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Avengers: Age Of Ultron – Production Facts

By Steve Lam

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James Spader Was Born to Play Ultron

With a resonating tenor voice and the ability to make any mundane situation sound hypnotically fascinating, James Spader brought Ultron to life.  To go up against the mighty Avengers, you’ll need a villain who’s just as strong.  Spader gave Ultron that extra special touch — making the artificial intelligence a true menacing threat.  Here are some facts about Spader’s role:

  • James Spader had no other competition for the role of Ultron.  He was director Joss Whedon’s first and only choice.  Whedon was mesmerized with Spader’s voice because it was a “hypnotic voice that can be eerily calm and compelling while also being very human and humorous.”
  • To play Ultron, James Spader just used his natural speaking voice.
  • James Spader’s first day performance of Ultron was so impressive that it earned him cheers and applause from the cast and crew.
  • Because Ultron is being portrayed as an eight to nine-foot tall character, James Spader had to wear a pair of thick antennae-like wires that ran up his back and three feet above his head.  At the top ends of the wires, two red balls were attached.  This was done to give the actors Spader was interacting with a reference point as to how tall Ultron actually is.  Also, when doing a scene which required them looking into Ultron’s eyes, the red balls would act as markers.  Elizabeth Olsen, who plays Scarlet Witch in the film, said that she would sometimes forget to look at the red balls when doing a scene with Spader and end up looking at Spader’s actual eyes instead.  Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who plays Quicksilver in the film, would humorously remind Olsen whenever she looked at the wrong set of “eyes” and say, “Red balls!  Look at his balls, Lizzie!”

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