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It’s no surprise that The Avengers is such a popular movie. Filled with action-packed sequences, snarky quips, and a Hulk, the film has definitely set a new bar for super hero movies -- and set a new bar for it’s A-list stars. But what sorts of films led the heroes of The Avengers to come together to save the world? The following list may shock you:

 

Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury): Mr. Jackson has long had a career of starring in fanboy films. He played Mace Windu in the first three Star Wars films and voiced Frozone in the Pixar super hero classic, The Incredibles. He is known for yelling out a certain favorite swear in two completely different cult favorites: Pulp Fiction, where played Jules Winnfield, and in Snakes on a Plane, where he took down some nasty stowaway reptiles as Neville Flynn. Jackson has not starred in many indie films, but he did wow audiences as the mysterious Lazarus in Black Snake Moan. From Jurassic Park to xXx, Jackson is definitely one of the titans of kick-ass movies. He’s set to star as Stephen in Quentin Tarantino’s next film, Django Unchained.

 

Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man): One of the most respected actors in Hollywood, Mr. Downey Jr. has starred in some rather unusual roles. Starting his career as a member of the "Brat Pack" from the 1980s, RDJ scored perhaps his most notable role as Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. A few of Downey’s lesser known roles include starring as Mussolini (!) in a 1985 TV mini series entitled “Mussolini: The Untold Story” and as Albert Einstein (!!) in That’s Adequate. Downey has also used his vocal talents in a number of animated films and TV shows, including voicing James Barris in A Scanner Darkly and Patrick Pewterschmidt on “Family Guy”. By far one of Downey’s strangest roles was as Kirk Lazarus, the five-time Academy-Award winning actor in Tropic Thunder who undergoes a controversial skin darkening procedure so that he can play an African-American. Downey is set to return as Tony Stark in Iron Man 3.

 

Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America): Mr. Evans has enjoyed a rapid rise to fame. Captain America is not the first superhero that Evans has played -- he starred as Johnny Storm in the action-packed Fantastic Four films, as well as voiced Casey, friend of the Ninja Turtles in TMNT. Ironically, Evans was actually in fellow Avengers co-star Scarlett Johansson's film The Nanny Diaries as Harvard Hottie. Evans's first leading role was probably his most ridiculous -- as stereotypical jock Jake Wyler in Not Another Teen Movie. He is set to play Roger Pronge in The Iceman and will return as Captain America in Captain America 2.

 

Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/The Hulk): Usually a star of quirky indie comedies, The Avengers is probably the most thrilling film Mr. Ruffalo has been in. He first gained notice as Stan in the romantic indie comedy Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and as Jennifer Garner’s love interest Matt in 13 Going on Thirty. Ruffalo has continued to star in romantic comedies, including Just Like Heaven and the Jennifer Aniston flop Rumor Has It. Prior to The Avengers, Ruffalo had already worked with his two of his co-stars: Robert Downey Jr. in the suspense thriller Zodiac, and with Gwyneth Paltrow in romantic-comedy-about-flight-attendants, View from the Top. Ruffalo has also starred in some truly random films, including the utterly silly horror romp The Dentist and in the even more outlandish horror film Mirror Mirror 2: Raven Dance. Ruffalo has come a long way from these bit parts and is set to star as Adam in the sex addiction dramedy, Thanks for Sharing, and as Dylan in the thriller Now You See Me.

 

Scarlet Johansson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow): Starring as the only female Avenger of the group, Miss Johansson has probably had the most diverse acting career of her c-stars. She first gained notice when she starred as Griet in The Girl with the Pearl Earring (hint: she played the girl) and as Charlotte in Sofia Coppola’s Oscar-nominated drama Lost in Translation. Johansson has since gone on to work alongside some of Hollywood’s most noteworthy directors, including Woody Allen in Vicky Christina Barcelona and Cameron Crowe in We Bought a Zoo. By far one of Johansson’s best though lesser known roles was as Rebecca in the quirky indie Ghost World, based off of the comic book by the same name. Like Downey, Johansson has also voiced a number of animated characters, including a few oddball characters on the sketch show, “Robot Chicken”, and as Mindy in The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie. She is set to star as Janet Leigh in the Alfred Hitchcock biopic, Hitchcock.

 

Chris Hemsworth (Thor): Mr. Hemsworth has recently gained notice as not only Thor but as George Kirk (Captain James's dad) in the 2009 reboot of Star Trek. However, prior to these roles, Hemsworth had guest roles on a variety of TV shows, including the Australian soap opera, “Neighbours”, as well as a regular role as the new vet on “The Saddle Club” (based off the book series). Since these bit roles, Hemsworth has gone on to star as the Huntsman in the highly anticipated fairy-tale thriller Snow White and the Huntsmen and as Curt in the horror thriller The Cabin in the Woods. He is set to reprise his role as Thor in Thor 2.

 

Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton/Hawkeye): Mr. Renner is no stranger to action/thriller films -- after all, one of his biggest roles was in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. One of Renner’s most notable roles was as Sergeant William James in the harrowing war drama, The Hurt Locker, which went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Prior to The Hurt Locker, Renner starred in some pretty disturbing films, the most unsettling of which was as serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in Dahmer. Dahmer is considered one of America’s most horrifying serial killers, and Renner definitely helped bring that terror to life. Before his turn as terrifying monster, Renner had guest parts on many popular TV shows, including “Angel” and “CSI.” His next two roles will be playing Hansel in Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters and as Aaron Cross in The Bourne Legacy. 

 

 

- Sarah Osman, YH Staff