Avengers Assembled On Stage At Comic-Con

Andy has previously posted photos and concept art of Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Chris Evans as Captain America - each will see their own respective movie released next year. Yesterday, the two Chrises were at Comic-Con where the rest of the cast of the Joss Whedon-directed movie adaptation of The Avengers was revealed.

And judging from the photo above, Jeremy Renner, who will play Hawkeye, is either a big fan of Robert Downey Jr, Iron Man, or both.

Watch the one-by-one introductions, AFTER THE JUMP.

Movies: Iron Men. There's So Many of You!

NATHANIEL ROGERS
...prefers air conditioned movie theaters to hot beaches in the summer. He blogs daily at the Film Experience.

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Last week, we prepped for the summer movie season by pondering good times at the multiplex with summer playthings Tony Stark and Carrie Bradshaw (Sold Separately!). Sarah Jessica Parker will make us wait as Carrie is fashionably late; Three more weeks until she flicks her witty tongue, tosses that glorious mane, and buys several more pairs of shoes. Robert Downey Jr's billionaire weapons manufacturer, on the other hand, has already returned. With IRON MAN 2 playing to sold out crowds everywhere there's no more wondering what the summer movie season will look like.

Not that it was ever anything like a secret what Iron Man 2 would offer up. This blockbuster's shiny surface reflects Hollywood's sequel mandate back at us. Their answer is always 'more! more! more!' before anyone has asked a question.

Like: Do you think Ryan Reynolds made ScarJo wear this at home after the shoot?

More AFTER THE JUMP...

Robert Downey Jr. to Play the Wizard of Oz?

 Robert Downey Jr. is in talks to play the Wizard of Oz in a new film based on the book series by L. Frank Baum.

Cinematical reports: "With the James Bond franchise halted (sad face), Sam Mendes has quickly found another project to latch onto, and boy does it sound Oz-some. According to a Production Weekly tweet, he's the front runner to direct Oz The Great and Powerful, based partly on the L. Frank Baum books that also gave us such films as The Wizard of Oz and Return to Oz. Like the latter (and to some extent The Muppets' Wizard of Oz), this film is set up at Disney. And here's the best part: Robert Downey Jr. is first choice to play the ol' Wizard. Because it had to be him or Johnny Depp, right?"

Sherlock Holmes Copyright Holder Won't Tolerate Gay Subtext

Andrea Plunket, who holds the U.S. copyright to Sherlock Holmes is not happy that Robert Downey Jr. has been joking that the subtext of Holmes and Watson in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes is gay.

Said Plunket: “I hope this is just an example of Mr. Downey's black sense of humour. It would be drastic, but I would withdraw permission for more films to be made if they feel that is a theme they wish to bring out in the future. I am not hostile to homosexuals, but I am to anyone who is not true to the spirit of the books.”

Studio Execs Angry Robert Downey Jr. is Talking Up Gay Sherlock?

Studio execs are reported to be upset that Robert Downey Jr. won't shut up about what "homos" Sherlock Holmes and Watson are in the new Guy Ritchie flick.

Popeater reports: "Publicists for the upcoming 'Sherlock Holmes' movie are very concerned that its star, Robert Downey Jr., can't stop hinting that the great dapper detective's relationship with Dr. Watson may involve more than just solving crime. 'When Robert joked with Letterman that they might be homos, Warner Brother executives died,' laughed one industry insider who believes Downey is messing with studio bigwigs. 'The studio wants to position this as an action-packed adventure, not 'Brokeback Mountain 2,'' my insider joked."

Downey Jr. recently appeared on Letterman and had a chat with Dave and Paul Schaffer about the fact that the detective duo could be perceived as "homos" or "screamers" by the audience.

More here...

News: Sam Worthington, Dubai, Arthur Cores, Rwanda

California Assembly Speaker-to-be John Perez talks with the L.A. Times: "This means there's one less barrier for people. When I grew up, there were only a handful of Latino state elected officials and there weren't any openly gay ones. So I never thought I would be in office. . . . It speaks to the fact that California has a sophisticated electorate that struggles with issues of gay rights but really is driven by an overwhelming sense of fairness."

Gay Canadian MP flooded with support over Christmas card controversy. "Letters and phone calls of support, including one from Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, have been pouring in for an openly gay Nova Scotia MP whose Christmas card ignited controversy this week because it showed him with his partner."

Madonna and George Clooney went on a very unsuccessful date.

Rwandan Justice Minister denies plans to criminalize homosexuality.

Chemistry: Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.

Hate crime assault reported in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Dustin Lance Black vs. Hope College in Holland, Michigan.

James Franco does SNL: The skits.

Arthur Cores, who founded Boston Market restaurant chain, dies of cancer at 52. "Arthur Richard Cores was born in Brookline, Mass., on Aug. 11, 1957, one of three children of Sidney and Rose Meister Cores. Besides his sister Michelle, of Brookline, he is survived by his spouse, John Yee, whom he married in a legal ceremony in Massachusetts in 2004; and his brother, Steven, of Bradenton, Fla."

Britain's top footballers told to stay in closet: "Britain's foremost PR advisor, Max Clifford, told The Independent on Sunday last night that he has represented two high-profile gay Premier League footballers in the past five years and has advised them to stay in the closet because football 'remains in the dark ages, steeped in homophobia'."

Baggy pants get revenge on killer.

Scientists: Earth on track for epic die-off." The study of the fossil and archaeological record over the past 30 million years by UC Berkeley and Penn State University researchers shows that between 15 and 42 percent of the mammals in North America disappeared after humans arrived. That means North American mammals are well on the way - perhaps as much as half way - to a level of extinction comparable to other epic die-offs, like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs."

Male model fix: Rodrigo Calazans.

Politico: Left feels left out under Obama. "The disillusion has produced a growing tide of organizing energy — and money — among liberals aimed at dragging the White House back to where many supporters believe Obama’s heart really lies. Union presidents have discarded their talking points and are openly sparring with the White House, while gay rights activists threaten civil disobedience, the ACLU keeps litigating, and congressional Hispanic leaders work to force their issues into the debate. But while those actions may actually create politically useful space to the president’s left, the other consequence of disillusion is what polls have found to be deepening apathy among Democratic voters."

Avatar stars get LIFE.

Cameron sci-fi flick has $232 million opening weekend worldwide.

A photo retrospective of newly-out Wales rugby legend Gareth Thomas.

John Amaechi on what's coming for Thomas: "When people learn you are gay, often that can squash your definition so all the good stuff goes and you just become 'some gay rugby player', which is quite difficult for many athletes to deal with."

Gay in Dubai — one man's experience: "Walking back to the hotel from the festival’s opening night party I was definitely cruised by a group of guys, not to mention there were a good dozen questionables at the party itself.  Anyway, friend of friend informed that Dubai is actually quite gay, but it’s all underground.  And underground in this unromantic, contemporary way: It’s all sex via the internet.  Apparently Dubaisexuals have also discovered the Hotspot Shield (which I’ve been using for a good year to watch NBC and Hulu in Canada), a device that gives you an anonymous IP address.  Via the Hotspot Shield, all the porn and gay social networking sites in the world are available. "