Marvel’s superhero movies aren’t exactly known for their laid-back, bare-bones indie style. From the first Avengers film to Guardians of the Galaxy last year, they’ve utilised huge sets, massive budgets and cutting-edge CGI to create gigantic worlds – but according to new(ish) cast member Paul Bettany, we ain’t seen nothing yet.


“I’ve never been on a bigger set on my entire life than in The Avengers {Age of Ultron],” he told RadioTimes.com. “One [part] seemed to be the corner of a town, with helicopter cameras, and drone cameras flying about. I just haven’t seen anything that big, so it was like being a kid on a film set again.”

“This is the biggest thing Marvel have ever done,” said Bettany, who will play android hero The Vision (below) in the superhero sequel. “It was enormous. I remember, we were at Comic-con, and they showed a portion of the footage, and I was just gobsmacked. And I looked down the row and every one of the Avengers was the same.”

“Including Samuel Jackson – and his whole modus operandi is ‘I’ve seen everything before, I’m the most chilled out, relaxed man and I’ve seen everything…’and he was as knocked out as anyone. It’s huge.”

Bettany has previously had a part in the Avengers and Iron Man movies as the voice of JARVIS, Robert Downey Jr’s virtual assistant (his new role is somehow connected, though the exact details haven’t been revealed) – but now he says it’s great to be a bigger part of the Marvel universe.

“I love doing it. It’s really nice to have a balance in all this. To go from a movie I was making where we couldn’t afford two cameras, to a movie where there’s helicopters with cameras in. It was a lot of fun.”

But given the high profile of the new movie, does he ever get nervous about the extent of fan attention and the prospect of being recognised and mobbed on the street?

“I’ve been to Comic-con like 5 times, and I went this last time as part of the Avengers, and it was… just nuts. It was crazy, Those fans go CRAZY. And that was strange.”

“So I don’t know – I hadn’t really thought about it,” ponders Bettany. “I’m feeling quite daunted now that you’ve said it…”

“I look really different in real life. I’m red and android in the film. So I don’t know, hopefully that’ll help.”

Paul Bettany stars with Johnny Depp in Mortdecai, released in UK cinemas this Friday 23rd January


Avengers: Age of Ultron will be released in the UK on the 24th of April