Even though it seems like every superhero and their mother will be in Captain America: Civil War, it's not yet clear just which side of the divide each character will be on (leaked concept art notwithstanding). Vision, as brought to life by Paul Bettany, is Marvel's newest creation to appear on the big screen, having been created and animated in Avengers: Age of Ultron. He certainly brings some mega-powers to the side of the superhero team, but in Joe and Anthony Russo's upcoming combative film, it's unclear just which side he'll be battling on.
Bettany stayed ambiguous on Vision's allegiances in Captain America: Civil War during a panel at the 1st AsiaPOP Comic Con in Manila, covered by Philippine Entertainment Portal (via CBM), but did reveal a bit about the mood on set, including behind-the-scenes antics with Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and company. Bettany was also pressed about his film contract with Marvel, and just which films we can expect to see (rather than simply hear) him in in the future.
Here's Bettany's reveal of the on-set mood behind the scenes of Marvel films:
"It was a lot of work! We all had a bit more fun. You know, there were more improvised jokes between me and [Robert] Downey Jr., and me and Chris Evans, and it was a really loose atmosphere on-set. It was one really loose set, it was great! I would totally lie to you if it wasn’t, but I don’t have to lie. And we all get on. They’re all a really nice bunch of boys and girls. They’re all happy to be there. They’re being terribly well-paid, so they should be happy to be there. And work’s really creative and fun, you know? I got to be born on camera, you know, that’s unlikely to ever happen again."
Since Bettany, who confirmed his two-hour make-up ordeal for filming, has already mentioned Vision's on-screen birth, it's a logical follow-up to ask just what we can expect out of the artificially intelligent superhero when next we see him. Bettany addressed this when asked about how he prepares for his role:
"I was given comics. I also was looking to think about what could be edifying for me to learn. I took the opportunity—you see my character get born… something unlikely to ever happen to me again. He must be both omnipotent and yet totally naive at the same time. And experiencing the world in real time and his place in it. Is he going to be a force of good or a force of evil? It was really interesting, fun to play with, because he’s dangerous, you don’t know if he’s going to go one way or another. I’m continuing that theme in Captain America 3."
So while Vision remains ambiguous as to which side he'll end up fighting on (or if his allegiances will change throughout the course of the film), what's confirmed is that Bettany will get a bigger opportunity to play the character in the third Captain America film. Beyond that, Bettany wouldn't commit:
"As an actor, the other part of it is knowing that you have work in a year’s time. I’ve never had that. Do Jarvis, you should do Jarvis. No, find somebody else. Oh, I … It’s the first time in my life that I’ve had the security of knowing that I’ve got a couple of movies to make…"
Question: Do we have a number specifically?
"I couldn’t reveal that."
Bettany's a pro, so there's no way he was going to slip up even on something as simple as a contractual obligation confirmation. I'm just happy to see Bettany getting some deserved attention after a long career of memorable roles. Do yourself a favor and revisit his filmography before he returns in Captain America: Civil War, opening May 6, 2016.
