The Avengers

Disney Switches Marvel’s ’Avengers’ to 3D

"The Avengers" has a new superpower: 3D. Walt Disney Studios said Thursday that the movie will be released in the format when it debuts May 4.

The movie had previously been slated for 2D only.

Also read: More Disney 3D Re-Releases on the Way: ’Beauty & the Beast,’ ’Nemo,’ on the List

In the same announcement, Walt Disney Studios said another, untitled Marvel movie has moved up from a wide release on June 27, 2014, to a wide release on Apr. 4, 2014. There has been speculation that the sequel to "Captain America" might arrive in 2014.

Also, the Disney project formerly titled "The Snow Queen" is now named "Frozen," a Disney representative told TheWrap. The movie — scheduled for a Nov. 27, 2013, release — is an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s 1845 fairytale "The Snow Queen."

"The Avengers" won’t be the only major 2012 superhero film released in 3D. Another Marvel movie, Columbia Pictures’ "The Amazing Spider-Man," will also be released in 3D when it comes out July 3.

However, Warner Bros.’ "The Dark Knight Rises," which comes out July 20, will not be released in 3D.

"The Avengers" is an ensemble movie that stars Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Chris Evans as Captain America, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner and Tom Hiddleston as villain Loki (Thor’s half-brother).

It is written and directed by Joss Whedon.

From Joblo.com :

In news that should surprise nobody, Disney announced this afternoon that the upcoming epic superhero film THE AVENGERS will be released in both 3D and 2D. I caught up with AVENGERS director Joss Whedon shortly after the news broke and he shared his thoughts on the news.

While it’s only now being formally announced, Whedon knew from the very beginning his film would eventually be converted to 3D saying he thought about the format "every second" while filming. Whedon is sensitive to the concerns of audiences admitting "there definitely are movies that shouldn’t be in 3D" while assuring fanboys "THE AVENGERS isn’t obnoxiously 3D."

"There’s no, ’Oh look, we’re going to spend 20 minutes going through this tunnel because it’s in 3D!’ And no one is pointing at the screen the entire time. But it’s an action movie. Things tend to hurtle toward the screen anyway."

The past two Marvel films - THOR and CAPTAIN AMERICA - were both presented in 3D, so it’s not at all surprising that Disney and Marvel are releasing the film in this format, but Whedon says he was 100% behind the idea. "Yeah, it’s fun!...I’m not a big fan of extreme long lens, talky movies - I like to see the space I’m in and relate to it, so 3D kinda fits my aesthetic anyway. And the technology has advanced so far in the past couple years."

AVENGERS hits theaters - in 2D and 3D - on May 4th.