Amazon Pulls "Avengers" Blu-Ray Set

Amazon has stopped taking pre-orders for The Avengers 10-disc Blu-ray set, presumably as a result of a lawsuit filed over the packaging. The limited edition set, Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase One: Avengers Assembled was slated to include all five movies leading up to The Avengers, as well as 3D versions of The Avengers, Captain America, and Thor, plus a bonus disc of The Phase One Archives It was to be packaged in a replica of the briefcase used by Nick Fury in The Avengers, a Rimowa case with a design so distinctive it’s been granted trademark protection.

The lawsuit, filed August 1st in federal court against Marvel Entertainment and Disney home video division Buena Vista Home Entertainment, alleges trademark infringement, trademark dilution, and unfair competition. The trademark claims were made as a result of the parallel, evenly-spaced horizontal bands that run across and around each of the cases, a trademark of Rimowa. The use of the mark was unlicensed, according to the complaint.

Marvel Wants "Chuck" Star for 'Thor 2'

Marvel Studios originally wanted Chuck star Zachary Levi to play the role of Fandral, one of the "Warriors Three" in Kenneth Branagh’s Thor, but at the last minute Levi’s cult favorite NBC series was given a reprise and he had to bow out. Now it’s Josh Dallas, who ended up playing Fandral in the original Thor, who has the conflict and has had to back out of Thor 2 because of his TV series, ABC’s Once Upon a Time.

So, according to Heat Vision, Marvel is back pursuing Levi for the role in Thor 2, which is moving quickly towards a July start to filming with Game of Thrones director Alan Taylor  to helm. Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Idris Elba, and Anthony Hopkins are all slated to return for the sequel along with Tom Hiddleston (Loki), who will be joined by another villain played by Mads Mikkelson (the Danish actor who played the heavy in Casino Royale).

'Thor' in 3-D

Marvel will release two 2011 summer blockbusters, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, in 3-D, according to the Los Angeles Times. Both went through principal photography in 2-D, but special effects were done in 3-D from the beginning, according to the report.

Thor will be released on May 6th ,and Cap will be released on July 22, 2011.

Three Cast for Thor Movie

Marvel has announced that actors have been chosen to play the Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogun and Volstagg) in the upcoming Thor movie. Stuart Townsend will play Fandral; Tadanobu Asano will play Hogun; and Ray Stevenson will play Volstagg.

Anthony Hopkins also recently joined the cast as Odin for the rest of the cast. The Kenneth Branagh film will premiere on May 20, 2011.

Marvel Retools Movie Schedule

Marvel announced Thursday morning that it is rescheduling three of its upcoming films to allow a longer run-up to its Avengers film, which was moved back from July 15 of 2011 to May 4, 2012. Thor was moved back from July 16, 2010 to June 17, 2011. The First Avenger: Captain America was moved back to July 22, 2011 from May 6, 2011.

Iron Man 2’s release date remains unchanged: May 7, 2010.

And Marvel confirmed that Spider-Man 4 will release May 6, 2011.

The changes give Marvel the first weekend in May for the next four years (X-Men Origins: Wolverine opens May 1st of this year).

Marvel Studios Updates It's Pipeline

Marvel Studios Updates Its Pipeline: 'Iron Man 2' Starts Shooting in April; Kenneth Branagh To Direct 'Thor'

Below is an updated look at the Marvel Studios' product pipeline. The company also announced today that Kenneth Branagh is set to direct Thor which Paramount Pictures will distribute worldwide. It will be released domestically on July 16, 2010. And Iron Man 2 begins principal photography in early April.

Marvel Studios Entertainment Pipeline(According to its 4th quarter earnings report. Scheduled release dates are subject to change)

Self-Produced Feature Film Line-Up: Iron Man 2 (Marvel), scheduled for May 7, 2010 release, starts principal photography in April directed by Jon Favreau, stars Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle ;Thor (Marvel), scheduled for July 16, 2010 release, directed by Kenneth Branagh ;The First Avenger: Captain America (Marvel), Scheduled for May 6, 2011 release ;The Avengers (Marvel), scheduled for July 15, 2011 release

Licensed Feature Film Line-Up: X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Fox), scheduled for May 1, 2009 release

Self-Produced Animated TV Series Line-Up: Super Hero Squad (Marvel Animation) 26 thirty-minute episodes in production with Film Roman, scheduled for Q3 2009 release on Cartoon Network ;The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (Marvel Animation) 26 thirty-minute episodes in production with Film Roman; scheduled for Q3 2011 release.

Licensed Animated TV Series Line-Up; Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes (Moonscoop SAS - France), 26 thirty-minute episodes airing internationally and on Marvel.com and Marvelkids.com ; Spectacular Spider-Man (Culver Studios - U.S.) Will air on Disney XD in the U.S. beginning in March and currently airing on various networks internationally ;Wolverine and the X-Men (Marvel Animation / First Serve Toonz - India), 52 thirty-minute episodes. Episodes 1-26 are currently airing on Nicktoons in the U.S. and are on air internationally, Episodes 27-52 are currently in pre-production ; Black Panther (Marvel Animation / BET) 8 thirty-minute episodes in production, scheduled for Q2 2009 release on BET ; Iron Man: Armored Adventures (Marvel Animation / Method Films - France) 26 thirty-minute episodes in production, scheduled for Q2 2009 release in the U.S. on Nicktoons and various networks internationally

Licensed Animated Direct-to-DVD Projects : Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow (Lionsgate), released September 2, 2008 ;Hulk Vs. (Lionsgate), released January 13, 2009 ;Thor: Son of Asgard (Lionsgate), scheduled for September 2009 release

Licensed Broadway Stage Project: Spider-Man, the Musical, Julie Taymor director; music & lyrics by U2’s Bono and The Edge(Hello Entertainment/David Garfinkle, Martin McCallum, Marvel Entertainment/David Maisel, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Jeremiah Harris)Slated for a February 2010 opening

Fury in Nine Marvel Films

Samuel L. Jackson has been signed to play Nick Fury in up to nine Marvel films, according to the Hollywood trades. At one point, negotiations had “broken down,” according to Jackson, but the longer deal apparently made things work for both sides.

The films will include Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America, Avengers, and potentially a starring role in a S.H.I.E.L.D. movie.

Marvel Confirms Film Movie Details

David Maisel, chairman of Marvel Studios, told reporters that the success of the 2008 theatrical and DVD releases of Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk paves the way for a slew of sequels and new films based on Marvel Comics properties and characters. Among those in the works are Iron Man 2, Thor, The First Avenger: Captain America and The Avengers, Maisel confirmed in a conference call with reporters on Nov. 4 to discuss the company's third-quarter earnings.

As previously reported, Maisel also said that Marvel Studios will, for cost efficiency purposes, relocate its headquarters to the Raleigh Studios facility in Manhattan Beach, Calif. All the upcoming movies will be shot at Raleigh Studios, with post-production work done there as well.

"2010 is scheduled to bring Iron Man 2 and Thor, while 2011 has The First Avenger: Captain America and the Avengers movie," Maisel said. "We've announced Robert Downey Jr. will star in both Iron Man 2 and The Avengers and Jon Favreau will direct Iron Man 2 and executive-produce The Avengers. We will be making other talent and director announcements as these deals are finalized."

Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. will be back for the sequel and for an Avengers movie.

Maisel added, "On one other note, by 2010 we also expect that our Spider-Man Broadway musical will premiere on Broadway. This is the musical directed by Julie Taymor, the director of The Lion King, with music written by Bono and The Edge from the rock band U2. In keeping with our conservative fiscal approach, we are not funding the show, but we are co-producing it and have a meaningful first-dollar gross participation, which could create significant upside if the show is successful and spawns multiple touring companies around the world."

Addressing the move to Raleigh Studios, Maisel said that, in addition to housing Marvel's studio headquarters on the premises, they will also have dedicated sound stages and pre- and post-production areas where the next four Marvel movies will be developed and shot.

"That's a significant move on Marvel, a significant investment in space," Maisel said. "We believe that by doing that, we will not only have cost efficiencies by being able to have all the productions under one roof and negotiate various volume discounts and other sorts of cost efficiencies, but also hopefully continue and have a better probability of having the quality that we all saw this past summer in the movies by being the hands-on producers, as we were with Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk."

In a press release issued in conjunction with the earnings call, Marvel Entertainment also confirmed the tentative release dates for company's upcoming film productions. Iron Man 2 is scheduled for a May 7, 2010, release, followed by Thor on July 16, 2010, The First Avenger: Captain America on May 6, 2011, and The Avengers on July 15, 2011. --Ian Spelling