Avengers cast clash with Marvel over pay

The Avengers aren’t happy. 

According to reports, the cast of ‘Avengers Assemble’ are teaming up to take on the notoriously tight-fisted Marvel in a heated dispute about pay.

This follows the recent report that ‘Iron Man’ star Robert Downey Jr., who secured a massive $50 million (£32m / €38m) pay cheque from ‘Avengers’, was in talks with Marvel to negotiate a better deal for his superhero co-stars – some of whom each received a comparatively tiny $200,000 (£129k / €152k) for the film.

[Related story: Downey Jr. wants a pay rise for Avengers co-stars]
[Related story: Robert Downey Jr. confirms $50 million 'Avengers' salary]

Deadline reports that the ‘Avengers’ cast are “ready to rumble” with Marvel, adding that ‘Thor’ star Chris Hemsworth is particularly tired of the studio’s treatment - having only received a $500,000 (£322k / €381) pay rise for ‘Thor: The Dark World’, with an extra $500,000 promised if the movie grosses $500 million.

That’s a lot of cash, but peanuts compared to the $5 million Hemsworth made from ‘Snow White And The Huntsman’ for studio Universal.

“Marvel has created so much animosity by strong-arming and bullying on sequels already,” one insider source said. Another added: “I’m sick of [studio boss] Kevin Feige telling me again and again how Marvel is ‘reinventing the movie business’. It doesn’t work like this.”

Marvel has already threatened to “sue or recast” if contracts are challenged – to which a few of the ‘Avengers’ stars reportedly replied “Go ahead”, knowing the studio are unlikely to let the faces of their various franchises walk away.

Black Widow star Scarlett Johansson apparently told her fellow Avengers that she’s “not going to cut her quote” when it comes to pay negotiations.

However Marvel’s threats aren’t exactly empty. Terrence Howard, who played Lt. Col. James Rhodes in ‘Iron Man’, experienced the studio’s ruthlessness first hand. When contract talks for ‘Iron Man 2’ broke down, the studio swiftly dropped the actor, and replaced him with Don Cheadle for the sequels.

So, just like the real Avengers, the disgruntled cast are now combining their strength to fight for what they believe in (fair pay in this case), uniting behind the “big brother” figure of Downey Jr. – who’s already raked in $35 million (£23m / €26m) from box office smash ‘Iron Man 3’ alone.

“[Robert Downey Jr.] is the only guy with real power in this situation. And balls of steel, too,” said one source. “He’s already sent a message that he’s not going to work for a place where they treat his colleagues like sh*t.”

Another source added: “I have four words for Marvel: ‘F*** you, call Robert.’”

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