The latest trailer for Iron Man 2 ended with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and War Machine (Don Cheadle) fighting back-to-back. Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada has seen a "rough cut of the movie" and told MTV that War Machine fans won't be disappointed.
I've actually seen a rough cut of the movie, and it's going to be good. Cheadle is one of the greatest living American actors, what do you expect? I think fans are going to love it — especially fans of War Machine — and he does kick some major ass.
Quesada admits to having a soft spot for the character James "Rhodey" Rhodes, a.k.a. War Machine, as well as another African-American character, the Black Panther.
I've always had a special connection to the Black Panther. One of the things that made Marvel stand out for me was that they had a character called the Black Panther. As a Latin kid growing up in Queens, while I'm not African-American, the Black Panther signaled to me that Marvel was open to characters of all race while other companies weren't at that time. It really made Marvel feel like it was my company.
A Black Panther movie is being considered, and may possibly have G.I. Joe's Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje in the role. For now, Marvel is actively working on Thor as well, which Quesada says in good hands.
I've sat through the story meetings and sat with [Kenneth] Branagh. The character is in tremendous hands. Branagh understand the mythology and what he doesn't understand, he's asking questions about — in particular, the comic book mythology. He's really immersed himself in it. It's going to be pretty epic, and regardless of what you think it's going to be, it's going to surprise people.
Iron Man 2 will be in theaters next summer.