Iron Man 2

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Putting that piece of news up in fine print...


In what would mark his first studio film since resurrecting his career with "The Wrestler," Mickey Rourke is in talks to play the main heavy in "Iron Man 2," the Marvel Entertainment sequel that director Jon Favreau begins shooting this spring.

Sam Rockwell also has begun talks to play a villain in the pic, to be distribbed by Paramount Pictures in summer 2010.

Which role Rockwell will play has yet to be disclosed by Marvel, but Rourke is in discussions to play the Crimson Dynamo, a heavily tattooed Russian arms dealer. He's considered to be an evil version of Iron Man because he battles the superhero in a nuclear-powered suit of armor.

Script is still being written by Justin Theroux, and Marvel has been trying to keep a wrap on details leaking out to fanboys.

Rourke goes into the Golden Globes weekend vying for best actor in a role that revived his career. Robert Downey Jr. soared to become one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood when "Iron Man" grossed more than $600 million worldwide.

Rockwell most recently appeared in "Frost/Nixon" and "Choke."

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Samuel L. Jackson has dropped a bombshell: he just might not be back to play Nick Fury in Iron Man 2 or The Avengers.

Jackson, who made a cameo as the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. at the end of the first Iron Man, told the Los Angeles Times that he heard from his representatives last week that things weren't going so well. "There was a huge kind of negotiation that broke down. I don't know. Maybe I won't be Nick Fury," Jackson said.

He continued, "Maybe somebody else will be Nick Fury or maybe Nick Fury won't be in it. There seems to be an economic crisis in the Marvel Comics world so [they're saying to me], 'We're not making that deal.'"

A Marvel spokesperson advised the paper that the studio "does not comment on active negotiations."

No word yet on who might replace Jackson if the role of Fury is recast, but we all know that Terrence Howard is available. Oh, snap!

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With Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell negotiating to play key villains in "Iron Man 2," Marvel Entertainment and director Jon Favreau are now looking for the right thesp to play femme fatale Black Widow, another nemesis for Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark.

Emily Blunt has emerged as the frontrunner to play Natasha Romanoff in the "Iron Man" sequel. She's a Soviet superspy who doubles as Black Widow, a beauty in a skintight black costume enhanced by high-tech weaponry.

Blunt, whose credits include "The Devil Wears Prada," "The Jane Austen Book Club" and "Charlie Wilson's War," will get a profile boost when she stars with Benicio Del Toro in the Joe Johnston-directed "The Wolf Man" for Universal.

Marvel would not comment on the Black Widow casting. The Justin Theroux-scripted "Iron Man 2" will begin production in the spring for release by Paramount in summer 2010.

[The_Return]

Hmmm...I think they should save Black Widow for Avengers - if they use her at all.

This is starting to get a little overcrowded, if you ask me.

[urgeok2]

Originally Posted by _____V_____

Samuel L. Jackson has dropped a bombshell: he just might not be back to play Nick Fury in Iron Man 2 or The Avengers.

poor guy..


that means he'll only be in 56 movies next year.

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Actor Sam Rockwell (Choke, Charlie's Angels) has opened up about playing the villainous Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2.

Rockwell described his character to MTV as "a rival" of Tony Stark's (played once again by Robert Downey Jr.). "He takes over all the weapons stuff after Tony's left." You will recall that Stark forsaked weapons manufacturing after returning from captivity in Afghanistan, a redemptive act that sparked the wrath of his shady partner Obadiah Stane, a.k.a. Iron Monger.

Rockwell added, "I don't know if (Hammer) takes over Stark Industries. ... I'm not really sure yet. He's a money dude. That's about all I can say."

The actor also confirmed that director Jon Favreau had once discussed the possibility of him playing Stark before Downey was cast. His girlfriend, Leslie Bibb, appeared in Iron Man as the reporter that Stark beds after an interview.

Rockwell said that he expects to begin filming his scenes by mid-April, and that he's excited to act opposite Mickey Rourke, who will play the sequel's other villain.

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It looks like Emily Blunt won't be playing The Black Widow in Iron Man 2 after all. But fear not, fanboys, as another Hollywood hottie is said to be keen on replacing her.

Blunt is contractually obligated to appear in Fox's Gulliver's Travels, and although her reps are trying to arrange schedules so that she can do both films, the problem is that Iron Man 2 reportedly doesn't have a firm start date or shooting script yet.

Thus, as Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider blog reports, "Marvel is in discussions with other actresses, most significantly Scarlett Johansson, to take her place, EW has learned exclusively. Marvel will not confirm, but sources around Hollywood say Johansson has indeed met with the filmmakers and is interested in taking the role of Russian superspy Natasha Romanoff, who doubles as Black Widow."

Johansson is no stranger to comic book movies having previously appeared in The Spirit, in which she starred opposite Samuel L. Jackson, who was also supposed to appear in Iron Man 2 until his contract negotiations broke down.

[roshiq]

Originally Posted by _____V_____

Thus, as Entertainment Weekly's Hollywood Insider blog reports, "Marvel is in discussions with other actresses, most significantly Scarlett Johansson, to take her place, EW has learned exclusively. Marvel will not confirm, but sources around Hollywood say Johansson has indeed met with the filmmakers and is interested in taking the role of Russian superspy Natasha Romanoff, who doubles as Black Widow."

Johansson is no stranger to comic book movies having previously appeared in The Spirit, in which she starred opposite Samuel L. Jackson, who was also supposed to appear in Iron Man 2 until his contract negotiations broke down.

Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow!?!...meh!!

[scouse mac]

Originally Posted by The_Return

This is starting to get a little overcrowded, if you ask me.

Agreed. Sounds like they are making the same mistake as Spiderman 3.

Why do they feel the need to throw so much in and not have a bit of character development?

Im assuming Warmachine is going to be in this to even up the numbers?

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Despite public pleas from star Robert Downey, Jr. to appear in Iron Man 2, it doesn't look like Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke will play the villain in the Marvel sequel after all.

Rourke, who is the frontrunner to win Best Actor at this weekend's Academy Awards ceremony, told New York Magazine, "Right now, we're not doing Iron Man 2." The magazine said that Rourke's agent is currently "battling Marvel for a bigger paycheck."

Rourke reportedly received a lowball offer of $250,000 from Marvel to play either the Crimson Dynamo or Whiplash, depending on which trade paper you read.

Iron Man 2 doesn't have a set script or firm start date yet, but it's expected to begin filming sometime in April.