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Saturday, November 28
Now that Robert Downey Jr. has kicked his addictions and resumed his place on the A-list of Hollywood actors, he's putting everything he has into making sure that he stays there. In a recent interview with Empire, he said that just because the first Iron Man was successful, that doesn't mean that theIron Man 2 team can relax.
We are grinding our minds and hearts in the ground on this movie. Could we have just skated through a sequel and would it probably have made the same box-office numbers? Yes, sure.
Downey Jr. went on to say that he had an intuition about how to portray Tony Stark and his alter-ego, Iron Man, in the first film.
I have fortified my belief that if I have a creative instinct about something, usually it's not because I've had too much coffee or because I'm bored — it's because I sense there's something there. And it's always mind-blowing when you follow a hunch and realise it's exactly what the movie wanted.
Jon Favreau, the director of both Iron Man films, said that Downey Jr. brought much more to the table than what he was hired for.
Robert is a real partner in the process. He's been very involved in the screenplay. When he went away to do Sherlock Holmes he was still part of our creative process. Even in the first film, where he was originally a hired gun playing the role, he really stepped up to rewrite scenes — he's a great writer, too. So we really are sharing the responsibilities.
Next Showing: Iron Man 2 opens May 7, 2010
Posted 11/28/2009 by BrentJS
Related: Jon Favreau | Robert Downey Jr. | Iron Man | Sherlock Holmes | Iron Man 2
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Sunday, November 22
Actor Robert Downey Jr. is on top of the world. After an incredibly successful turn as billionaire superhero Tony Stark in Jon Favreau's Iron Man, Downey, Jr. is about to star as the world's smartest detective in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes.
However, despite his recent success, Downey Jr. may be ready to walk away from it all. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Downey Jr. said that he has "no set plans" for the future.
I've never had it this good — this is my day in the sun — and I certainly don't want to look a gift horse in the molars. But [my wife] Susan and I want to begin to be in our lives as much as we are in our jobs. I'd love just to sit here and say, 'What movie's playing tonight?' I'd love to finish the new book about D-day I'm reading. I love painting, I love music.
I'm f---ing really good at what I do — and have been for a long time, so I don't waver on that. But here's the thing: I can only be a guy on a call sheet probably, I don't know, maybe a couple more times. It's something I'm so grateful to have in my palm, and yet I already see its inevitable decay.
For the fans who would be devastated by his retirement, Downey, Jr. offered some hope in a thinly veiled plug for his new movie.
If Sherlock Holmes performs well, I could be busy for the next 5 or 7 or 10 years.
Next Showing: Sherlock Holmes opens December 25
Posted 11/22/2009 by BrentJS
Related: Robert Downey Jr. | Iron Man | Sherlock Holmes | Iron Man 2
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Friday, November 20
Iron Man fans won't have to wait too much longer to get their first peek at Iron Man 2. News of a trailer screening before Sherlock Holmes was announced by director Jon Favreau in a response to a fan question on his Twitter page.
RT @Ann_Howard: @Jon_Favreau PLEASE tell us the trailer is coming soon - w/Sherlock Holmes, perhaps??
OK, that's not definite, but Favreau's decision to repeat it makes us think this is a pretty strong rumor.
Favreau is currently editing Iron Man 2, and while doing this he's also doing a good job keeping fans updated about the movie on his Twitter page. He's sent updates such as "Digital animated shots starting to come in" and "[screenwriter] Justin Theroux visiting the edit bay."
Next Showing: Iron Man 2 opens May 7, 2010
Posted 11/20/2009 by Ryan
Related: Jon Favreau | Iron Man 2
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Wednesday, November 18
Justin Theroux is something of a Renaissance man in Hollywood. As an actor, Theroux has appeared on numerous TV shows and in over a dozen movies, including acclaimed filmmaker David Lynch's Mulholland Dr. In addition, Theroux also works behind the scenes and behind the camera. He produced and wrote the script for Tropic Thunder and he wrote and directed Dedication.
Theroux recently tried his hand at the superhero genre, penning the script for the sequel to director Jon Favreau's adaptation of the classic Marvel Comics character Iron Man. Now, THR is reporting that Theroux has been hired by Fox to write a draft of Space Invader, a romantic comedy set in space that was originally written by Mike Lisbe and Nate Reger. Will Arnett (Arrested Development) will star in Space Invader as a man who follows his wife into space because he suspects her of cheating on him with one of her fellow astronauts. Theroux may also direct the movie, though this is still uncomfirmed.
Posted 11/18/2009 by BrentJS
Related: Justin Theroux | Will Arnett | Mulholland Dr. | Dedication | Tropic Thunder | Iron Man 2
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Thursday, November 12
A busy man after the success of Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. is currently shooting the comedy Due Date. He has plenty of upcoming projects, including a "re-imagining" of Harvey and the comic book adaptation of Cowboys and Aliens, not to mention Sherlock Holmes and Iron Man 2 awaiting theatrical release.
Yet, Downey Jr. told Esquire magazine that what he really wants for his next project is to direct.
I will not be able to remain happy and sedate being whatever — being an increasingly hirable actor type. I think the best thing I could do for my soul and my own development would be to direct.
I'm not sure exactly how things are going to shake out, because it's really easy for me to do landgrabs with my day job, and I still have a lot of passion for it. But if I had to guess, that would probably be my next move.
Downey Jr. claims that directing is "in his blood" from his dad and that getting behind the camera is one of those things that remains "very, very much unrequited." With so many projects lined up, it's anyone's guess when Downey Jr. will take a break from acting and start directing, though Downey Jr. may skip out on Cowboys and Aliens.
Posted 11/12/2009 by Ryan
Related: Robert Downey Jr. | Sherlock Holmes | Iron Man 2 | Cowboys and Aliens | Due Date
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Sunday, November 8
Actress Gwyneth Paltrow has just wrapped filming on director Jon Favreau's second installment of Iron Man, in which she plays Tony Stark's top assistant and love interest Pepper Potts. Now she's preparing to star opposite Nicole Kidman in Tomas Alfredson's follow-up to Let the Right One In,The Danish Girl.
An adaptation of the David Ebershoff book of the same name, The Danish Girl is based on the true story of the relationship between the world's first post-operative transsexual, Einar Wegener, and his artist wife, Greta. When Greta asked her husband to stand in for one of her models one day, the experience led the two of them down the road to transformation that changed both of their lives forever.
The script is by Lucinda Coxon and producers include Gail Mutrux, Anne Harrison, Linda Reisman, Per Saari and Kidman, who replaced Charlize Theron in the title role.
Next Showing: Iron Man 2 opens May 7, 2010
Posted 11/8/2009 by BrentJS
Related: Gwyneth Paltrow | Nicole Kidman | Iron Man 2 | Let the Right One In | The Danish Girl | Tomas Alfredson
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Wednesday, October 21
In July, word got out that Stan Lee's cameo in Iron Man 2 would be as either CNN newsman Larry King or as someone asking Robert Downey Jr. (as Tony Stark) when he would appear on King's show. Lee confirmed with MTV that he would indeed be playing King.
For some reason, they wanted me to wear suspenders and heavy glasses, and they treated me as though I was Larry King. So I finally, for the first time in my life, felt like I was a celebrity.
Stan Lee an impressionist? We can't wait to see that!
Posted 10/21/2009 by Ryan
Related: Stan Lee | Iron Man 2
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Wednesday, October 14
Jon Favreau has left hints that he'd be directing the upcoming Avengers movie for some time now, saying his involvement was "yet to be determined." It looks like fanboys let their hopes get away from them, though, as Favreau has now told MTV that his status is 100% determined ... and the decision is "no."
They'll have to [find a different director], because I'm not going to be available. It's something I'm being the executive producer on, so I'll definitely have input and a say.
It's going to be hard, because I was so involved in creating the world of Iron Man and Iron Man is very much a tech-based hero, and then with Avengers you're going to be introducing some supernatural aspects because of Thor. How you mix the two of those works very well in the comic books, but it's going to take a lot of thoughtfulness to make that all work and not blow the reality that we've created.
Favreau also confirmed that Edward Norton will not be appearing as The Hulk in Iron Man 2, though Favreau says there will still be connections between Iron Man 2 and the other Avengers movies.
We want to reinforce a lot of the stuff we started to tip off ... The Avengers is a much larger concern for Marvel and Kevin Feige, who runs Marvel. They're going to be doing Thor and Captain America, and the way we might start to tease those things in this movie, some of it is stuff that we've discussed [and] some of the stuff you do last-minute as you figure out how that stuff is coming together. It's an evolving, amorphous thing. If we decide and commit too early, the secret always gets out. As soon as we shot the Nick Fury thing [in Iron Man] — we had a closed set and nobody was supposed to know about it — a week later somehow it was all over the internet.
While fans have to be disappointed with the news that Favreau's not directing The Avengers, Favreau certainly isn't. He thinks Avengers is in good hands with Feige.
That's why it's good that you have the guys from Marvel like Kevin Feige, who knows the books well and has been involved with the making of all the movies, and he'll be very involved with Thor and Cap. You need somebody who has the perspective of all the different franchises to bring them together. I have the myopic vision of just knowing and loving Iron Man.
Posted 10/14/2009 by Ryan
Related: Edward Norton | Jon Favreau | Kevin Feige | Thor | Iron Man 2 | First Avenger: Captain America | The Avengers
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Tuesday, October 13
Vive la France! Check out what our French friends have provided for us — a lengthy "behind the scenes" interview with Iron Man 2's director Jon Favreau and star Robert Downey Jr.. Not only that, but there's also new footage from the movie.
Posted 10/13/2009 by Jim
Related: Jon Favreau | Robert Downey Jr. | Iron Man 2
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Friday, October 9
Eliza Dushku was one of a short list of actors whose name was bandied about when the role of the Black Widow was being cast for Iron Man 2. Dushku lost out to Scarlett Johansson, and she recently sounded off about it to MTV, saying:
I think it went straight to Miss Thing. I get it, you know? I get it. She's pretty fierce.
Despite missing out on playing the Black Widow, Dushku could be portraying a movie action hero in the new future, if the Wet video game that was released last month is a big enough hit. Developed by Bethesda and A2M, Wet is an action shooter game for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 that stars a ruthless female heroine in Rubi Malone. Dushku provided the voice of Malone for the Wet game and she said that she would be interested in taking the role to the next level by portraying Malone on the big screen.
Well, this video game Wet that I just did, is sorta ... she's got a working-class Lara Croft thing going on. And, she's pretty kick-ass. And she travels the globe and she's in Hong Kong and she's in the UK and she's a gun for hire and she's got two samurai swords. She's pretty vicious. So, that's been something that maybe could turn into a live-action Dushku vehicle.
Dushku is currently starring in Joss Whedon's Dollhouse TV series on Fox.
Posted 10/9/2009 by BrentJS
Related: Joss Whedon | Scarlett Johansson | Eliza Dushku | Iron Man 2