Hollywood is coming to South Africa. The upcoming "Avengers: Age of Ultron" is slated to start filming in Johannesburg this year according to a number of reports. The shoot will not include any major cast members, sources stated on Monday.
Regardless, the country is excited by the prospect of having a major production film in South Africa.
"We're thrilled that Marvel Studios is bringing a major motion picture project to Johannesburg, and we're committed to showing them the very best our region has to offer," noted Phindile Mbanujwa, the CEO of the Gauteng Film Commission, according to Mstarz. "We are excited to host Marvel; strengthens Johannesburg's position as a worldwide film production center with first class facilities and production support," said the city's mayor. "It also has a very positive impact for the region and is a great opportunity for the city to be showcased to a worldwide audience."
"Avengers: Age of Ultron" is the hotly anticipated follow-up to the original "Marvel's The Avengers." The first film in the franchise raked in over $200 million in its opening weekend, breaking the all-time record for opening weekend box office. The film also claimed the record for the best second weekend with a gross of over $100 million. The film went on to become the third-highest grossing film of all time with an astonishing $627 million in domestic gross.
The new installment stars Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, James Spader, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson among others. It will be directed by Joss Whedon.
The film is slated for a May 1, 2015 release date.