By Orlando Parfitt,IGN
July 10,2008
The saga over whether Jon Favreau will direct Iron Man 2 has been rumbling on almost since the movie made a packet on its opening weekend.
Fans were in uproar after word came out – fuelled by Favreau himself on his MySpace page – that Marvel may have been stalling over an improved deal for the director.
It seems now however, if Nikki Finkel at Deadline Hollywood Daily is to be believed, that the two camps have now reached a deal for Favreau to helm the sequel, after Marvel offered him a "definitely" richer offer.
The movie's April 30 2010 scheduled release date would still seem to be questionable, especially with Downey Jnr. signing up for Warner's Sherlock Holmes today, but Favreau's (almost) definite involvement removes the most nagging doubt over the future of the franchise.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Iron Man 2 negotiations successful:Jon Favreau will direct the sequel
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Jon Favreau talks about Iron Man 2 Villain
"The Mandarin is Iron Man's nemesis and will be incorporated in the sequel. It's true that I am apprehensive about how he is to be presented. In the tech based modern world that we created for (Iron Man), a Fu Manchu style villain with magical/alien tech rings would seem out of place."
"There were early drafts of (Iron Man) where the Mandarin was the main villain, so we've already explored the character to some extent. I am curious to see how he has been treated in his latest books and how that might influence our direction"
"I've already mentioned War Machine and Mandarin. I have some ideas, but I really need to sit down with Downey and the Marvel guys before we say much more" (from the MySpace blog of Jon Favreau)
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Iron Man 2 Negotiations Update
Recently,there were rumours that that Marvel might not sign Jon Favreau to helm Iron Man 2 because they don't think he deserves whatever amount of money he's supposedly asking for the sequel.Now,it is reported that the studio was reaching out to Favreau and has put out an offer for him to direct the Iron Man sequel, and that it is "much richer" than what he was paid for the first film.
Source:Cinematical
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Jon Favreau is concerned about Iron Man 2
"It’s been five weeks since the one and only phone call my reps have gotten from Marvel. I know their hands are full with the Hulk and I’m sure they will get into it shortly, as they tell me they intend to. I ran into the Marvel guys at the Hulk premiere and everyone sounded eager to get to work on IM2.
I am concerned, however, about the announced release date of April 2010. Neither Robert nor I were consulted about this and we are both concerned about how realistic the date is in light of the fact that we have no script, story or even writers hired yet. This genre of movie is best when it is done thoughtfully and with plenty of preparation. It might be better to follow the BB/DK, X/X2 three year release pattern than to scramble for a date. It is difficult because there are no Marvel 09 releases and they need product, but I also think we owe it to the fans to have a great version of IM2 and, at this point, we would have less time to make it than the first one." (From MySpace)
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Iron Man review
What can i say about Iron Man?It's a movie that i anticipated,and the anticipation was increased by the very good trailers.
Last Friday,i finally saw Iron Man.
To some level,the approach is similar to the approach of Batman Begins,although there are differences.Jon Favreau has cited Batman Begins as an inspiration.
The movie does not focus on action,but on character development.The story unfolds in a way,which engages the audience.As i said,character development is an intergral part of the plot,and in particular the development of Tony Stark.A complex but yet human character.The director wanted to make a story of an adult man literally reinventing himself, and realizing the world is far more complex than he believes and that is evident throughout the movie.
The cast of Iron Man,certainly is one of the main assets of the movie.Rarely,the selection is so successful.From Robert Downey Jr,to Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges,the perfomances are very good.However,the star of the movie is Robert Downey Jr.His portrayal of Tony Stark is exceptional."The best and worst moments of Robert's life have been in the public eye," the director explained. "He had to find an inner balance to overcome obstacles that went far beyond his career. That's Tony Stark. Robert brings a depth that goes beyond a comic-book character who is having trouble in high school, or can't get the girl." Favreau also felt Downey could make Stark a "likable asshole", but also depict an authentic emotional journey once he won over the audience.
The plot gives the opportunity to make commentary on various subjects,in a way that the movie does not become a political one,but in way that the message is delivered.Despite the fact this is a mainly serious movie,there are funny moments,which are successfully integrated.
The music is very good and the special effects are impressive.Although there are some minor flaws,Iron Man is excellent movie,one of the best movies that i've seen in 2008,one of the best comic book adaptations.It's definetely worth watching.
At the time of writing,Iron Man has already grossed $201,000,000 worldwide ($104,250,000 in the United States and Canada and $96,750,000 in other territories).
Some interesting for the sequel (wikipedia),the release of which is certain
"Jon Favreau planned Iron Man as the first in a trilogy, and has signed on all the original actors.Paramount chief executive officer Brad Grey expects a 2010 release date for the second movie of the series.Favreau believes sequels will allow a latitude in tone,and explore darker story elements such as alcoholism, which he intentionally set aside from the first film.Favreau feels depicting Iron Man's nemesis, the Mandarin, who was created as a metaphor for communism, will be challenging, as he finds the character dated.He also wants to streamline the effort it takes for Stark to put on his armor, considering the "assembly line" effort he makes in the first film.
Downey noted "the next one is about what do you do with the rest of your life once you've completely changed.I think the drinking and all that stuff would be a good way to confront his age, to confront his doubts, to confront the fact that maybe Pepper gets a boyfriend." Downey and Favreau met with Shane Black, who suggested they model Stark on Robert Oppenheimer, who became depressed with being "the destroyer of worlds" after working on the Manhattan Project.
As much of his screentime was cut from the film, Terrence Howard is anticipating becoming War Machine in the sequel. Howard said he would like to follow the slow arc of the comics with Rhodes temporarily becoming Iron Man while Stark succumbs to alcohol, joking "I don't want to introduce War Machine too early for my own monetary benefit."
Downey is reprising his role for a cameo appearance in The Incredible Hulk (2008).Favreau has also expressed interest in directing Downey as the character in an Avengers movie.Marvel has plans to make Iron Man into a Trilogy. The second movie may be released on April 30, 2010".
Nick Fury cameo (after the credits)
Friday, May 2, 2008
Summer's superheroes have some ... issues
LOS ANGELES, Calilfornia (AP) -- The classic superhero is polished, brave and morally righteous. Strong and unerring, he is perfection personified -- a superhuman ideal.
Robert Downey Jr. plays "Iron Man," whose alter ego, Tony Stark, isn't initially a pleasant guy.
Not this summer.
Everyday human flaws are the Kryptonite of this year's movie good guys, who deign to suffer the same foibles as those who pay to see them. They may be reclusive, egotistical or intellectually challenged. They may have anger issues or alcohol issues. Some are alienated and lonely.
While the archetypal superhero always has a "weakness," this summer's super problems are more fit for the psychologist's couch than the villain's lair. Such shortcomings make heroes more relatable, says Marvel Comics master Stan Lee, creator of Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man and the Fantastic Four, among sundry others.
"If you can have a good guy who's got hang-ups and flaws and failings, he's more interesting because he not only has to defeat the villain, but he has to defeat and conquer his own flaws and inabilities," Lee says. "It rounds him out and makes the character empathetic."
Flawed heroes are also a sign of the times, says "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau.
"Complicated times demand for escapist entertainment," he says. "These characters are facing the same types of problems we are. They're a proxy for us."
"Iron Man," which opens Friday, stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, a pompous, womanizing, hard-drinking genius whose superpowers come solely from a supercharged, weapons-filled suit he created from scratch. Without it, Stark is just another guy with issues -- not much of a stretch for the actor who's a veteran of both big screen and blotter.
After many nods to that effect throughout the film, Downey (as Stark) acknowledges at its conclusion that he's "not the hero type, with these character defects and all."
Indiana Jones is another "real guy," says creator George Lucas. The archaeologist-adventurer played by Harrison Ford returns to theaters May 22 with "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."
"He makes lots of mistakes. He kind of goofs up. He has the same kind of thinking that we have," Lucas says. "It's like he's not a superhero. He's just an average Joe that's always in over his head that somehow seems to get through it."
June will bring three more unlikely superheroes: Bruce Banner, Maxwell Smart and Zohan.
After a gamma-radiation accident, Banner (Edward Norton) discovers he involuntarily transforms into a monstrous mass in "The Incredible Hulk." Fearful and emotionally withdrawn, Banner is "blind to his heroic potential," says Kevin Feige, president of production for Marvel Studios.
"The creature in him, if used properly, could be a hero," Feige says. "Bruce Banner takes a while to see that. That's a flaw when you undermine your potential."
Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) is a top government secret agent, minus the intelligence and James Bond cool. Though Smart is the most bumbling and inept member of his team, he's the hero in "Get Smart," the movie version of the 1960s TV series.
Adam Sandler is a reluctant hero in "You Don't Mess With the Zohan," playing an Israeli counter-terrorist expert who hangs up his heroics to become a high-priced hairdresser in New York City.
"He was a huge hero," says director Dennis Dugan. "And he basically goes on a journey to leave all the past behind and find something beautiful in himself."
Will Smith's "Hancock," due July 2, presents a "very authentic version of an alcoholic superhero," the actor says. The character is disheveled, disenfranchised and confused about life.
"He's feeling very purposeless and looking for answers," says producer Akiva Goldsman.
Also due in July is "The Dark Knight," with Christian Bale reprising his role as rich playboy Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego Batman -- a character who remains traumatized by the murder of his parents and the vigilantism that turned him to crime-fighting.
"He's a messed-up individual, as well. He's got all sorts of issues," Bale says. "He's just as twisted and messed-up as the villains he's fighting, and that's part of the beauty of the whole story."
Often the problem with superheroes isn't that they're too human, but that they're not human enough, says Feige of Marvel Studios.
"The risk is presenting your character as being two-dimensional," he says. "There's a risk in presenting them simply as an action figure. Presenting their flaws, presenting their humanity, that's how audiences identify with them and make their own emotional connection with them."
Goldsman calls the drunken Hancock "an answer to Superman ... an extraordinary person suffering ordinary human emotions."
"Superman is conventionally and traditionally a Boy Scout, and that's often what makes him very difficult to relate with," he says. "We identify more with people who are broken, people who are damaged. Those are the heroes who stick with us, the ones who are imperfect despite all their gifts, because everyone feels imperfect."
And when real life is so chaotic -- with war, a faltering economy, fears of terrorism and a threatened environment -- relatable superheroes are even more valuable, Favreau says.
"It's an abstract version of what our fears are, presented in a safe way, and we can be saved by a superhuman character," he says. "People want to see that type of thing when times are hard."
Echoes Goldsman: "The world is often troubling and we often look for heroes to save the day. If only."CNN.COM,30/4/2008
