Iconic Marvel super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow answer the call to action when Nick Fury, director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D, initiates a daring globe spanning recruitment effort to assemble The Avengers team to defeat an unexpected enemy threatening global safety and security.

At a recent press conference we had the opportunity to speak with the cast of the film “The Avengers”. We spoke with Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, producer Kevin Feige, and director Joss Whedon about bringing this franchise to the big screen and how hard of a task it was to assemble these iconic characters into one story.

What was your guys most memorable moment?
Robert Downey Jr.: It was the first time when we were assembled on the bridge and we all saw each other and realized that we would like to continue shooting the movie and make good on Kevin Feige (producer) image since as far back as I can remember.
Chris Hemsworth: I think that was also our first day on set too, the whole ensemble. It was pretty exciting and nerve racking experience.
Chris Evans: For me it was the scene where Thor and Iron Man and I are fighting and I just saw the film “Thor” the day prior and I had yet to see Hemsworth or Downey in their full suit. I showed up that night and saw them geared up and I got really excited and I felt like a little kid.
Mark Rufffalo: My moment was being naked in front of Harry Dean Stanton.

Mark how did you form your own version of Bruce Banner?
Mark Ruffalo: I meet with Joss Whedon (Director) and he said really liked “The Incredible Hulk” TV show so I rented those with my ten year old son then after the third episode he turned around and said to me “Papa he’s so misunderstood.” So I basically based my character entirely on my ten year old boy who has all the force of nature just screaming out of his body while at the same time having everyone around him telling him to control himself.

Kevin how long have you been trying to make this film?
Kevin Feige: Well my whole life because I’ve been a big nerd the whole time. But the real answer is towards the end of production of Iron man one when Sam was gracious enough to come in and break into Tony Stark’s house wearing an eye patch and tell him and the world that you’re part of a big universe but you just don’t know it yet. When that movie succeeded that’s when we realized we actually have the opportunity to do it. The only challenge was to try to make all the movies live on their own. If they were all interconnected puzzle pieces then they’re not as fun movies from beginning to end.

Mark everyone here as suited up before but this was your first time how was it joining the group?
Mark Ruffalo: It was terrifying. I knew what my responsibilities were by making the mistake of going on line and reading the fan boy responses to me being casted as the Hulk. That was a mistake and I will never do that again. I never had a role be more scrutinized and criticized before I even shot a single frame. So I knew I had big shoes to fill but it was tough and I wished I had a cool costume to wear the entire time.

Kevin just wondering why you thought Joss would be the perfect guy to take over the franchise?
Kevin Feige: My only big concern was that the whole project would collapse and go away. We spent so much time on costumes and special effects that these characters and these actors wouldn’t get the chance to do it. Looking at Joss’s body of work and the script and TV shows that he’s written, the characters never get lost and those are the moments that shine. For a production this size we want a helmsmen to come in and steer this ship and guide that tone and Joss has done that so well.

Joss what was the hardest part when it came to making this film?
Joss Whedon: The hardest part is and will always be structure, how do you make everybody shine how do you let the audiences identification drift from person to person without making them feel like they’re not involved. It’s a very complex structure it’s not original but it had to be right it had to be earned from moment to moment. That was exhausting and that was still going on in the editing room.

What in your mind separates a good comic book adaptation film and a bad adaptation comic book film?
Joss Whedon: For me it’s capturing the essences of the comic while being true what’s wonderful about it while remembering that its a movie not a comic. I think Spider-Man, the first one, they really figured the formula. “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” they just threw out the comic or “The Watchmen” where they did it frame for frame and neither of them worked. You have to get into the spirit of the thing then step away from that.

Joss what advice would you give to Warner Bros. in regards to getting their “Justice League” movie green lit?
Joss Whedon: Call me! No but I would say it’s enormously difficult to take a bunch of characters and make them work. DC has a harder time at it them Marvel because DC characters are from a bygone era where characters where bigger then we where and they amended that but Marvel really cracked the code and said oh they’re just like us.

“The Avengers” is in theaters May 4th.