Paul Bettany has eked out quite a diverse career, playing everything from psychotic criminals (Gangster No. 1) to kindly doctors (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World) to revered, real-life figures (Charles Darwin in Creation).
He's also the voice of Tony Stark's computer Jarvis in the Iron Man franchise, although you may have forgotten that. However, his role as Vision in Avengers: Age of Ultron isn't likely to be forgotten about in a hurry.
Bettany has been enthusing about his part in Joss Whedon's Avengers follow-up, one that reunites squabbling superheroes Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and Hulk in their fight against evil artificial intelligence Ultron.
"It was a blast! I’ve never been on a set as big as that," Bettany tells The Hollywood Reporter. "I remember going in on day one and usually you’re like, 'It’s amazing how much like marble that looks.' [But in this case] I touched it of course it’s f*****g marble!"
The actor was being interviewed during the Toronto Film Festival whilst promoting his directorial debut Shelter, a drama about homelessness starring Bettany's real-life partner Jennifer Connelly. But it's his imminent role as superhero Vision that has got fans really excited.
In case you're not up to speed on your Marvel characters, Vision is an android who becomes a new member of the Avengers collective in Age of Ultron. He first appeared in comic book lore in the 1940s, although he only joined the Avengers in 1968. Through convoluted means, Vision joined the team after initially being designed by Ultron as a weapon to destroy our heroes.
So what can Paul tell us about Vision's design? "I’m not allowed to tell you that!" he protests. "Every time anyone asks me I look to the hills and see the light glinting off a telescopic lens and a red dot on my shirt. If I tell you I lose my job and get wrestled to the ground and tasered."
If comic book fans have just been reduced to the excited state of little children, Bettany's recollection of shooting the movie is no different. "There’s drone cameras and stuff like that," he recalls of the set. "It’s a kid’s dream of what being on a movie set is like.?"
No doubt many fans are hoping that Bettany's portrayal of Vision will also be a dream come true. Avengers: Age of Ultron is released on 24th April 2015.
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