“I am Iron Man.”
With those words at the end of the 2008 summer hit Iron Man, Tony Stark’s future was irrevocably about to change. Moviegoers will find out how on May 7, 2010 when Iron Man 2 blasts onto the screen with plenty of familiar faces and a few new ones. Oh, did you doubt a sequel was coming? With an estimated $582 million worldwide box office gross, Iron Man secured the Marvel character’s place as a ripe A-list property. Certainly, just reward for a film with a charismatic lead (embodied by Robert Downey Jr.), smart script and some pretty stellar FX.
With Iron Man 2, returning director Jon Favreau is fixing to recapture that first film’s charm and deliver a transcendent superhero sequel. At Favreau’s side is writer Justin Theroux, taking a crack at the genre for the first time, and returning cast members Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel Jackson. Don Cheadle is stepping in as Rhodes this time (a role formerly played by Terrence Howard) and on the “heavy” side you’ve got Mickey Rourke as “Whiplash” and Sam Rockwell as industrialist Justin Hammer. For added sex appeal, they’re throwing in Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow.
Is Favreau falling into the trap of adding too many elements to his once proven winning equation? That’s just one question Superhero Hype! had in mind when we ventured down to Manhattan Beach where we found Favreau and company back on the soundstage and in Tony Stark’s lab for a set visit. While there, we toured the remodeled lab, caught a few glimpses of some very interesting–and revealing–props and drooled over the new Iron Man suit. We also got a chance to speak with Favreau, Downey Jr. and Marvel’s Kevin Feige (the producer) about Stark’s latest adventure and the challenges he faces.
We’d love to tell you more, however, we have to remain tight-lipped for now. Simply know Favreau is piecing together what sounds like a layered, larger sequel that’s steering Stark in the right emotional direction with a few surprises in store for the fans. Look for a full set report next month! In the meantime, “keep the skies clear,” more Iron Man is on the way.
Source: Ryan Rotten
