HOME TRAILERS 2023 SCHEDULE 2024 SCHEDULE SHORT FILMS REVIEWS PODCAST INTERVIEWS NEWS FEEDS ABOUT US

LATEST NEWS

Jon Favreau Chats With Fans About Iron Man 2

by Kevin Powers
October 2, 2008

For all of you that still have Iron Man on the brain, here's a few more tidbits from director Jon Favreau himself that should send you into Iron overload. Favreau recently participated in a live chat with the Hero Complex blog of the LA Times, and while he didn't reveal anything earth shattering, he does certainly stir the pot. As most of us know, the sequel to the perfect introduction of Tony Stark is due out on May 7th, 2010. There are a lot of decisions that have to be made between now and then, and in the meantime we'll all foam at the mouth for every morsel that's dropped. Here are a few crumbs for all of us to eat up.

On the release date: "The date is daunting. We are making much faster progress than the first time around and have much less to design and fewer casting issues. I am confident that 2010 is achievable if we continue working together as we have for the past few months. It has to be great, though. It has to be great."

On the film's progress: "I'm working with Justin [Theroux]. Justin is our writer. Robert Downey met him on Tropic Thunder. He's writing the first draft of the script. I'm working with a story board artist. As well as designing the costumes for good guys and bad guys." (Side bar: Justin Theroux is one the baddest dudes in Hollywood. Love the guy!)

On the continued role of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Sam Jackson as Fury: "S.H.I.E.L.D. is important to the franchise, and what is S.H.I.E.L.D. without Fury? We all came up with Sam [to play Fury]. I helped push for it."

On Terrance Howard as War Machine (You know, when his character looks at the armor and says, "some other time."): "We need War Machine. Agreed. Shoulder cannons and all."

On the interrelationships of the Marvel Universe (and by extension, the possibility of an Avengers movie): "Avengers is going to be. Now that Marvel is making its own movies, every movie has to fit into the Marvel Universe. The Avengers incorporates not just Iron Man, but Thor possibly Hulk and traditionally Captain America as well. As it is scheduled, Thor will come out the same summer as Iron Man 2; Captain America will come out a few months before Avengers. All the films have to come together to create a consistent universe. I think its important for all filmmakers working for Marvel to collaborate so there is a consistency in the films, so yes they should keep in touch. I had not been in touch really with Louis Leterrier during Hulk and I think that would have been helpful. I hope to be in contact with directors in the future."

On villains the possibility of Mandarin: "I think we need some version of 'classic villains' in these movies. Many don't hold up well to time and to the big screen, but their essence should inspire the characters. Mandarin is still an important figure in the Iron Man universe. We have an interesting take on him that allows us to incorporate the whole pantheon of villains. The whole 10 rings thing in Iron Man was a good tease for it."

That's all the updates there is for now, but we can expect Favreau and company to bring us plenty more over the next few months. Downey Jr. is currently shooting Sherlock Holmes in England but will be back early next year to start work on Iron Man 2. Those interested in reading the full transcript from the live chat can find it on the Hero Complex site. The sequel is still in very early development, but it's definitely great to hear about all the latest from Favreau. As always, stay tuned for more updates as we receive them!

Find more posts: Movie News

17 Comments

"We all came up with Sam [to play Fury]. I helped push for it." Ultimate Nick Fury was (in his second design) based on Sam Jackson with his permission in hopes that he would play him in the movies anyway. thats the only thing that irks me about this whole interview. other than that, cant wait!

Otacon on Oct 2, 2008

I'm pumpT. Captain America needs to come out sooner though!

Will S. (Co Springs) on Oct 2, 2008

Can't wait for The Avengers movie. But we all know that all of these collaborations are a mere tease to what Marvel really has in store, Civil War!!!

Frost on Oct 2, 2008

i think jon is too much doing a talk on ironman sequel....blah..blah...blah...non stop...blah...blah...blah...non stop... what he need to do is shut the hell up and just do the work.. just look at chris nolan...his "dark knight" is a huge monster than ironman, but he still going low profile about the next batman future project... that the way it should be.... with less talking...the next project will be more exciting to wait... less talking and more on working jon...please...

safichan on Oct 3, 2008

Anyone know the timestamp on Iron Man where I can see the Captain shield and other easter eggs? I think John F. will do amazing again for Iron man 2.

Unseen on Oct 3, 2008

"Now that Marvel is making its own movies, every movie has to fit into the Marvel Universe." i think they should all tie in with spiderman 5. after all spiderman is the gel that holds the marvel universe together. every story involves spidey in some way, he's fought alongside nearly every character in the marvel universe...

DDOT3 on Oct 3, 2008

Something not mentioned in this article, but covered in the discussion is Favreau said digitial illustrator Adi Granov will be back to work on armor concepts and design consultation for IM2. You probably don't know who he is, but his fingerprints were ALL OVER the first movie. Not to mention a lot of the marketing as well. I was pleased to hear that because, for a while, there was some debate that Granov would not return.

Tom Brazelton on Oct 3, 2008

How about the armor? They'll probably change it, right? I really wanna know that, for some reason...

Frame on Oct 3, 2008

yeah I agree with #4 though as this info is still sick as hell, its so much better when you keep ppl waiting... just build up the anticipation and even if the movie blows itll still make money....even though it wont blow itll be freaking awesome.

Cody on Oct 3, 2008

Geez....IDK, perhps the hype for IM2 has some direct situational response to....ummm....wait.....errr.......IRON MAN on DVD Released this week? C'mon guys.

D-9 on Oct 4, 2008

I was born about a year after Jon Favreau; which made me nine when Star Wars came out. I was never into comic books at all - I have never owned one. I'm not a real happy person as an adult, I live alone, I have few friends. Why is this important? Because Iron Man is a movie I had never knew anything about until it hit the theaters. I haven't been to see more than three movies in a theater in at least five years, I just wait until they come out on DVD and enjoy them at home without all the hassle. I have never seen anything Robert Downey Jr has ever done; and I can't say I have really like anything Geoff Bridges has ever done, nothing personal. But I saw this movie seven times while it was in the theater, I took two other people to see it with me, and I was just bent out of shape and frustrated waiting until it came out on DVD. Having watched the interview shots on the DVD and listening to Jon wonder whether or not this thing would take off, I just felt the need to tell him that he woke me up. I described this movie like I have not ever spoken of any movie since Star Wars - (and I mean only Star Wars and Empire...the other four were all let downs) "It's just a FUN movie". I have not used the word fun about anything in a long damn time. The soundtrack is incredible - I've never bought a soundtrack before. I'm rambling. This movie brought me back through the last 30 years of my life to a time when I actually thought life was fun. Thank you Jon, and Robert and Jeff - and everyone else down to the crew that cleaned up after the caterers. I needed this movie, and it came at just the right time in my life. I have a BS degree in Computer Graphics and wound up working in CAD drafting for engine parts and equipment. I know just enough animation to know I'm not any good at it, but wow - I would have gone to church and believe in God just so I could sell my soul to the Devil for the chance to work on a project like this movie. If I could have the solid models to play with, I'd probably never leave the house.... I thought Dark Knight was a great movie too....but at this age, I can't shake the evil. It's hard to stay worked up about a great performance about a really evil story. Iron Man allows me to keep bragging about a movie that deals in a subject that is a real issue in our lives, and it takes an angle that nobody eles has taken. Did I mention that it's fun? I have no idea how to reach Jon to tell him what he's done - as if he needed me to feel good about this movie - but I'm moved. Really moved. I was laughing and smiling in the theater, and had my muscles clenched like I was flying.I haven't showed that kind of emotion in a theater since I was in fifth grade, and walked out recognizing that I really needed to come down before i started driving or I'm going to get arrested for thinking my hot-rod-red car can fly and fire at the people who cut me off. Thank you for this movie, Jon Favreau. I don't know if you'll get this, but I got your movie.

Holden Caulfield on Oct 12, 2008

@11 Holden Caulfield - Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holden_Caulfield

Zane Dickens on Nov 7, 2008

OK, zane, you got me. Holden Caulfield is not my real name. But I got tired of having my real name show up in Google searches that found some post like this and then have ex-girlfriends come out of the freakin woodwork to start giving me grief for reasons I don't have time or patience for. It is kind of telling that I wrote a post about being cheered up by a movie for the first time in 30 years when Holden Caulfield was a perennially cynical, foul-mouthed introverted kid who couldn't fit into the world around him the way they wanted to, right? Make more sense now?

Holden Caulfield on Nov 7, 2008

YEAH!! WAR MACHINE!!! ALL RIGHT!! this is going to KICK SOME SERIOUS BOOTEEEY!

XD Reyes on Dec 28, 2008

Wow. Holden Caufield is kind of a psycho. Just the thought of getting hold of the director to thank his is very creepy and he needs to stay in his house for the safety of others. Why would he have girlfriends coming out of the woodwork to give him grief if he already has a hard enough time making friends? Geez.... Get some help man.

David on Jan 24, 2009

Wow. David sounds like he has some issues of his own. See, even in my "psycho" world, there's a difference between "getting hold of" someone and leaving a message on a bulletin board. Sure hope you're not a bounty hunter or you'll be shooting people for stealing a pack of gum. maybe the girlfriends coming out of the woodwork is a function of the girl and the internet, but I guess since you don't have one that might not occur to you. Help yourself, ace, but wash your hands before you get back on the computer or your mouse will get all sticky. Fair enough? I wanted to tell a director I liked his movie. What was your purpose coming here?

Holden Caulfield on Jan 24, 2009

ooo boy you had some zingers there. you should be proud of the way you handled me as you sit alone eating oreos at the computer and wasting away while forgetting what the outside of your studio apartment looks like. As for the girlfriend. Maybe it is a function of the girl and the internet but thats because thats the only way you can reach her because she is probably a a 32 year old man you met in a preteen chat room and youve never met I went to this page because I enjoyed the first film and wished to find out about this film. Well this one won't be as good by the way because they will shift their focus from character to action and that will be a shame because the first was so good because of the character of Tony Stark and his personality..... not the action.

David on Jan 25, 2009

New comments are no longer allowed on this post.