The Avengers 2 Cast, News & Update: James Spader to Play the Villain 'Ultron'
The cast for the upcoming sequel to the blockbuster movie The Avengers is coming full circle as Marvel announced that James Spader will comprising the role of legendary villain, Ultron.
The confirmation comes after several rumors swirled about possible actors that could play the role in the movie slated to be released in May 2015. The Avengers 2: The Age of Ultron will be a follow up to the 2012 superhero hit that feature the crime-fighting group that includes Iron Man, the Hulk, Captain America, Thor and the Black Widow.
James Spader, also known as Alan Shore in the TV show Boston Legal, will be playing the lead villain Ultron in the movie. According to Yahoo!, the villain is "an evil robot that can travel through time and uses his talents to change the present so he can have the upper hand in the future." Entertainment Weekly also notes that the villain has "super-human strength, speed, stamina, durability, flight, mind control, a coma ray and a genius intellect."
However, director Joss Whedon told EW that he's looking to shed some of Ultron's super powers.
"I knew right away what I wanted to do with him," Whedon shared in the interview. "He's always trying to destroy the Avengers, goddamn it, he's got a bee in his bonnet. He's not a happy guy, which means he's an interesting guy. He's got pain. And the way that manifests is not going to be standard robot stuff. So we'll take away some of those powers because at some point everybody becomes magic, and I already have someone [new character Scarlet Witch] who's a witch."
Marvel and Whedon's decision to bring Spader into the mix has been well received by the public. Tom Hiddleston, who played Loki in the first movie, even sent out his support to the actor.
Hiddleston tweeted: "Go on, James Spader. Go get' em. @Avengers #AgeOfUltron"
Spader has won three Emmy Awards and was acclaimed for his role in the Academy Award-winning film Lincoln.