‘The Avengers’ Will Close This Year’s Tribeca Film Festival

Just the other day, we posted an ‘Avengers’ behind-the-scenes reel that had director Joss Whedon and Marvel President Kevin Feige praising the importance of New York City to the superhero franchise and to Marvel, in general. Today, they are backing up those words with a major announcement.

Whedon’s anticipated ‘The Avengers,’ which is set to bow in theaters on May 4, will close this year’s Tribeca Film Festival on April 28, according to the New York Post. It will be the first time that a major summer blockbuster has been programmed to close the annual film fest in over eight years and it will be noteworthy also for the men and women sitting in the stands. The Post reports that police officers, firefighters and military personnel have been invited to attend the screening as special guests. Classy move.

"We are proud that 'The Avengers' is the closing film of this year's Tribeca Film Festival and we are excited to welcome local heroes to the screening as special guests,'' Feige said in a statement.

Lest you think this is a significant jump on the film’s planned opening day, Marvel and Walt Disney already announced that ‘The Avengers’ will hold its world premiere in Los Angeles on April 11, so a New York screening prior to the film’s wide release only makes sense.

Now the challenge will be keeping critical opinions on Whedon’s ‘Avengers’ under wraps (and off Twitter) until the studio embargo officially lifts. ‘The Avengers,’ of course, unites Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in a battle against Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and other mysterious alien forces.

So, are you looking into Tribeca tickets now?