Seoul will be getting a big taste of Hollywood blockbuster action this weekend, as Avengers: Age of Ultron begins filming in the capital on Sunday. But the various road closures aren’t sitting well with many concerned South Koreans, and director Joss Whedon recorded an apology to the residents and commuters who will be dealing with the changes until April 12.
“I’m really grateful and excited to be filming in your city,” the director said. “We’re going to mess it up a bit and inconvenience some people for a few days and I apologize for that. I know what that’s like, I live in Los Angeles, it happens to me all the time and it’s not fun.”
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The latest Avengers movie will be shooting several big action and chase sequences in the South Korean capital, where the Avengers will battle supe villain Ultron (played by James Spader) to keep him away from advanced technology being developed at a Korean institute located on an island in the Han River.
“I hope that it will be worth it,” Whedon continued. “We love this movie, we love your city, and having the two of them together will show the city to the world in a light that I don’t think it’s been shown, certainly not in America.”
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The Seoul Metropolitan Government and state-run film agencies initially welcomed the decision by Disney’s Marvel Studios to film in the city, speculating about the potential benefits from the elevation of Seoul’s image and boosts in tourism. On the flip side, citizens have voiced their concerns on the Internet, particularly those whose commute is severely affected by the road closures.
“I think it’s a bit ridiculous to say that filming here will boost tourism,” said Lee Min-seob, who works for a finance company in the Gangnam District, to Korea’s Joongang Daily.
“The characters are trying to protect the Earth against attackers and most of the scenes include the demolition and burning down of buildings. Seoul is not even a main location for the film. I don’t know why the city is making such a big fuss.”
Avengers: Age of Ultron opens in theaters on May 1, 2015.
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