AVI ARAD TALKS INCREDIBLE HULK DO-OVER, IRON MAN, & MARVEL CARTOONS
posted by Serg              source: iF Magazine

Avi Arad now an independent producer for Marvel still has his fingers in several pies for the comic book giant. Following the success of Marvels forays into filmmaking thus far, Arad is preparing to herald in a new era for Marvel, with the company producing its own movies. iF talked to Arad about the choices for Marvel in-house producing, and what other projects including TV and cartoons are in the works at the film side of The House of Ideas.

iF MAGAZINE: IRON MAN and THE INCREDIBLE HULK are the first Marvel produced films that Marvel is producing in-house, why these particular heroes?

AVI ARAD: We wanted to start this journey with absolutely top, top tier characters and IRON MAN is at the level of X-MEN and SPIDER-MAN and HULK. SPIDER-MAN is a league of its own, but after that you have X-MEN, IRON MAN, HULK. These are the big guns, and obviously we want to continue the train of success once we are making our own [films]. A lot of people are looking forward to IRON MAN and a lot of people are looking forward to the comic book version of the HULK. Thats the one we are making, and I think it will be incredibly satisfying. It will be big and awesome and a big ride.

iF: So will you be recasting HULK with completely new actors?

ARAD: Its a do-over. I loved the HULK movie, it was just a different approach, and it wasnt exactly the comic. We want to be much closer to the comic. Its what we would rather do.

iF: There is a THOR film in the works as well?

ARAD: Yes, we're in [the] scripting [stage] right now.

iF: How about a LUKE CAGE movie?

ARAD: Nothing going right now, still trying to find the right take.

iF: What about the project Wesley Snipes has wanted to do, THE BLACK PANTHER?

ARAD: We are waiting for a very specific actor for that one.

iF: Beyond IRON MAN and HULK, what other films will be produced by Marvel itself?

ARAD: The NICK FURY movie and the ANT MAN movie for sure.

iF: The BLADE series is premiering this summer. How is that progressing?

ARAD: Were very excited about that, and were slated for thirteen episodes.

iF: What cartoons do you have premiering on TV?

ARAD: Weve got a new FANTASTIC FOUR cartoon. Weve got a new WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN cartoon; its going to be based on the comics. Were going to do another Sony SPIDER-MAN cartoon. We are probably going to do an IRON MAN cartoon after the movie.

iF: What directors would you like to work with that you havent worked with so far?

ARAD: I like them all. If I give you five names, then the sixth will be upset, so its a lose-lose situation.

iF: Switching to toys how do the new HASBRO toy lines look in comparison to the previous TOY BIZ lines?

ARAD: TOY BIZ is very involved in the design of the toys, but the distribution will be through HASBRO. The scale isnt going to change.