Paul Bettany on Voicing Iron Man's Jarvis

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Paul Bettany on Voicing Iron Man's Jarvis

Source:Scott Huver

May 16, 2008

You may have to be end-credit crazy, a full-fledged IMDb fanatic or have a really good ear for voices to recognize the clipped British tones of Tony Stark's high-tech valet Jarvis in Iron Man as belonging to actor Paul Bettany.

On a set visit to his latest film Legion, Bettany told Superhero Hype! that while he did indeed provide vocals for Jarvis – upgraded into a fully integrated artificial intelligence in Stark's home and armor from the traditional English butler who's tended to Stark and the Avengers in the pages of the comics for decades – the actor had only the vaguest notion of who and what he was playing.

"I didn't know I was in a superhero movie," Bettany confessed, who owed his turn to a previous acting experience with Iron Man director Jon Favreau in 2004's Wimbledon. "I made a movie with Jon Favreau before and he rung me up and said, 'Paul...'" [laughs]. He rung me up and was really funny on the phone. I said, 'Yeah, alright.' I genuinely didn't know. I'm really naive, but it's the f**king truth."

"I really didn't know what I was going in for because it was two hours in a recording booth," Bettany explained. "I went in and recorded with Jon Favreau, doing all the lines, recording them and went home and now I'm a f**king hero to my children. I haven't even seen it yet. I haven't had time because I've been working for 17 hours [a day]."

Bettany played it coy when asked he was booked for a return appearance in either the announced Iron Man or its expected tie-in, The Avengers. "It just made a ton of money – I would imagine so," he chuckled. "I mean, I don't know, but I'm guessing with the way the world works: they make a ton of money from a movie and then they make another one."

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Posted by: CaptainStacy on May 16, 2008 at 23:39:06

He did a great job!

Posted by: DaJimmer on May 16, 2008 at 23:42:05

ONE OF THE GENIUS STROKES OF "IRON MAN"...

Maybe Paul Bettany isn't an above-the-title A-lister, but he's done a lot of quality work over the years. Kudos to Favreau & Co. for getting Bettany to record the lines of Jarvis (or is that J.A.R.V.I.S.?). It took some balls for Favreau to ask an actor of Bettany's stature (the second lead in MASTER & COMMANDER, for pete's sake!) to simply record voice-over work for a superhero movie, and P.B. deserves credit for checking his ego at the door and agreeing to do it.

Just one of THE many fantastic (and yet subtle) strokes of genius from IRON MAN, now certainly one of the Top 3 superhero films of all time in my book (after SUPERMAN: THE MOVIE and X-MEN 2).

Posted by: Aaron Florian on May 16, 2008 at 23:44:29

I would love to see Jarvis upgraded to a hologram for the sequel.

Posted by: The ButnakedAvenger on May 17, 2008 at 00:11:00

You know what... i was completely ok with Jarvis as a voice. It makes total sense in Stark's universe, and was happy with it.

But thanks to Aaron Florian up there, I now really want to see Jarvis as a hologram. That is a fantastic idea. And if you consider the fact that the armor/Starks toys and tech are constantly improving, it makes total sense that Stark would upgrade the voice into an image.

Great idea.

Posted by: FanBoiiiii on May 17, 2008 at 00:11:23

Paul Bettany is a cool guy. I always liked him in the minor roles I've seen him in. It would be great to see him as a hero or even a villian. He would make an awesome villian I think.

Posted by: sadmamba on May 17, 2008 at 00:11:56

some people, even me, thought he would be great as the joker, but eventually the role went to heath.. but atleast he was in a superhero movie as jarvis :)

Posted by: the_incredible_616 on May 17, 2008 at 00:12:08

Yeah, Jarvis hologram!!

Posted by: The ButnakedAvenger on May 17, 2008 at 00:16:50

@sadmamba

he would make an amazing joker, that's for sure. i remember having him on my list after BB came out. I wonder if The Joker is coming around again and they'll have to cast somebody in the role... I mean they made the awesome choice of not killing off Scarecrow, unlike all other superhero movies who waste story potential by killing the villains at the end of every movie.

Posted by: FanBoiiiii on May 17, 2008 at 00:31:20

You know, he was considered for the Joker, but I think he comes off the slightest bit comedic. And, Nolan was going for a terrifying psycho. When I see Heath's Joker, it's like when you laugh with him you feel wrong. That's probably the right reaction if the Joker was real.

Posted by: regwec on May 17, 2008 at 00:37:19

He's so hot. I'd let him do me anytime.

Posted by: Drunken Monk on May 17, 2008 at 00:49:09

Damn, now my feelings are going to be hurt if Jarvis isn't a hologram next time around....Good call buddy.

Posted by: Man on May 17, 2008 at 01:04:48

I wonder if he would be a good Loki in the Thor movie?

Posted by: BigO on May 17, 2008 at 01:12:19

Oh, thats a thought... Loki... Still waiting for a good thor first hhe

Posted by: Captain Wow on May 17, 2008 at 01:12:54

I liked him in his first disembodied voice role. One of the voices in Russel Crowes head in A Beautiful Mind.

Posted by: Triad on May 17, 2008 at 01:14:32

I kinda like the Loki idea!

I was initially disappointed that Jarvis was portrayed as a disembodied voice in IRON MAN, but I grew to accept it fairly quickly. (2nd or 3rd viewing) Bettany was as good of a choice as anyone.

Posted by: Methos on May 17, 2008 at 01:18:33

OMFG I had no idea that was him. Cool.

Posted by: Melies on May 17, 2008 at 01:39:56

Anybody wants to mention his breakthrought role?? Gangster No1...THAT'S a great movie, with him in the lead...WOW

Posted by: WillardNation on May 17, 2008 at 01:41:44

**** yeah, he would make an awesome Loki

Posted by: King on May 17, 2008 at 01:46:41

jarvis is a computer > flames on optimus

damn michael bay

Posted by: Max Floz on May 17, 2008 at 02:23:19

Go read the current Marvel comics Secret Invasion,

JARVIS IS DEAD, KILLED BY THE SKRULLS!!!!

So Movie Jarvis is good pair with what's going on in the Comics.

Posted by: Mike on May 17, 2008 at 02:24:57

You know, Tom Cruise didnt know he was in "Interview with the Vampire" until 5 years later.

Posted by: jake on May 17, 2008 at 02:48:22

I think it would be cool if in the avengers Paul also layed the vision....

Posted by: jake on May 17, 2008 at 02:49:45

I think it would be cool if in the Avengers Paul also played the Vision....

Posted by: Dan on May 17, 2008 at 02:53:26

tom cruise just realized he has a wife, ok? paul bettany is good as a smart, cunning individual. woulda been perfect as either joker or loki... bet he probably coulda done the joker straight faced and scared the hell outta people just as bad as heath.

Posted by: NinjinSteve on May 17, 2008 at 04:08:21

I was secretly hoping that Jon Favreau would have gotten Bob Newhart to play Jarvis. He's not British, I know, but he looked the part, and they knew eachother from Elf. That would have been fun.

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