I’m not going to add further to the stockpile of questions (a journalist without questions, what’s the world coming to!?!? <G>) but I just want to say how much I appreciate your openness and honesty with the fans, Jon. Few will disagree that Iron Man was a great movie, easily one of the top 3 superhero movies of all time in my book, and I’d rather you spend the time needed to really develop a strong script for the sequel because the first movie is truly magical and it would be a shame to forfeit that kind of magic to meet some corporate bottom line. We all know this is a business but making movies should also be an art. I think Warner Bros. understands that which is why they gave Dark Knight that extra year... and it’s a follow-up to a movie that’s not even remotely as successful as Iron Man was either! (Man, it’s so nice to see when the GOOD movies make money!!)

If they have a script ready for Captain America, let’s get going on that movie, rather than making some poor actor kill himself to make two back-to-back movies... IRon Man 2 would be just as enjoyable one year later and a couple months before The Avengers!!!

(BTW, Robert’s appearance in Hulk got the biggest response in last night’s critics screening in New York, so he’s obviously created a role/character matched only by Christopher Reeve as Superman and maybe Toby Maguire as Peter Parker/Spider-Man.... okay, the last one can be argued <G>)

Jon Favreau wrote:

Justin(MWC) wrote:
i know you said that Demon in a Bottle is pretty much out now because of Hancock... So what do u think the chances are for something along the lines of Armor Wars?

I never said Demon In a Bottle was out. I just want to make sure that we don’t make a movie too similar to Hancock. I want to wait and see what they do. Alcoholism will definitely inform the character as time goes on.

i could have sworn i read that some where.. i guess i should check my sources ...

Hey John.

Judging from past interviews that I’ve stumbled across online I gather, maybe mistakenly, that you are a little bit apprehensive about using the Mandarin character, I think it was on CHUD that you were discussing earlier portrayals of the character critically, which is understandable really: but the character was recently updated in the Iron Man comics and quite spectacularly so I think, now being more layered with an interesting motivation and less guady in appearance.

Are you familiar with the current iteration of the Mandarin and is it unlikely that you’ll use him as direct inspiration for the Mandarin you may be brining to the big screen? Or are we looking at a fairly serious reboot of the character?

Thanks.

Hi Jon! I said that many times but again: Thank you for Iron Man! ;-) And here are some questions:

1. It is only my speculation, nothing more... When I see your answers about IM2 possible release date, for me it looks like that you say to Marvel: "If you wanna have a good movie give me 3 years. If not, you are fu***** that movie and everyone will see that. Everyone will see that you want only money, nothing more." But my question is: Is that 2011 release date your "requierement" if they want you back?

2. I remember that David Hayter wrote an Iron Man script (in 2004, I think). Did you read that? If yeah, what do you think about that?

- PH

Hey Jon congrats on a great film.

Question:

If you get a release date you and Mr Downey Jr both approve of (HINT HINT MARVEL!) would you entertain the idea of some talent based fan competitions like Zack Snyder is doing with Watchmen?

I know a lot of Filmmaking Marvel fans would love a chance for the Brass to see what they can do.

For those who don’t know:

Zack Snyder and the people making the Watchmen film are currently holding a commercial contest for filmmaking fans on Youtube. The winner gets to have a commercial put in the background of the film.

Hi Jon, My Question Is...If I Have An Idea I Can Pitch To Marvel For: "Iron Man 2"...What Exactly Do I Have To Do, To Send It To Them?

By The Way, I Respect Your Decision, To Make An Iron Man Sequel, With Time, And Preparation, So That You Can Make Another Great, Fun Film, To Top The Original.

Jon,

To be honest, when I first read that you were going to direct Iron Man, I was almost certain I knew who you’d cast as Tony Stark. I don’t think you could have made a better choice than Robert Downey, Jr., but it did surprise me. With Stark’s character being generally snarky, and some might even say a dick, did you ever consider offering the role to Vince Vaughn? And if RDJ hadn’t been interested, might you have gone that way?

Whoops. I spelled your name wrong, sorry :(

I was a bit drowsy when I was typing my question.

Jon , why are you so great?

slow down fellas and let the man catch up

sheesh

Paul wrote:
Hey John.

Judging from past interviews that I’ve stumbled across online I gather, maybe mistakenly, that you are a little bit apprehensive about using the Mandarin character, I think it was on CHUD that you were discussing earlier portrayals of the character critically, which is understandable really: but the character was recently updated in the Iron Man comics and quite spectacularly so I think, now being more layered with an interesting motivation and less guady in appearance.

Are you familiar with the current iteration of the Mandarin and is it unlikely that you’ll use him as direct inspiration for the Mandarin you may be brining to the big screen? Or are we looking at a fairly serious reboot of the character?

Thanks.

The Mandarin is Iron Man’s nemesis and will be incorporated in the sequel. It’s true that I am apprehensive about how he is to be presented. In the tech based modern world that we created for IM, a Fu Manchu style villain with magical/alien tech rings would seem out of place.

There were early drafts of IM where the Mandarin was the main villain, so we’ve already explored the character to some extent. I am curious to see how he has been treated in his latest books and how that might influence our direction.

judy wrote:
Thanks Jon for all of your answers here! this is like Christmas for us fans! ok. one more question and then I will let you rest. I promise. ok I have seen Iron Man 5 times and every time the biggest laughs came during the testing in the garage where Stark was talking to the robots and saying things like.. " donating them to a community college" and of course when he crashes through the roof. The other part that always gets big laughs is where Pepper comes in and finds him and Stark says.. "surely this is not the worst thing... "etc.
Ok my question is can you recall who came up with these lines or even the concept of the robots that tried to help? was it in the original script or did you or Robert come up with them? Thanks again!

This was all discovered on the set. There were no robot characters or fire extinguishers. Robert, Shane from Winston Studios, and myself played around with the robot puppets on the day. The scenes were very sparse and they grew on the set and in the edit bay. We even found the opportunity to use the robot to save Tony when he couldn’t reach his heart.

The "surely this isn’t the worst thing" was a scene from our reshoots. I thought Downey improvised it, but he tells me I fed him the line between takes. I honestly don’t remember. It was one of many versions we came up with on set and tried.

David wrote:
Hey Jon

If you do end up directing the trilogy ( and you should ) will Happy end marrying Pepper and does you’re wife know about it? :-) Better yet, does Gwyneth know ?

Dave Smith

I broke it to her after she was signed on for three pictures.

If Arrogance Was a Work of Art, It Would Be Hashim wrote:
2 (sort of) quick questions:

1) Will the Ghostface Killah cameo surface on the DVD, or, to better place it, do you envision a longer "Director’s Cut" of the film? I ask this 1) Because I am a huge Wu-Tang fan, and 2) There is a scene between Stark and Pepper towards the third act that is obviously cut abruptly; I was wondering if there was more scene or if this was an edit mishap.

2) Despite Stane’s death, is Jeff signed to any sequels, you know, in the case of an expositional flashback or something?

Thanks for humoring the fans, you did work, and we all appreciate it immensely.

1- There is no longer cut. The cut you saw in theaters was the best version of the film.

Yes, we will include the Ghostface scene in the outtakes.

2- Stane’s death? Do characters ever really die in Marvel? Isn’t it like a soap opera?

Anyway you could get Keith David some work?? Even the voice work??? Maybe the voice of the computer inside the War Machine suit?