‘ Avengers’ sequel finds a supervillain

“Boston Legal” star James Spader will square off against Earth’s mightiest heroes as the malevolent robot Ultron in Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

For non- fanboys, Ultron is a powerful artificial intelligence who, taking the form of a shiny humanoid robot, brings Captain America, IronMan and the rest of the Avengers to their knees. To what extent Spader will actually play Ultron, as opposed to just doing voice- over, will depend on howmuch license director Joss Whedon takes with the Ultron story, which the director has indicated will stray from the recentMarvel comic book run of the same title.

The role of brainy supervillain should be no problem for Spader, who revels in parts that allowhim to be quickwitted with a gift for the gab, such as that of white- shoe lawyer Alan Shore on “Boston Legal.” Hewon three Emmys for playing that particular part, and he has a silky voice that drips with menace, if needed.

The Avengers’ return to the big screen will once again be overseen by Whedon, and star Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and ChrisHemsworth. The blockbuster, set to hit theatersMay1, 2015, will look to top the 2010 original, which amassed $ 1.5 billionworldwide.

Actress ValerieHarper, diagnosed last winter with terminal cancer, “is getting pretty close to a remission,” her doctor said Thursday on the “Today” show— a stunning turn of events. Harper cautioned that the disease is not curable, but this gives her more time.