Iron Man 3 Discussion Thread

[jye4ever]

SHH:

It's been previously reported that Robert Downey Jr.'s contract with Marvel Studios will dry up after this summer's Iron Man 3. We can all hope that the studio will offer him another so he may appear in future Iron Man and Avengers films, but in an interview with GQ he seems to indicate he may be finished with the character. When asked about the injury he sustained on the set of the latest film, Downey got existential.

"It got me thinking about how big the message from your cosmic sponsor needs to be before you pick it up. How many genre movies can I do? How many follow-ups to a successful follow-up are actually fun? Because, as quiet as it's kept, I come from a family of very innovative writers and directors and actors and artists, and the circle of friends they were in were the people I heard having pun-offs playing poker at two in the morning, and it was just the most comforting aspect of my childhood. So there's this kind of legacy of souls from what I consider to be a very particular time in entertainment, and I'm sensing a return to that—it's what me and the missus are doing next. It's not unlike: I heard Brady signed on for three more years with New England, and then he's done being a QB, because he'll be 40. I'm 47, and I'll be 50."

When asked to elaborate on what he meant about what stops when he turns 50, Downey remained mum.

"I don't know. I don't know. Right now I don't have a contract to do anything, and I did for the last five years."

It's unclear if Downey truly is finished with playing the character or if he's playing coy in an attempt to get a boost in his next contract. Check back here for future updates on the matter.

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

Jon Hamm for Stark

 

[Crimsonbob]

I cant even imagine anybody else being Stark, as Downey just nails the **** out of it and is so damn entertaining.

 

[Bullseye]

Just pay the man and let him continue as TS for at least the next Avengers.

 

[beeshaw]

I cant even imagine anybody else being Stark, as Downey just nails the **** out of it and is so damn entertaining.

It's more that he made Stark into RDJ. Him and the character are one now, so to even try to visualize someone else in the role is task in and of itself. I personally can't see anyone else in the role.

I read a quote today where he was talking about his Avenger's paycheque and he called himself a 'Strategic Cost' to Marvel. He seemed pretty smug about it. lol

More of the GQ article.

Would you really walk away if they offer you a respectful deal for Iron Man 4, Iron Man 5?

"Here's the thing. At whatever point I'm done with this, I'm going to have a bit of a crisis, because I probably haven't even fully ingested how much I've enjoyed it, how much it's meant. It so came out of kind of relative obscurity as this second-tier character from the Marvel universe, and I feel I was part of making it something more. But it also to me was just good filmmaking. It's funny, people will come up to me and go, 'Dude, how do you do it? How do you dress up and play these...?' While whatsisname is shooting the next David O. Russell or whatever, I'm, 'Here's the thing, you're either having a good time or a bad time, and you're either doing a good movie or a bad movie.' And I know one thing, which is that there is no guarantee that doing a movie you think is 'important' "—Downey enunciates the word important in a wonderfully withering way—"isn't going to be the worst piece of tripe I've ever had to sit through. Or that this kind of two-dimensional genre movie I'm doing isn't actually going to be thoroughly entertaining. Isn't that why you went to the movies to begin with? Whatever."

https://www.gq.com/entertainment/mo...bert-downey-jr-profile-may-2013#ixzz2QfNFmksp

 

[VintijDroidGutzz]

It's more that he made Stark into RDJ. Him and the character are one now, so to even try to visualize someone else in the role is task in and of itself.

I agree with that actually..

He's great - no doubt, but he wouldn't have been the first guy I'd thought of for the role back before they started.

He's done extremely well of course though, & calling him an asset to the Marvel film wold would be an enormous understatement.

 

[snoop101]

Jon Hamm for Stark

He would be a good fit. RDJ is perfect though, so hopefully he'll keep continuing to reprise his role.

 

[Wake]

He would be a good fit. RDJ is perfect though, so hopefully he'll keep continuing to reprise his role.

Hopefully that'd be after Madmen so he could work out and lose that 60's gut. Man, i wouldve killed it with the ladies in the 60s!

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

What we've seen certainly does give the feeling like this is the final movie, at least for a while.

They've included tons of armours, almost as if there won't be further films to show them so get them all in now, and the tone seems sombre

 

[jye4ever]

More:

How long can Robert Downey Jr play Iron Man? Iron Man 3 is Downey's fourth full gig in the armor, and there's an Avengers 2 he's certainly involved with. Now he's making noise to GQ that he might retire from the Tony Stark role.

Talking about an injury he received making Iron Man 3, Downey says:

“It got me thinking about how big the message from your cosmic sponsor needs to be before you pick it up. How many genre movies can I do? How many follow-ups to a successful follow-up are actually fun? Because, as quiet as it’s kept, I come from a family of very innovative writers and directors and actors and artists, and the circle of friends they were in were the people I heard having pun-offs playing poker at two in the morning, and it was just the most comforting aspect of my childhood. So there’s this kind of legacy of souls from what I consider to be a very particular time in entertainment, and I’m sensing a return to that—it’s what me and the missus are doing next. It’s not unlike: I heard Brady signed on for three more years with New England, and then he’s done being a QB, because he’ll be 40. I’m 47, and I’ll be 50.”

There's some interesting stuff buried in there. His dad was one of the great directors of one of the great moments in American cinema. That's a big legacy to live up to. And while Downey made $50 million from The Avengers (he has participation in profits), that kind of money offers a lot of room to go off and try to make your own Putney Swope.

It's possible this is some good old-fashioned maneuvering in the press; Marvel Studios seems to keep on having these spats with their talent (especially from the Iron Man movies) in public. This isn't the first time Downey has made these noises. But there's something about this bit of grumbling that makes it feel realer than the past. For one thing, Downey has enough money that he can walk away from this stuff. He really is getting a little old. And in the GQ interview he talks about how he wants to direct, specifically a movie set at Halloween where he would play a Village Voice reporter on the run.

Kevin Feige is prepared for all of this. Last year I spoke to Feige about the possibility of Downey leaving, and the Marvel honcho said he believed Tony Stark lived independent of the actor.

"I think Bond is a good example. Let’s put it this way: I hope Downey makes a lot of movies for us as Stark. If and when he doesn’t, and I’m still here making these movies, we don’t take him to Afghanistan and have him wounded again. I think we James Bond it."

Which means welcome to the next guy to play Tony Stark, which is now a role that builds stars.

The Iron Man 3 junket is this weekend, so expect LOTS of questions about this to be asked. Also know that the Marvel Studios folks have been bending over backwards to make the role better for Downey; he's barely wearing any practical armor in any scenes these days. It's quite possible that Downey could still play Tony Stark while leaving the heavy, young guy lifting to someone else.

 

[crows]

More:

How long can Robert Downey Jr play Iron Man? Iron Man 3 is Downey's fourth full gig in the armor, and there's an Avengers 2 he's certainly involved with. Now he's making noise to GQ that he might retire from the Tony Stark role.

Talking about an injury he received making Iron Man 3, Downey says:

“It got me thinking about how big the message from your cosmic sponsor needs to be before you pick it up. How many genre movies can I do? How many follow-ups to a successful follow-up are actually fun? Because, as quiet as it’s kept, I come from a family of very innovative writers and directors and actors and artists, and the circle of friends they were in were the people I heard having pun-offs playing poker at two in the morning, and it was just the most comforting aspect of my childhood. So there’s this kind of legacy of souls from what I consider to be a very particular time in entertainment, and I’m sensing a return to that—it’s what me and the missus are doing next. It’s not unlike: I heard Brady signed on for three more years with New England, and then he’s done being a QB, because he’ll be 40. I’m 47, and I’ll be 50.”

There's some interesting stuff buried in there. His dad was one of the great directors of one of the great moments in American cinema. That's a big legacy to live up to. And while Downey made $50 million from The Avengers (he has participation in profits), that kind of money offers a lot of room to go off and try to make your own Putney Swope.

It's possible this is some good old-fashioned maneuvering in the press; Marvel Studios seems to keep on having these spats with their talent (especially from the Iron Man movies) in public. This isn't the first time Downey has made these noises. But there's something about this bit of grumbling that makes it feel realer than the past. For one thing, Downey has enough money that he can walk away from this stuff. He really is getting a little old. And in the GQ interview he talks about how he wants to direct, specifically a movie set at Halloween where he would play a Village Voice reporter on the run.

Kevin Feige is prepared for all of this. Last year I spoke to Feige about the possibility of Downey leaving, and the Marvel honcho said he believed Tony Stark lived independent of the actor.

"I think Bond is a good example. Let’s put it this way: I hope Downey makes a lot of movies for us as Stark. If and when he doesn’t, and I’m still here making these movies, we don’t take him to Afghanistan and have him wounded again. I think we James Bond it."

Which means welcome to the next guy to play Tony Stark, which is now a role that builds stars.

The Iron Man 3 junket is this weekend, so expect LOTS of questions about this to be asked. Also know that the Marvel Studios folks have been bending over backwards to make the role better for Downey; he's barely wearing any practical armor in any scenes these days. It's quite possible that Downey could still play Tony Stark while leaving the heavy, young guy lifting to someone else.

yeah I was reading that.

I was also reading how he wanted to do a Halloween type movie eventually, which sounded really interesting. I would love to see what he meant by that.

 

[JonWes]

I think after Iron Man 3 they should just rest Iron Man as a series and just bring him back for Avengers 2 and maybe 3. I know that's probably far-fetched, but it'd give him time to do other projects but keep him in the role.

 

[jye4ever]

GQ:

When Marvel's superhero flick "The Avengers" conquered the box office last summer, Robert Downey Jr. reportedly saw a supersized check -- $50 million by some estimates -- for services rendered.

You can stop guessing. The man who plays Tony "Iron Man" Stark is confirming the amount he made in backend profit from Joss Whedon's epic film, thanks to his overall deal with Marvel Studios.

In a new issue of GQ, which features Downey on the cover, the interviewer comes right out and asks the actor if the astronomical number is accurate.

"Yeah ... isn’t that crazy?” he says. “They’re so p***ed. I can’t believe it. I’m what’s known as ‘a strategic cost.’"


It's a pricey strategy, but a solid one. Downey's "Iron Man" films have been hits at home and internationally, not to mention they single-handedly revived his nearly disintegrated personal brand.

While Downey already has a platinum bank account, he's looking for Oscar gold. He's twice been nominated for the Academy Award, but counts no wins.

[See Robert Downey Jr.'s full GQ photo shoot here]

"I, personally, would be shocked if we went to the end of the tape now and I didn’t have at least one ... because I’m young enough, and I’m running down being occupied with these kind of genre movies, close enough," he says in the May issue.

"Look, even if I don’t get one directly, eventually they’re just going to have to give me one when I get old. So no matter how you slice it, I’m getting one," he concludes.

We'd call him cocky, but Downey Jr. is a safe bet these days. Congrats in advance?

 

[azurepred]

Even if Downey left and they rebooted the franchise, what could Marvel possibly offer in story or overall feel that would keep us interested? If IM ever gets rebooted, which it will, it should be at least 10 years from doing so to bring in a new generation of fans cause RDJ is Stark, and these IM movies will be extremely hard to top. They have been better than the Nolan Bats stuff for me. I have no doubts I will love IM3 before even seeing it.

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

I think after Iron Man 3 they should just rest Iron Man as a series and just bring him back for Avengers 2 and maybe 3. I know that's probably far-fetched, but it'd give him time to do other projects but keep him in the role.

I agree, not only does it give him a break but when it comes time to jump back in he'll be refreshed and they probably won't have to increase his salary like they'd have to if they signed him right now.

 

[Wake]

Even if Downey left and they rebooted the franchise, what could Marvel possibly offer in story or overall feel that would keep us interested? If IM ever gets rebooted, which it will, it should be at least 10 years from doing so to bring in a new generation of fans cause RDJ is Stark, and these IM movies will be extremely hard to top. They have been better than the Nolan Bats stuff for me. I have no doubts I will love IM3 before even seeing it.

people used to say this about jack nicholson's joker.

 

[BuffyGirl]

I don't have much to say other than I cannot wait to see this...I may have already posted that. Eh, whatever, I'm excited.

 

[cofphoto]

I'm staying out of this thread to avoid any spoilers, so forgive me if this has already been posted. But here is the list of tracks on the soundtrack, which will give you some idea of the storyline:

1. Iron Man 3 2:23
2. War Machine 7:18
3. Attack on 10880 Malibu Point 4:35
4. Isolation 2:00
5. Dive Bombers 2:24
6. New Beginnings 3:54
7. Extremis 5:06
8. Stark 4:31
9. Leverage 2:15
10. The Mandarin 2:36
11. Heat and Iron 5:42
12. Misfire 3:26
13. Culmination 2:29
14. The Mechanic 3:43
15. Hot Pepper 4:41
16. Another Lesson from The Mandarin 2:57
17. Dr. Wu 2:41
18. Return 6:20
19. Battle Finale 3:57
20. Can You Dig It (Iron Man 3 Main Titles) 2:42

 

[Grenouille]

Even if Downey left and they rebooted the franchise, what could Marvel possibly offer in story or overall feel that would keep us interested?

I think after 50 years of continuous publication, some talented writer could cull something together for a 2 hour feature film of the character.

 

[Antman84]

Just seen this film and all I'm going to say is wow