Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
Marvel ends Avengers saga with Endgame
“Avengers: Endgame” directors Joe Russo (left), and Anthony Russo, and stars Brie Larson, Robert Downey Jr. and Jeremy Renner, hold jogakbo, traditional Korean patchwork featuring the Avengers' symbol during the press conference in Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
By Park Jin-hai
By Park Jin-hai
“Avengers: Endgame” cast and the head of Marvel Studios visited Seoul to promote the final installment in the “Avengers” series, which will hit local theaters next Wednesday.
With the film's world premiere a little over a week away, actors Robert Downey Jr., Jeremy Renner and Brie Larson, directors Anthony and Joe Russo and producer Trinh Tran visited Korea to promote the final Avengers movie and the 22nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios president since 2007, also accompanied the visiting actors. Feige, who came here in 2013 for the “Thor: The Dark World” junket, stressed the significance of the upcoming film.
“This film is the culmination of 22 films that we've made up to this point, so the Infinity War was really the lead-up to this endgame,” he said during a press event for the movie at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, Monday.
“We've spent the better part of 10 years working towards this film. All the work we've done is leading toward this film. So the biggest concern was making sure we deliver surprises and a very, very satisfying conclusion to the Infinity saga of 22 films.”
The film is a direct sequel to last year's “Avengers: Infinity War.” It finished with a shocking scene where half of all living creatures in the universe have been wiped out, including many Avengers characters, at the hands of the villain Thanos.
Anthony called it a “difficult ending” for all. “It was a difficult ending for all of us to commit to as story tellers. But seeing audiences' reactions at the moment left a big impression on us, and it's one that we certainly carried forward as we were editing Endgame over the last year,” he said.
“We thought it was important. You rarely have a moment in the movies where the bad guy wins. But, unfortunately in life there are many moments that we have to suffer like that… We had this opportunity in this movie because Marvel's serialized storytelling and the story goes on even after the movie is over.”
The last film will depict how the surviving superheroes stand up against Thanos. Captain Marvel is expected to play an important role in the upcoming film.
Larson, who plays Captain Marvel, said her role has changed her both as an actress and a person. “Carol Danvers taught me so much. I always labeled myself as introverted with asthma,” she said.
But her nine months of training in judo and boxing before filming changed her. “It has changed my brain. It's changed the way I carried myself and it's strengthened my voice. So it was a great honor to be able to share the character with the world, with the hopes that others may get some of that as well through the screening,” she said.
“Really what I think is that she is the symbolism of the importance of representation, the importance of the female story and female journey, which is also for everyone. It is about equality at the end of the day.”
Producer Tran says heroines will continue to carry important roles in future Marvel films. “We are always striving to continue to support our female heroines from the previous movies as well as this one. So we'll continue to explore that… It is very important to me personally to continue to go that direction,” she said.
Joe Russo compared the Avengers' global popularity with individualism versus community. “I think why they resonate is because they are about sense of communities,” he said. “It's about the spirit of the eclectic group of heroes coming together to stand up to a common enemy. I think that is a very important message for these films and I think why they are so globally popular.”
Iron Man Robert Downey Jr. said “I feel like the MCU and Korea have completely synergized and grown up together.”
Korean fans' love for Marvel movies is well known. Avengers' previous installments have garnered a total of 28.7 million Korean viewers as of March 25. Most MCU films have achieved box office success in Korea with over 5 million viewers.
“Avengers: Age of Ultron” and “Avengers: Infinity War” consecutively succeeded in attracting more than 10 million viewers here.
"Endgame" is set to be released here on April 24, two days before its North American release.