Filming for The Avengers: Age of Ultron began last weekend, causing certain parts of Seoul, South Korea to be closed off, which includes the Mapo Bridge. However, a macabre surprise was found below the bridge: a dead body floating in the river. Maybe Joss Whedon’s apology for Avengers 2 shutting down certain parts of the city for production didn’t work.
According to Kotaku , the Mapo Bridge was closed off for Avengers 2 filming from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on March 30th. This is the first time it has ever been closed down to traffic for any movie. A security guard working for the production discovered the body and South Koren police retrieved it, which is believed to be about two weeks old.
Apparently the Mapo Bridge is a famous spot for suicides in Seoul. The South Korean government has also installed anti-suicide LED lights and uplifting slogans along the bridge, like “The most shining moment of your life has yet to come.” These measures have apparently failed, since the number of suicides around the bridge has increased at a steady pace.
Moviefone states, it is unknown if the retrieval of the body affected Avengers 2 production, which required more than 100 stunt cars to simulate traffic on the bridge. This is also just part of the closures too. There will be some inner city production for Avengers 2, mostly with alleyways and main roads, that will be closed off from the public. Despite all the closures, the majority of Seoul, South Korea citizens are understanding of the situation and find it necessary for the completion of Avengers 2 production.
The Avengers 2 cast, which includes Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark (Iron Man), Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner (The Hulk), Chris Evans as Steven Rogers (Captain America), Scarkett Johansson as Natalia Romanova (Black Widow), Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton (Hawkeye), and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, were in Italy promoting Avengers 2.
New Avengers 2 characters will be played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, James Spader, and Paul Bettany. Of course Avengers 2 will be directed by the same director of Marvel’s The Avengers , Joss Whedon. The Avengers: Age of Ultron is expected to open at the box office on May 1, 2015.
Due to copyright and watermarking, photos of the Mapo Bridge, during the Avengers 2 production, cannot be posted within this article. However, they are officially up on Korean site, Naver .
[Image via Bing]