Fans attending the LA Times’s Hero Complex Film Festival got a treat in the form of a surprise visit by Robert Downey Jr., who joined Iron Man director Jon Favreau onstage for a Q & A which followed the screening of their game-changing 2008 blockbuster. [The Playlist, Hero Complex]
Among the myriad juicy topics discussed was Downey’s claim that Favreau, who helmed Marvel’s 2010 sequel before jumping ship to board the forthcoming Cowboys & Aliens, could remain open to collaborating with Iron Man 3 writer/director Shane Black and “…will consult with Black on the shaping of this new movie as much as Black needs him to.” [AICN]
Which could mean pretty much anything at all. But given that Downey brought in Black to help smooth out the bumpy narrative of the first Iron Man, this sounds like Favreau is being a good sport and willing to help steer Iron Man 3 in the right direction before it goes off the rails. Which is always an alarming possibility.
There was plenty of gossipy sniping about bad blood and bruised egos between Favreau and Downey following the grueling Iron Man 2 shoot, and Favreau’s deal to helm Cowboys & Aliens (which Downey was set to star in at one point) seemed to prove it.
Given the warm back-and-forth between the two, all seems to be forgiven. No doubt Marvel – and by extension Disney, the comic book studio’s parent company – definitely wants to hammer that impression home. So it really sounded like a nice bit of propaganda and PR, but what the hell. It’s nice to hear they’re getting along, and if they can negotiate a good day rate for Favreau to reprise his role as Happy Hogan, all the better. Here’s a good example of the positive vibe of the Q & A:
“I always figure inevitably, if there’s a laugh to be had, we’ll find it, and if it doesn’t blow the reality, we’ll go for it, and especially for the casting of Robert Downey Jr. He’s just really the heart and soul of the whole thing. … It was very difficult to cast him, that was not who this new studio felt they wanted to necessarily brand themselves with as their main guy. He hadn’t really proven himself that he could draw audiences. But we knew he was right. I remember I met with him, and I was like, ‘This guy, oh my God. He looks great, his attitude’s perfect, and he was passionate about the role.’ From the moment we finally got to cast him — and he had to screen-test for it, and he did; he fought his way to get the part, he blew everybody away, they couldn’t make an argument against him. God bless him, he worked hard, and I told him, no, it’s not going to happen, and he said, ‘I’d like to keep fighting for it,’ and I said, ‘I’ll go as long as you do.’ He did it. They couldn’t argue with him. He did it for a song.”
Iron Man 3 hits theaters May 2013.
Are you looking forward to Iron Man 3? What kind of vibe do you think Shane Black will bring to the film?