Warning: You are about to enter a heavy duty spoiler zone. For those of you that want to know all the facts and rumors about an upcoming major release that has geekdom drooling in anticipation, UGO presents this overview for your brain pleasure. Everything that we know, you will know -- and if you don't want to wreck the surprise of knowing what happens, what the surprises are -- turn back. This is your last warning.
And now I present to you...the Iron Man spoiler zone (last updated April, 2008)
Confirmed:
- Playing Tony Stark/Iron Man is Robert Downey Jr., a lifelong fan of Marvel Comics. Rounding out the primary cast are Terrence Howard (James Rhodes), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts) and Jeff Bridges (Obadiah Stane).
- Samuel L. Jackson will be seen in the movie playing the commander of S.H.I.E.L.D., Colonel Nick Fury. In geekspeak, Jackson is playing the Marvel Ulimate universe version of the character. In the comic books the visual look of Nick Fury is directly based on Jackson. Precisely how many scenes Fury will be seen in the movie remains unknown.
UPDATE = By now, we all know Fury is seen at the end of the credits of the film, in which he confronts a surprised Tony Stark about the "Avenger Initiative." Director Jon Favreau has hinted that IRON MAN III would feature a storyline revolving around the Avengers.
- Three versions of the Iron Man armor will be seen in the movie: the Mark I (a.k.a. the "diving bell" model used in the 1960s Iron Man comic book series), the Mark II (an all-chrome version) and the Mark III (a sleek, streamlined design colored gold and red).
- In the comic books Tony Stark was injured fighting in the Vietnam War. The movie updates this to the modern day and has him injured in Afghanistan.
- Jarvis is the name of Stark's home computer system. In the comic books Jarvis is the butler of the Avengers.
- Unlike the Tony Stark in the comics who is based on the east coast, the movie version of Stark lives on the west coast.
- William Hurt filmed a scene with Robert Downey Jr. Hurt played General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, a character that will be seen in The Incredible Hulk movie one month later.
- The character of War Machine, a weaponed-out Iron Man suit worn by James Rhodes in the Iron Man comics series, will not make an appearance in the movie. The idea is that War Machine is being saved for a sequel.
- Tony Stark's alcoholism will not be addressed in the first film.
- Stan Lee will make a cameo as a man who has three beautiful blondes draped on his arm. Stark will mistake him for Hugh Hefner.
- Director Jon Favreau has commented on the many rumors swirling about the film and doesn't want to confirm or deny any of them, preferring to keep the mystery going for as long as he can.
Rumored:
- It's widely believed that Hilary Swank filmed scenes in the movie but as what character? Some fansites surmise that she is playing Natasha Romanov (a.k.a. The Black Widow, a Russian black ops/secret agent), other suggest that she is playing Sharon Carter, a S.H.I.E.L.D. soldier and ally of Captain America.
UPDATE = Swank does not appear in the film.
- It's rumored -- but unconfirmed -- that in addition to William Hurt playing his character from The Incredible Hulk in the Iron Man film that Edward Norton may also make a cameo.
UPDATE = Norton does not appear in the film.
- Before filming began on the film it was bandied about that the primary villain was The Mandarin. All indications is that is no longer the case as all advance promotional material and rumors have indicated the movie's bad guy is the Iron Monger. However, there is still a possibility that The Mandarin will be mentioned during the course of the movie and possibly his presence will be felt during the events we'll see.
- Jon Favreau has stated that he wants to make a live-action Avengers movie. If there is indeed a cameo by Bruce Banner and/or The Hulk, could there also be hints or cameos of the other major founding members of the comic book Avengers: the mighty Thor, Doctor Strange and Ant-Man?
UPDATE = While none of these characters show up in the film, Captain America's shield has been spotted lying around Tony Stark's workshop!
Debunked:
- A rumor from 2006 said that actress Famke Janssen would play a love interest for Tony Stark. There is no evidence that Janssen is in the film at the present time -- but she'd make a wicked Black Widow, dont'cha think?
Got any others? Add it to the comments section below. Think these spoilers suck? Sound off and share your thoughts. Updates will be added to this page as more information becomes known. Iron Man opens on May 2, 2008.
-- Patrick
Last updated March 5, 2008
