Here is our first look at some concept art for S.H.I.E.L.D.’s airborne headquarters that will (hopefully) be seen in director Joss Whedon‘s upcoming big-screen superhero team-up, The Avengers. The concept art was created by George Hull and was originally scheduled to make it’s first cinematic appearance in the Jon Favreau directed Iron Man 2.
via Spidermedia.ru
George Hull has worked as a production artist on The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi and Star Trek: Generations among may others. Hull was also one of Industrial Light and Magic‘s lead Visual Effects Art Directors from 1994 to 1999.
About The Helicarrier via Marvel Wikia:
The Helicarrier was originally designed by Jack Kirby for the Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. serial in Strange Tales # 135 (August, 1965).
The Helicarrier, an aircraft carrier specifically designed to be itself capable of independent powered flight in addition to the standard functions of aircraft carriers, is the world headquarters and signature capital ship of the extragovernmental intelligence/defense agency.
Built by Stark Industries and designed by Tony Stark, Dr. Reed Richards, and former X-Man Forge. In addition to housing a wing of fighters and other aircraft, the Helicarrier bristles with advanced weaponry, including an intercontinental ballistic missile.
The first Helicarrier was proposed by Stark Industries as a political compromise among the signatories of the treaty in response to fears that any nation hosting the Directorate’s main headquarters would be subject to attack by organizations such as HYDRA with domestic political fallout sure to follow immediately thereafter.
Constructed in secret there are at least eight Helicarriers have been built over the decades, and at least two have been in simultaneous service in the last decade on several occasions.
The film stars Robert Downey, Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Clark Gregg (Agent Phil Coulson), Mark Ruffalo (The Hulk) and Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye).
The Avengers is slated to hit theaters on May 4th, 2012.
