iPhone 4 footage in the new Avengers movie? Cinematographer now says no.

Reports suggesting that Seamus McGarvey, cinematographer of the new Avengers movie, had used an iPhone 4 to shoot parts of the new film have been debunked, with both the photography chief and Disney representatives moving quick to state that there is no iOS-captured footage in the film.

McGarvey had originally told the Irish Film and Television Network that he had used the iPhone to take a couple of shots and that they were in the movie:

The beauty of photography or cinema is that you make every choice based on the content at hand. On The Avengers, I did a couple of shots on the iPhone and they are in the movie. In fact, they are in the trailer! I understand that sometimes there is no choice and you have to go for the cheapest option, but if you are limited for choice, you can still make poignant decisions that will effect the look of the film.

However, in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter (via Comic Book Movie), the cinematographer attempts to clarify his statement, suggesting that the iPhone and the Canaon 5d Mk2 were devices being used on the sets of many Hollywood productions:

“I was talking about how up and coming film makers have access to a whole range of new technologies which expand our options as filmmakers. I mentioned that the iPhone and the Canon 5d Mk2 were devices currently used on many Hollywood productions. I used the Canon on some shots on Marvel’s The Avengers movie,” he stated to THR. “Unfortunately, this was edited to read that I shot some of the film with the iPhone. This is not true.”

Interestingly, Disney has also moved to confirm that the Apple device was not used in the film.

The manner of the misquote and the quick and firm actions by Disney suggest that the iPhone claims may have been retracted to appease those within the studio, although this cannot be confirmed. With the director also adding that iPhone footage may have found its way into the trailer, both the cinematographer and Disney look to be doing a little bit of firefighting.

Whether the use of an iPhone would upset investors or hamper relations with the film’s corporate sponsors is not clear, but something seems a little odd.