Avengers Age of Ultron Revisited: How Joss Whedon's Involvement in Justice League Impacts the Marvel Movie

Image credits: Credits: Marvel Studios

The 2015 movie Avengers: Age of Ultron is celebrating its 10th birthday, but the occasion is not without controversy, thanks to writer-director Joss Whedon's subsequent involvement in the 2017 movie Justice League. Age of Ultron followed up the monumental success of 2012's The Avengers, with Earth's Mightiest Heroes battling the artificially intelligent foe Ultron, who is determined to wipe out all of humanity. Despite earning $1.4 billion worldwide, Age of Ultron isn't one of the more beloved Avengers movies, and its legacy has been further complicated by Whedon's role in the troubled production of Justice League.

Joss Whedon's involvement in Justice League has been widely criticized, with many cast and crew members speaking out about his on-set conduct and the significant changes he made to the movie. The theatrical cut of Justice League was released in 2017, but it was later revealed that Whedon had made substantial alterations to the film, which were not in line with the original vision of director Zack Snyder. The release of the Snyder Cut, titled Zack Snyder's Justice League, in 2021 further highlighted the differences between the two versions and sparked a renewed debate about the merits of each. In the context of Age of Ultron, Whedon's criticisms of Man of Steel, particularly with regards to the level of destruction caused by the Kryptonian fight scenes, have taken on a new light. The finale of Age of Ultron, in which the Avengers prioritize the evacuation of civilians from the city of Sokovia, can be seen as a rebuttal to the criticisms leveled at Man of Steel, with Captain America emphasizing the importance of protecting innocent lives.

The controversy surrounding Justice League has also drawn attention to Whedon's treatment of the cast and crew, with Gal Gadot and Ray Fisher speaking out about their negative experiences with the director. The fact that Whedon reportedly made his disdain for Snyder's work known to the cast and crew of Justice League during the reshoots has further complicated the legacy of Age of Ultron, making its implicit criticisms of Man of Steel feel more like a personal attack. The movie's emphasis on civilian evacuations, particularly in the finale, has also been reevaluated in light of Whedon's involvement in Justice League, with some scenes feeling like a response to criticisms of Age of Ultron itself. The list of controversies surrounding Justice League includes:

• Cyborg actor Ray Fisher's allegations of Whedon's abusive and unprofessional conduct
• Gal Gadot's claims of Whedon's threats to her career
• The significant changes made to the movie during the reshoots
• The release of the Snyder Cut, which highlighted the differences between the two versions

Ultimately, the legacy of Avengers: Age of Ultron has been impacted by Joss Whedon's involvement in Justice League, making the movie feel more uncomfortable to revisit. While Age of Ultron was initially seen as a successful sequel to The Avengers, its criticisms of Man of Steel and Whedon's on-set conduct have taken on a new light in the context of the Justice League controversy. The movie's themes of heroism and protection of innocent lives are still relevant, but they are now complicated by the knowledge of Whedon's actions on the set of Justice League. As a result, Avengers: Age of Ultron is a movie that is difficult to evaluate on its own merits, without considering the broader context of the Marvel and DC universes.

The release of Zack Snyder's Justice League has ultimately resulted in a more positive reception for the movie, with many fans praising the director's original vision. In contrast, Avengers: Age of Ultron feels like a movie that is stuck in the past, its legacy complicated by the controversies surrounding its director. Despite being available to stream on Disney+, the movie is not as highly regarded as some of the other Marvel movies, and its reputation has been further tarnished by Whedon's involvement in Justice League. As the Marvel and DC universes continue to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Avengers: Age of Ultron is reevaluated in the context of the broader comic book movie landscape.