, according to Zak Penn, who penned a draft of the script.
#10 Pepper Potts Has Bare Feet For A Reason
Why is Pepper Potts at Stark Tower strolling around barefoot? Gwyneth Paltrow, who stands at 5'9", is said to be somewhat taller than Robert Downey Jr. It seemed that having Pepper go around barefoot made Downey look taller.
#11 Real Military Appeared During The Attack Of New York City
There's at least one real aspect in a film that relies heavily on CGI. 25 soldiers of the Ohio-based 391st Military Police Battalion fought as reinforcements during the Assault of New York.
#12 The Monitor Setup On The Helicarrier Bridge Resembles The S.H.I.E.L.D. Logo
Joss Whedon claimed in a DVD commentary track that the displays on the Helicarrier's bridge were designed to mimic the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo's wings.
#13 TV Hulk Lou Ferrigno Contributed To The Voice Of The Hulk
Lou Ferrigno, a weightlifter, and actor who starred in the television series The Incredible Hulk from 1977 to 1982 added to the Hulk's voice in The Avengers. The vocal is a mix of "Mark Ruffalo, some Lou Ferrigno, a little bit of me, and two folks from New Zealand," according to audio designer Christopher Boyes.
#14 Harry Dean Stanton Plays On His Classic Role In 'Alien'
"Are you an alien?" the security guy, played by Harry Dean Stanton, wonders after the Hulk falls into an empty warehouse. This is most likely a reference to Stanton's part in the iconic sci-fi film Alien.
#15 Tony Stark Is A Black Sabbath Fan
On the Hellicarrier, Tony Stark may be spotted sporting a Black Sabbath T-shirt. Black Sabbath's song "Iron Man" is well-known, and Stark repeats the song's words towards the end of 2008's Iron Man when he declares, "I am Iron Man."
#16 Joss Whedon Didn't Like Iron Man's Tinkerbell Pose
Director Joss Whedon apparently disliked Iron Man's "Tinkerbell" attitude from the previous films, so he asked that his costume in The Avengers include a jet pack. This freed Iron Man's hands, allowing him to make some amusing cowboy stances.
#17 Chris Evans Doesn't Eat In The Post-Credits Scene Because He's Wearing A Fake Jaw
Have you ever wondered why Captain America isn't eating shawarma in the post-credits scene? It's because Chris Evans was filming Snowpiercer at the time, and he refused to cut off his beard. Instead, the crew made a prosthetic jaw for him, but he couldn't eat or speak throughout the shoot. This is also why he has his hand over his face.
#18 Hawkeye Is Ambidextrous But Jeremy Renner Is Not
Hawkeye is frequently ambidextrous in the comics, which means he can use both his right and left hands. Actor Jeremy Renner is left-handed in real life. Even so, Renner may be seen shooting right-handed in Thor.
#19 Robert Downey Jr. Hid Food All Over The Lab Set
Being a superhero requires a lot of eating, and Robert Downey Jr. certainly did on the set of The Avengers. According to reports, the actor secreted food across the film's lab set. It wasn't planned when he offered a snack he was chewing on.
#20 The Shawarma Post-Credits Scene Was A Last-Minute Addition
Iron Man crashes in front of a restaurant named Shawarma Palace at one point, and it must have whetted his appetite for Mediterranean cuisine. The Avengers unwind in a restaurant in a post-credits sequence, however, this was not in the original screenplay. A day after the global premiere, the actors and crew shot the scene swiftly.