Best known for his role in legal drama Boston Legal, James Spader adds on another role in an entirely different universe.
A few days after news from DC about the new Batman, Marvel has announced the casting for the villain to next gather the Avengers together. Emmy award-winner James Spader, known for other roles in The Practice, The Office, and Lincoln, will play the titular villain in Avengers: Age of Ultron. The specifics of the role are unknown. The sequel will hit theaters May 1, 2015.
Writer and director Joss Whedon has already stated that Ultron, the mechanical villain of Marvel lore, will differ from the comics. Whether Spader will be providing motion-capture or a voice-over is unknown. Previous speculation had suggested Tony Stark’s artificially intelligent computer JARVIS, voiced by Paul Bettany, could be a possible link to Ultron for the movie sequel, therefore changing his origin story in the comics. Footage at Comic-Con also seemed to hint at a connection between Tony Stark and Ultron as his Iron Man helmet becomes Ultron’s metallic skull at the end of the video.
“As a character I love [Ultron] because he’s so pissed off,” Whedon said to Entertainment Weekly. “He’s always trying to destroy the Avengers, goddamn it, he’s got a bee in his bonnet.”
Spader stars in NBC’s new drama The Blacklist beginning Sept. 23. Characterized on IMDb as having a trademark smooth voice and a tendency to play “sleazy, sneaky villains,” Spader may prove to be an engaging force for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
Source: Marvel via Entertainment Weekly
