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If you are among the many comic book movie fans, you might be aware of the fact that Zak Penn was once set to write the script forThe Avengers. He also wroteThe Incredible Hulkfor Marvel Studios and was then tasked with writingThe Avengersby Kevin Feige and his team at Marvel Studios. However, Joss Whedon crashed his party.
Fans were left disappointed when the news came out that Joss Whedon, who previously collaborated with Feige onX-Men, would be helming The Avengers project. Soon after his inclusion in the MCU, Whedon quickly chose to rewrite the film’s script and also wasn’t gracious in his comments about Penn’s work.
Also Read:“We’re not convinced yet that this franchise has legs”: Justice League Director Joss Whedon Didn’t Believe Alien Franchise Was Ready to Go to Space, Wanted Sequel to be on Earth
Joss Whedon Pushed The Writer Away From The Project
WhileZak Penn’scareer has been a mixed bag of success and failures, with projects such asElektraandX-Men: The Last Stand, it’s imperative to understand his involvement in successful films likeX2: X-Men UnitedandFree Guy.
In the new bookMCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, Penn talked about finding out thatJoss Whedonhas replaced him inThe Avengersand opened up about his thoughts on the infamous director.
Penn said (viaMCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios):
“All the other directors we had been talking about, Joss wasn’t on the list. I heard he was going to rewrite the script himself. He didn’t even want to meet with me —which, by the way, I always call the writer I’m replacing. I feel like that’s courtesy.”
The departure from the MCU was particularly painful for the writer because he had known Whedon for a long time, as they were both Wesleyan alumni. Penn wrongfully thought the situation would be awkward for Whedon as well, and gave him a call.
Penn recalled:
“He said to me, ‘No, it’s not awkward for me. I’m rewriting you.’ It became pretty apparent that he had less than zero interest in, in any way, having me involved with the movie.”
Finally, the sole “Written by” credit went to Joss Whedon, even though both of them received a “Story by”credit, which wasn’t satisfactory for both of them.
Also Read:“You guys do whatever you want”: Kevin Feige Had Warned Joss Whedon for His ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ Series Fate With $714M Chris Evans Movie
Joss Whedon Even FrustratedThe AvengersCast
Jeremy Renner, known for his role as Hawkeye in the MCU, was also not happy with how his character was written forThe Avengers. In the film, Renner’s character was mostly one of Loki’s hypnotized followers. Considering it was his first outing in the MCU, not being able to explore the character caused Jeremy Renner some frustration.
Renner toldThe Guardian:
“That was my first chance getting to play the character and I wasn’t really getting to play him at all. ‘Hi, my name’s Clint – bzzzzzzzzz. It was frustrating. I don’t even know at that point how the guy walks and talks, ’cos he got turned into this other dude. Joss [Whedon] was really apologetic. He had an impossible task trying to fit all those characters into one movie.”
Thankfully, things got better when he reprised the role, turning Hawkeye into a fan favorite. Renner was pleased that he got to explore the character more in the second installment.
Also Read:“I never saw the Joss Whedon version”: The Last of Us Showrunner Pledged His Loyalty to Zack Snyder After Claiming He “Really Liked” His Justice League Version
Vishal Kawadkar
Articles Published :975
Vishal Kawadkar is a seasoned writer specializing in writing engaging and informative content on various topics. He is a cinephile with a keen interest in sci-fi and thriller movies and TV shows. With an eye for detail, Vishal likes offering readers a fresh perspective on the latest trends and developments.
