Rumored 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Plot Details Spotlight the Hulk, Big Action Sequence

Between now and next year's Avengers: Age of Ultron there will be tons of supposed plot details dropped by any number of sources. Some of those will pan out, others will be a load of bunk, and probably 90% of the rumors will come from Latino Review, because that's just what they do. Remember when they said a Planet Hulk/World War Hulk storyline was a definite? Well, they've sorta jettisoned that idea but their latest story on Joss Whedon's sequel sounds like it could be legit. Spoilers from here on out so just beware.

According to Latino Review's rundown of the film's opening 15-20 minutes, there's one massive action sequence followed Whedon's special brand of chatty character building. The closing post-credits scene from Captain America: The Winter Soldier kicks things off as the Avengers face Baron von Strucker (Thomas Kretschmann), who has Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) fighting by his side. So what spurred on this battle? The objects von Strucker was wielding the last time we saw him, items that will probably play a much larger role later on.

Tony Stark throws a huge penthouse party at Avengers Tower to celebrate the victory, and it's there that we see the characters interact and show us where they are right now. The gang all take a shot at lifting Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, with everybody failing except for Captain America who can just nudge it a little. In the comics, Cap is one of the few deemed worthy of lifting it (so can Beta Ray Bill so it's not that big of a deal!). We also learn that Black Widow, who seems to have flirting interest in every member of the team, now has romantic feelings for Bruce Banner. But due to his "Hulking out" problem, Banner is afraid to give in to his feelings and possibly hurt her. We also find out that Thor and Jane Foster have split up, although would anybody be surprised if they are back together in time for Thor 3? And if not, does that mean Sif (Jaimie Alexander) finally has a shot at him?

The only thing I find curious is the lack of Ultron in any of these scenarios. It doesn't seem likely Whedon would go so long without teasing the film's most prominent villain in some way.  Avengers: Age of Ultron opens May 1st 2015.

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Li Bingbing Returning for 'Resident Evil 6'; Diane Kruger and Thomas Kretschmann Scale 'The Wall'

* Earlier this year, Paul W.S. Anderson suggested the sixth and final Resident Evil film wouldn't hit its September 2014 target date, and since there have been zero updates since we can assume that to be the case. But he has given a brief update on it while attending the Beijing International Film Festival, confirming that it will "definitely be in 3D" and that Li Bingbing would be returning as Ada Wong. Of course, Milla Jojovich will be back for more zombie-slaying action as Alice. [CNTV]

* Diane Kruger (Troy) and Thomas Kretschmann (recently seen as Baron von Strucker in Captain America: The Winter Soldier) have joined romantic drama, The Wall, about a couple whose love and loyalty are literally separated by the Berlin Wall. Michael Johnson and Theresa Alto penned the script, but a director still needs to be found before filming begins later this year.

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Uma Thurman Joins 'American Ultra'; Charlize Theron Eyes 'Everything Nice'; 'Agent 47' Adds Thomas Kretschmann

* Uma Thurman certainly knows action, she was the friggin' Bride in Kill Bill, after all. And she definitely knows comedy, so she should be a perfect fit for American Ultra, the action-comedy starring Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart. Directed by Nima Nourizadeh (Project X) and written by Max Landis (Chronicle), the film centers on a stoner couple forced to go on the run from the government when a secret from his past returns. Thurman will play "a government worker who spearheaded a secret program to create sleeper warriors, and now that someone wants to kill her creation, she will fight back like a momma bear protecting her cub." Filming is set to begin next month, but if you're dying to see Thurman now she can be found in Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac Vol. 1. [THR]

* Speaking of actresses who can handle themselves in any genre, Charlize Theron will produce and likely star in Everything Nice, based on the Ellen Shanman novel. Universal has picked up the pitch by writer Karen Croner (Admission) about "an advertising exec who gets fired and takes on the only job she can get, teaching life skills to teenage girls at a public school. Lacking in the basic social skills herself, she tries her best to school her pupils in what they’ll need to know in order to survive." No director has been set but with Theron on board it should be no problem finding someone to take the gig.

* Although he's set for multiple appearances as the villain Baron von Strucker after Avengers: Age of Ultron, Thomas Kretschmann has found time to play another franchise bad guy. He's joined Agent 47, a reboot of the Hitman franchise based on the popular video game. He plays Le Clerq, the head of a secret organization creating an army of super agents. Kretschmann joins Rupert Friend, Hannah Ware, and Zachary Quinto in the Aleksander Bach-directed film. [THR]

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Avengers News: Scarlet Johansson's Scenes Moved Up; Chris Evans Taking Break from Acting, and More

There hasn't been any major Marvel casting news to obsess over the last few days, but there have been a smattering of tidbits that will effect the cinematic Marvel Universe so let's just get right to them.

First up, Avengers: Age of Ultron's Thomas Kretschmann, who will be playing the villain Baron Wolfgang von Strucker, has confirmed he signed a mult-film deal.....which should surprise absolutely no one. Okay, this is hardly news because Marvel signs everybody to these contracts, but his comments on the matter are interesting...

Kretschmann: "I have a multi-picture deal which means I will not only appear in ['Age of Ultron], but they’re planning with me for a longer period of time. I don’t know details yet, they’re keeping their cards close to their chest — top secret!"

Okay, so my personal hope is that they'll somehow find a way to introduce  his children, the super-powered Fenris twins, but chances are he'll lead his terrorist group HYDRA in a war against SHIELD at some point. Hopefully he won't just be coming back as part of a Marvel One-Shot. [BZ Berlin]

In case you havent' seen it splashed over the gossip rags yet, Scarlett Johansson is expecting her first child with fiance Romain Dauriac (sorry fellas), and is due to give birth in August. Because of that, her upcoming return as Black Widow for 'Ultron' is being pushed up so her scenes can be fast-tracked. Nobody wants a baby bump peeking out from all that black leather. Um, and doing all those stunts could be dangerous in her condition, there's that to consider. She'll jump into production on that once the promo tour for Captain America: The Winter Soldier wraps up. [E!]

Speaking of "wrapping up", once Chris Evans is done with his Marvel contract he's going to take a break from acting. He told Glamour magazine that he intends to focus more on directing, a path he recently began with his directorial debut, 1:30 Train, co-starring Alice Eve. The film is already completed and should be out later this year.

Of course, this opens up the question of Marvel's plans post-Evans. It may be awhile before he hangs up his costume for good, but knowing Marvel prez Kevin Feige he's already looking ahead at a replacement. Perhaps we'll see a "Death of Captain America" storyline play out, after all?

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Thomas Kretschmann is Baron Von Strucker in 'The Avengers: Age of Ultron'

You can't throw a rock without some new Marvel casting it seems. We've seen three new additions to Edgar Wright's Ant-Man, plus a major Doctor Strange rumor come and go, and now one of the villains in The Avengers: Age of Ultron has been cast.

A few weeks ago we learned that super-powered Nazi Baron Wolfgang von Strucker would be an early enemy for the Avengers to face, and now we know it'll be Thomas Krestschmann in the role, signed for multiple films. Kretschmann currently plays Van Helsing on NBC's Dracula series. He's also got some comic book movie pedigree having appeared in Blade II. Here is how Strucker's role in the film was previously described....

"In "Age Of Ultron," Baron Von Strucker is the initial threat, the guy they're fighting at the start of the film. He does not have a major ongoing role in the film, but he is responsible for bringing Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch into contact with the Avengers in the first place, since they start the film working either with or or the Baron. If you look at this like a James Bond movie, Von Strucker's the bad guy they'll take care of in the pre-credits sequence before they move into the main story. Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch have a complicated journey in this film, and the question of whether they're good or bad is one of the big things driving the movie overall."

The Avengers: Age of Ultron opens May 1st 2015. [THR]

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