Avengers: Infinity War Cast Interview

By: Lynn Barker

For Avengers: Infinity War, most of the huge cast gathered in L.A. to answer press questions. The wacky session was moderated by none other than actor Jeff Goldblum who plays the Grand Master in Thor: Ragnarok and it was a hoot.

Among those included are: Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Paul Bettany (Vision), Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa/Black Panther), Josh Brolin (Thanos), Don Cheadle (James Rhodes/War Machine), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Danai Gurira (Okoye), Tom Holland (Peter Parker/Spider-Man), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson/Falcon), Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff/Scarlett Witch), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier) and Letitia Wright (Shuri).

This time, almost the entire universe of Marvel good guys assembles to fight Thanos and keep him from getting all of the famous, powerful infinity stones. Without actors being allowed to give away any plot spoilers, most of the Q and A was light as the cast did their best to answer and not get in trouble with the directors, producer and Marvel brass. Check out the banter below.

Q: Chris, what scene did you find most challenging to film in this movie and why?

• Chris: So very difficult because of the directors and the people in it. Awful experience. (He’s totally kidding). The first day was Thor meeting the Guardians and it felt kind of like first day at school for me because they knew each other and I didn’t so I was the new kid and they’d all been shooting and I hadn’t and I had some weird sort of nervous butterflies floating around in my body but I squeezed them out of me. Chris Pratt got a big hug and all the butterflies flew away. That was a fun scene to have a whole new dynamic and new people to move around and interact with. This whole film for me, I felt like a fan meeting all these people and the characters that I’d watched on screen and admired and to be on screen with them as Thor but as Chris also was pretty exciting.

Q: For Robert Downy Jr., are you going to be in Avengers 4?

• Robert: Yes we already filmed it. If I die tomorrow (when he sees the screening of this film) I’m going to be confused. We’ll see.

Q: Letitia, how do you see your role as Shuri, a math and science whiz inspiring kids and teens to excel in those subjects?

• Letitia: It’s something that’s super new to me to play this character who is interested in all these amazing subjects (math and science). I wish I’d had a Shuri in TV or in movies that I could see when I was growing up and I would have stayed in my math classes a little bit longer. I’m really happy that the film and this character Shuri has allowed young kids to think learning is cool and that they can contribute to the world with science and maths and technology and engineering.
• Also (it’s cool) for young women as well to get pulled into that whole movement, feeling like it’s not just a thing for the guys, it’s for anyone to get into and contribute positively so to have that and for (teachers) to use (the character) in classrooms, I’m super grateful. I hope it continues. It’s a positive and good thing.

Q: For Don Cheadle, can you talk about preparing for this movie and carrying over what happened to Rhodes in the last film Civil War?

• Don: What I think is great about having something like (this film) to anchor some of the other things that are happening in the story and getting to continue it forward through both films is we always get to have these down notes in a good way. I think there are a lot of eye candy and dramatic things happening, big spectacular fights and amazing things we see on screen, then it comes down to these characters and their inter-personal situations and their personal journeys.
• Where it comes to Rhodey, I’m glad it was something that is carried through and not just dropped. The line that goes through both of the films and comes into play in an important way is something that factors in all the way through so it’s nice to have something that’s cohesive and keeps me grounded and keeps the character grounded.

Q: For Zoe, talk about Gamora’s very emotional journey in the film?

• Zoe: Going with what Don was saying, besides these kinds of movies carrying so much action and entertainment and visual effects that cater to all of our senses, we wouldn’t be what we are in the Marvel universe if it wasn’t for the emotional beats that these inter-relationships carry.  That thread involves a relationship between parent and child and I will speak also on behalf of Karen Gillan’s character Nebula, we have so much fun with the arc, the relationship that these daughters have with their father because they get an opportunity to address what it was like to have a dad that’s so ..uh, complicated. It was fantastic. It was great.

Q: Also Zoe, we got to see you first and now there are people of color in all these films. How do you feel knowing that people of color are getting more representation in the Marvel universe?

• Zoe: I’m happy. I’m super happy to be an American right now, to be in the entertainment industry, to be a public figure and to be given opportunities by leaders such as our studio heads when they take on the task of broadening the narrative for our stories. It’s plain and simple. As actors, regardless of our race and gender, we want to be given the opportunity to be chameleons and to continue growing and connect with our audiences.
• It just makes someone like me, who is a positive recipient, super happy because I know what that means for our future generations. I have three sons and nothing is making me happier to know that they are going to inherit an influx of storytelling through media that represents them and makes them feel seen and heard and that their lives and heritage matters.

Q: Cool! Anthony Mackie is it a challenge to develop your character with so many characters in the film?

• Anthony: Some men need an hour to make their presence felt. Some need thirty seconds (laughter).

Q: Ooookay. Tom Holland, you have the new suit, the iron spider. What was it like working in that?

• Tom: I’m under instructions to keep my mouth shut. I didn’t actually get to wear the iron spider suit because it’s too amazing to exist in real life so I joined Marc Ruffalo (Hulk) in the man-cancelling costume and stood among these Gods wearing pajamas. It wasn’t quite as heroic as I’d like but I haven’t seen the film yet so I can’t tell you what it does in real life but I’m sure it’s amazing and I’m excited to see it.

Q: Benedict, did you read the final draft of the script or an earlier one before making the movie?

• Benedict: I read a script. Whether I read THE script is for them to know and me to find out when I see the movie. But whatever script you read it’s never the film is it? It always changes. These guys (change) the script every day, sometimes after the day or even after the movie is out. They never stop at this wheelhouse so whatever I read is not necessarily what you’re going to see. I could tell you stuff but it wouldn’t make any difference.

Q: Chadwick Boseman, how much of Infinity War is really Black Panther 1.5?

• Chadwick: (laughing) Avengers: Infinity War is Avengers: Infinity War. It’s not Black Panther 1.5 or Black Panther 2 or anything like that. I think we have a strong presence in the movie and it was great to have some of these people in Wakanda but it is its own movie and it was great to go from what we did in Black Panther and bring some of that into Avengers. It was a relief actually but it’s its own thing.

Q: For Pom Klementieff, does Mantis have to get a little tougher because she has to deal with the Guardians on a daily basis now?

• Pom: Maybe a little bit but she still has this kind of a child-like way of thinking and she asks a lot of questions. It brings some comedy and sometimes these movies need some fun, a little bit of innocence. I think she’s going to evolve a little bit more in the next one, but in this one I think she’s still kind of the same, a little bit weird and that’s good.

Q: For Josh, of the Avengers, who is Thanos most impressed by?

• Josh: I looked in the trailer you saw like I was impressed by people? Then I didn’t do my job very well. Being a person of the color purple and be naked on the set in order to create a vibe of fear, I really thought that I scared everybody but apparently not. Anthony Mackie of course. It only took 25 seconds for me to be impressed by him. He’s Thanos’s weakness. (again, so kidding).

Q: Paul Bettany, playing Vision, do you have any memories from set that you can share?

• Paul: Snitches end up in ditches and all the best anecdotes are unsayable but we’ve been making these movies for a long time and it’s a unique experience for actors to get to keep working with the same people again and again. People have had real life experiences; people have had children, gotten married, got divorced. We’ve all become real friends. I’ve never been on a set where people choose not to go back to their trailers but stay on set and make fun of each other so it’s been a real privilege. Thank you guys.

Q: Elizabeth Olsen, what could Scarlett Witch bring to the table if she had her own film?

• Elizabeth: I would be thrilled! Paul and I joke about how we would love to do a House of M spin-off and a really domesticated, indie version of it. I think that would be a lot of fun. That part of her story (her relationship with Vision) is why I love this character so much. I’m just happy that I’m still included so I don’t need my own movie. Just bring me back all the time. This is the greatest cast and crew. We get to work with people who are the best at their jobs. We’re all very lucky to be here and enjoy each other’s company all the time.

Q: Danai, I hear a lot of women in the Marvel universe have pitched an all-female movie. Do you know anything about that?

• Danai: Yeah. I’ve heard those rumors also. But no, I know no details on that. I was thinking how excited I am about Brie Larson shooting Captain Marvel right now. That’s going to be awesome. We’re seeing more women take the helm in various areas. Not only is that about time but it will make the world a better place I think. I’m looking forward to the future.

Q: Sebastian Stan, do you think Bucky has changed a lot and will the Avengers really accept and welcome him?

• Sebastian: I think you see shades of the old Bucky in this situation. I guess the guy smiles finally but I wouldn’t go as far as saying accepted. He’s been seeing who his allies are. He’s been enjoying the coconut water in Wakanda and everything else is peachy.

See Avengers: Infinity War in theaters Friday, April 27^th​

Have Your Say

Are you up for this huge mash-up of good guy Marvel characters or had you rather concentrate on just one? If so, who is your fave? Let us know with a comment!