All Knowledge
Page 152 of 220
Too Fantastical for Jackson's Taste
Jackson wanted a grounded, Braveheart-style look for Middle-earth, but his early concept artists kept drawing things too fantasy-heavy for him. He ended up bringing in Tolkien illustrators Alan Lee and John Howe, who got the tone right almost immediately.
An Austrian Castle Plays The Ruined City Of Vizima
The abandoned castle of Vizima in Temeria is actually Kreuzenstein Castle near Leobendorf, Austria. Its exteriors gave the production a genuinely ancient, weathered look that would have been far harder to fake on a soundstage.
NDI Stamped on Drake's Holster
Look closely at the back of Nathan Drake's holster and you'll spot the letters NDI branded onto it. It's a cheeky little in-joke standing for Naughty Dog Incorporated, hiding in plain sight on the character's own gear.
The Post-Credits Scene Was Meant to Be Missed
Kevin Feige deliberately tucked Nick Fury's Avengers Initiative cameo after the credits so it wouldn't overshadow the main film if the bigger universe plans never panned out. He was stunned by how fast it blew up anyway, with outlets covering it within days.
The Peahat Prank That Upset Partyhat Owners
On April Fools' Day 2012, Jagex scattered green Peahats all over the game world for free. It sounds harmless, but a lot of long-time players were genuinely annoyed because the joke item looked close enough to a green partyhat, one of the rarest and most expensive cosmetics in the game, that it threatened to tank their value.
Hands Off Croc's Locker
In Intensive Treatment you can find the old holding area for Killer Croc, security collars and all. One of the lockers nearby has a photo of Croc's hand taped to it, along with a scrawled warning to keep your mitts off. Small detail, but it does a lot to sell how much everyone at Arkham fears the guy.
Why There's No Real Post-Credits Scene
Both Kevin Feige and Joss Whedon went out of their way beforehand to tell audiences not to expect a post-credits scene this time. Whedon reasoned that the shawarma gag at the end of the first Avengers had already set an impossibly high bar, and he didn't want people sitting through ten extra minutes of credits only to walk away disappointed.
Pulled From Shelves in Russia
The airport massacre mission caused enough of a stir that Russia yanked the level entirely, releasing the game there with it stripped out completely. Other regions got softer treatment, but Russia just cut it loose.
Rohan's Anglo-Saxon Roots
Costume designer Ngila Dickson based the Rohirrim look on real Anglo-Saxon warriors and Migration-era Swedish armour. The Swedish helmets actually had dragons and ravens on them originally, which she swapped for horses to fit Rohan.