Avengers: Age Of Ultron - 10 Previous Mistakes It Must Avoid

3. Make Important Deaths Count

Clark Gregg appeared as Agent Coulson in a number of Marvel films before Avengers Assemble, but it was his role in Whedon's blockbuster that cemented him as a fan favourite, leading to a number of appearances outside Marvels cinematic universe, including a role in the comics and even the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series. In a bid to add dramatic weight to the first Avengers movie, Whedon killed off Agent Coulson during a middle-act confrontation with Loki. Such a move is guaranteed to pull at the heartstrings if the character is popular enough, and the death did come as a genuine surprise for many. However, what happened next completely negated the importance of the scene. Soon after, Marvel decided to expand their universe, creating the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. series for TV. With few recognisable names available for a starring role on the show, the producers decided to resurrect Agent Coulson in a convoluted manner which reflects the often-bizarre resurrections that happen on a regular basis in the comics. By bringing Agent Coulson back from the dead, it numbed any emotional impact his death scene in Avengers Assemble held for audiences. It's also likely that a main character will die in the sequel and the internet is already rife with rumours regarding potential candidates. This in itself is no bad thing; a surprise death can be extremely powerful and memorable for the fans if handled poignantly, but the lesson Whedon must learn is that the cinematic death of any key cast member must be permanent if it is to retain any meaning or the audience will feel cheated. Just because Buffy died numerous times on TV, it doesn't mean Captain America or Iron Man should suffer the same fate.