"Marvel's The Avengers" To Screen for Crew of International Space Station

BURBANK, Calif., May 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvel Studios announced today that they arranged with NASA to transfer their record-breaking blockbuster film "Marvel's The Avengers" to NASA's Mission Control in Houston, which will uplink the film to the International Space Station (ISS), currently orbiting 220 miles above Earth. The film will then be screened for the space station crew's exclusive enjoyment.

This screening continues Marvel's collaboration with NASA, which began during principal photography of "Marvel's The Avengers" when the film shot at the Space Power Facility at NASA's Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio.  

Louis D'Esposito, Marvel Studios' Co-President and Executive Producer of  "Marvel's The Avengers," says, "The studio is privileged to share 'Marvel's The Avengers' with those up in space exploring the universe.  A special thanks goes to NASA for utilizing their incredible technology to make this special screening miles above us in space happen.  It is a screening that would make Tony Stark envious."

Films, books, and music offer important aspects of psychological support for astronauts on long-duration missions, such as those on the International Space Station (ISS). "These are the types of things that help to keep the crew connected to home, which is a huge morale boost while being away for long periods of time," said Dan Cook, Psychological Support Coordinator with Wyle, a contractor at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Aside from watching movies and television shows, ISS crewmembers have a number of options for their leisure and personal time, such as reading books or magazines, listening to music, and playing musical instruments.

The current space station mission is Expedition 31 and has a six-member crew consisting of 2 NASA Astronauts, 1 European Space Agency (ESA) Astronaut, and 3 Russian (RU) Cosmonauts as follows: Don Pettit (NASA), Joe Acaba (NASA), Andre Kuipers (ESA), Oleg Kononenko (RU), Gennady Padalka (RU), Sergei Revin (RU)

For more details about Expedition 31, check out the main NASA page: 
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition31/index.html

About Marvel's The Avengers

Marvel Studios presents "Marvel's The Avengers" -- the team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins. 

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston, with Stellan Skarsgard and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, directed by Joss Whedon, from a story by Zak Penn and Joss Whedon with screenplay by Joss Whedon, "Marvel's The Avengers" is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series "The Avengers," first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since. Prepare yourself for an exciting event movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, now that "Marvel's The Avengers" have assembled.

"Marvel's The Avengers" is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures. The film is being produced by Marvel Studios' President Kevin Feige and executive produced by Alan Fine, Jon Favreau, Stan Lee, Louis D'Esposito, Patricia Whitcher, Victoria Alonso and Jeremy Latcham. Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, The film has already broken various international and domestic box office records, and now boasts the highest opening weekend box office ever domestically after earning an amazing $207.4MM within the first 3 days of release in the U.S.

About Marvel Entertainment

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of over 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years.  Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing.  For more information visit www.marvel.com. 

SOURCE Marvel Entertainment, LLC