1.
Case Study on The Avengers
Jennifer Templer
12.1

2.
Part One: Pre-production
• The studio
• The idea
• The script
• Production
• Directing

3.
THE STUDIO
Which is owned by THE
WALT DISNEY COMPANY
Which is owned by MARVEL
ENTERTAINMENT
Produced by
MARVEL STUDIOS

4.
(Which tend to be aimed at a much
Own the following film studios: younger audience)

5.
They also own the following media companies:
(80%) (27%)
They make other media products such as: cable television, publishing, theme parks,
broadcasting, radio, and web portals.

6.
THE IDEA
The film was based on THE AVENGERS comics by Stan Lee, which were all published by
MARVEL COMICS (another subsidiary company of MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT).
It’s estimated that 125-135 million copies of the 600 monthly
issues of the main AVENGERS title have been sold.

7.
THE AVENGERS comics had two spin-off animated series:
The Avengers: United They Stand and The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes

8.
There were also three animated films made by MARVEL ANIMATION STUDIOS:
Ultimate Avengers Ultimate Avengers 2 Next Avengers

9.
THE SCRIPT
The script was written by Joss Whedon and Zak Penn.

10.
Joss Whedon was Zak Penn co-wrote
involved in the pre- the script for X-MEN:
existing film CAPTAIN THE LAST STAND and
AMERICA. wrote early drafts of
He has written for a THE INCREDIBLE
variety of genres, but HULK.
a majority of his work He generally works on
is science genres similar to THE
fiction/supernatural AVENGERS.
drama. Neither he or Joss
He created Buffy the were involved with
Vampire Slayer. the original comics.

11.
PRODUCTION
It was produced by MARVEL STUDIOS who earlier that year also produced the following:
GHOST RIDER:
THE AMAZING
SPIRIT OF
SPIDERMAN
VENGEANCE
(superhero
(supernatural/
film).
superhero film).
4.4 7.2
(as rated on IMDB)

12.
DIRECTING
• It was directed by Joss Whedon, who was
also one of the writers.
• He has previously won an Emmy, along
with 11 other smaller awards.
• His last film was in 2005 and was the
space-western film, SERENITY
• He has directed 3 films (and is directing
THE AVENGERS 2, but that isn’t out yet).
• Audiences particularly involved with the
Marvel comics would know/care about
him.

13.
He wrote the script for CAPTAIN AMERICA, which would have made him a sensible
choice for the producers.
Due to his work on CAPTAIN AMERICA, he would have worked with the star Chris Evans
Who features heavily in THE AVENGERS.