The Avengers

The Avengers are coming!

The Marvel Studios feature starring Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson will shoot two weeks here later this year, said Kristen Erwin, Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Film Commission executive director. She refused to reveal the location, saying it was within 30 miles of Cincinnati. They’re "still negotiating a location agreement."

Filming started April 26 in Albuquerque on the exploits of Iron Man (Downey), Black Widow (Johansson), Captain America (Chris Evans) and Col. Nick Fury (Jackson). Chris Hemsworth - star of "Thor" which opened Friday - will reprise that role with co-stars Tim Hiddleston as Loki and Stellan Skarsgard as Professor Eric Selvig.

Director Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") moves filming to Cleveland and Southwestern Ohio this summer, Erwin said.

Gov. John Kasich lured the comic book superheroes with Ohio filmmaking tax credits. Marvel dropped plans to shoot in Detroit after reports that Michigan planned to freeze its film incentives, said Ivan Schwarz, Greater Cleveland Film Commission executive director.

Marvel’s $170-million budget is 10 times George Clooney’s budget for "The Ides of March." "The Avengers" will spend about $30 million in Ohio, she said.

More films are expected to follow Clooney to Cincinnati.

Erwin said a baseball movie is awaiting state tax credits, while she scouts locations for five more movie scripts.

Renewed film activity here can be traced to Ohio’s film credits, in place since 2009, and Clooney shooting here four weeks.

Local "Ides" crew members are being interviewed by "The Avengers," said Deidre Costa of Pleasant Ridge, an "Ides" local location manager. She will be an assistant location manager here for "The Avengers."

"George Clooney has so much power and respect in the Hollywood community that when he discusses Cincinnati with his colleagues, it goes a long way," Costa said.

A "good testimonial" from "Ides" producers helped Cleveland snag Paramount Pictures’ "Fun Size," a comedy film starring Nickelodeon’s Victoria Justice ("Zoey 101"), said Cleveland’s Schwarz.

"The Paramount producer knew ’The Ides of March’ producer had a good experience. Having producers say that is worth its weight in gold," said Schwarz, a former Hollywood location manager for "Entourage."

Clooney’s financial impact here has not been totaled yet, said Erwin.

She estimates that "Ides" spent $5 milllion to $7 million here, and booked 3,000-4,000 hotel room nights.

More than 1,600 extras were used from 25,000 email responses.

Film and TV productions spent $22 million here last year, she said. "I hope and believe the Cincinnati film business is back."