Joss Whedon Insisted Avengers' Vision Be Anatomically Correct - CBR - Comic Book Resources

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Actor Paul Bettany revealed that The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron director Joss Whedon had previously insisted on a more physically human design for the cyber-humanoid superhero The Vision. Early concept art for Bettany's character showed much more realistic depictions of a nude human body...in one particular aspect.

In an interview with the American film and television podcast Lights, Camera, Pod, Bettany discussed a story about the way Whedon wanted Vision to look when the character was first introduced on-screen by way of a synthetic birth. The final version of the film shows Vision sporting the tame and familiar"Ken doll" look. However, Bettany explained that early in the illustration process, Whedon was firm in his decision that Vision should be anatomically correct.

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Bettany recalled Whedon having said, "He's got to have a penis," despite being met with trepidation from the majority of the design team, who apparently replied with a chorus of, "I don't know Joss...I mean...I'm not sure..."

Bettany emphatically imitated Whedon's persistence, saying, "He HAS to have a penis, I want to see some drawings of penises!" referring to the moment in Avengers: Age of Ultron in which Vision first dramatically emerges from the tissue regeneration pod, certainly fully nude.

When the various artists met with Whedon again, Bettany recalled, they had done as requested and made a collection of explicit options on the wall to choose from. According to Bettany, Whedon sat down to review the numerous possibilities for Vision's look and took a moment to collect himself before addressing the room with, "Yeah, I'm one hundred percent wrong, I don't need any of these."

Comic book descriptions of Vision's physical being give the impression of a character that is not quite a man but also not quite a machine. Created by the evil robot Ultron, Vision is described as a synthezoid in The Avengers #57, the October 1968 Marvel Comics debut of the character, which explains that he is every inch a human being — except that all of his bodily organs are constructed of synthetic materials.

The final version of the 2015 Avengers installment was given a PG-13 rating for sci-fi action sequences and some suggestive comments. However, it's highly unlikely that Whedon's original version involving full-frontal male nudity would have allowed the film to retain that rating.

Vision will continue on in the new Marvel series WandaVision, which explores the romantic relationship between the titular synthezoid and the reality-bending super-woman, Wanda Maximoff (aka Scarlet Witch).

Written by Jac Schaeffer and directed by Matt Shakman, WandaVision stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch, Paul Bettany as Vision, Randall Park as Agent Jimmy Woo, Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau and Kathryn Hahn as Agnes. New episodes air Fridays on Disney+.

Keep Reading: Victor Mancha: Who Is the Vision's Younger Brother?

Source: Twitter

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Astrid Sparks (68 Articles Published)

Astrid Sparks is writer and editor for CBR News based in Montreal, Canada covering any and all topics related to video games, comic books, t.v., and film. A graduate of the University of Alberta's Political Science department, she's a classical violinist and D&D adventurer in her spare time.