Tag: Iron Man

The news is grim — a team member has gone down, the worst is feared — and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and Captain America (Chris Evans) exchange pensive looks while, all around them, the agents of a super-spy agency called S.H.I.E.L.D. tend to their duties as an off-planet enemy force threatens the entire planet. The scene, being filmed on an elevated set, was watched from a safe — and ironic — distance by Joss Whedon. “You know, you shouldn’t worry too much,” the director and co-writer of “The Avengers” reassured a visitor to the New Mexico set. “This kind of stuff happens here almost every day in the Marvel universe.” It does feel sometimes like Hollywood has become a digital factory dedicated to cosmic dangers, costumed heroes and CG magic but “The Avengers” is a special case even in this summer ...

This week, the Marvel Universe reaches a new plateau with the Hollywood red-carpet premiere of “The Avengers,” which unites the title characters from four film franchises — Thor, Captain America, Iron Man and the Hulk –  to save Earth from a cosmic threat. The only person who had a hand in creating all of those characters was the late Jack Kirby, a titan figure in comics, but his heirs weren’t invited to the premiere;  their presence would be awkward considering their legal quest to reclaim the rights to hundreds of his Marvel creations. That leaves Neal Kirby, Jack’s only son, on the outside looking in but in this guest essay he writes about the days when the Marvel Universe was as close as his family basement.   In 1961, I was the luckiest damn kid on my block — or maybe any block. My father worked at home. ...

A new trailer for “The Avengers” is out, revealing more explosions, high-flying villains and a call-to-arms for Marvel’s wonder-team of superheroes. “The Avengers,” directed by “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” creator Joss Whedon, assembles Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and the Hulk (each of whom found some measure of success with his own summer blockbuster in recent years) and adds a few more comics pages stars — Black Widow, Hawkeye and Nick Fury — who have made appearances in Marvel films but have yet to enjoy headlining their own big-screen adaptations. The new trailer begins with an “Inception”-like bass drone and views of a devastated city being fire-bombed as Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) delivers a dramatic voice-over: “War has started. And we are hopelessly outgunned.” Then, one by one, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) ...

Robert Downey Jr. has finished most of the heavy lifting needed for his role in “The Avengers” and last week, over lunch at his office in Venice, the two-time Oscar nominee felt ready to talk about a different heroic project: “Iron Man 3.” “My sense of it is that we need to leave it all on the field — whatever that means in the end,” Downey said of the May 2013 film. “You can pick several different points of departure for that.” Speaking of departures, director Jon Favreau won’t be back for the third installment of a franchise that propelled his career to new heights — even as it established upstart Marvel Studios as a serious Hollywood player and signaled the popcorn redemption of Downey after years of addiction and legal entanglements. ”Iron Man 2,” however, was an especially grueling shoot and by the end ...

Adding to the growing presence of anime on TV screens, G4 and Marvel will premiere two original Marvel anime series, “Iron Man” and “Wolverine,”  at 11 p.m. (ET/PT) and 11:30 pm (ET/PT) July 29. Later in the year, the X-Men and Blade will join the G4 party, but these series, guided by bestselling author Warren Ellis, will have Adrian Pasdar voicing Tony Stark in “Iron Man” while his “Heroes” costar  Milo Ventimiglia will growl his way through “Wolverine.” Hero Complex contributor Jevon Phillips caught up with Pasdar and got his thoughts on giving voice to anime and the Golden Avenger. JP: How were you first introduced to Iron Man and Tony Stark? AP: I think my knowledge of the Marvel character came through my childhood and the comics, and obviously through the resurgence of the character through the [Jon] Favreau ...

Robert Downey Jr. was the big surprise at the Hero Complex Film Festival and his time on stage with Jon Favreau crackled with energy and insight. To get a sense of the long, lively Q&A, we’ve put together a photo gallery with some of the key quotes from the Hollywood on-stage session — but, sorry, we didn’t include Favreau’s “Human Centipede” gag. As you go through the photos, be sure to click the “CAPTIONS ON” option to read the quotes. – Noelene Clark RECENT AND RELATED Ford: Most special-effects films today are soulless “Cowboys” challenge: A new hat for Harrison Jon Favreau hits “Cowboys” campaign trail Beatty, “Dick Tracy” will open Hero Complex festival Downey: “Iron Man 2″ process was “a barfight” Favreau: Why I’m leaving “Iron Man” series “Trek” writers: We’ve broken the sequel story Director: “Captain America” will surprise people Ron ...

There were a lot of memorable moments at the 2011 Hero Complex Film Festival, but nothing could compare to the firecracker finale on Sunday night when “Iron Man” star Robert Downey Jr. stunned the sellout crowd at the Chinese 6 Theatre in Hollywood with an unannounced appearance. On stage, I was talking to director Jon Favreau about his star and their memories of the career-changing 2008 opening weekend of “Iron Man“ when the filmmaker reached into his pocket to pull out his phone. “I’m going to call him. Do you mind? Let’s get him on the set of  ‘Avengers’?” It was all part of planned bit where he would call the actor who played the title hero and start a phone conversation that would lead to a speakerphone chat and then, finally, the emergence of Downey from the high rear doors of ...

There’s a special Memorial Day discount of 15% on all single-day tickets for the Hero Complex Film Festival. Go to the event ticket page  and enter in the code “MEMORIAL” to get the special limited price. The festival is June 9-12 at the Chinese 6 theaters in Hollywood. June 9: On opening night it’s a screening of “Dick Tracy” and an on-stage conversation with 14-time Oscar nominee Warren Beatty, who will talk about his plans to revive the character in a new feature film with a young star in the role he himself made famous. There will also be some Dick Tracy trivia and prizes. June 10: Just like last year, Friday is Starfleet night with a screening of “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” followed by 2009′s “Star Trek.” On stage it’s Nicholas Meyer, director of the fan-beloved “Khan” (as well as writer ...

Jon Favreau, the filmmaker who ushered in a major new chapter in superhero cinema, will be the closing-night special guest at the 2011 Hero Complex Film Festival and present a double feature of “Iron Man” and “Iron Man 2.” Perhaps no one in Hollywood understands the Comic-Con generation of film fans better than Favreau, whose “Iron Man” franchise brought home a billion-dollar success for upstart Marvel Studios and launched the cinematic universe that is now filling in with the films “Thor” and “Captain America: The First Avenger” as well as next year’s “Avengers” project. Teaming with star Robert Downey Jr. and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, the director crafted a hero for the 21st century — Tony Stark, the irrepressible, genius tycoon who has no need for a secret identity but does have a stripper pole on his private jet. This summer, Favreau is mapping a ...

Marvel Studios got off the ground (in a big way) with “Iron Man” in 2008. But next year, with “Thor” and “Captain America: The First Avenger,” the Hollywood upstart will attempt to fly to new heights with an unprecedented Hollywood ambition — creating a true “universe” on the screen with interlocking blockbuster franchises and shared continuity. At the middle of this plan is Kevin Feige, the studio’s president and the producer who worked with each director to create this bold new latticework mythology. Now, on Friday at 5 p.m. PT, you can ask Feige direct questions about Marvel’s big dream — and the new trailer for “Thor,” which hits the web one hour before we start the chat. RECENT AND RELATED CHAT: Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige ‘Asgardian speak is appropriately regal’ Branagh fires back after nasty ‘Thor’ rumors Finding Foster: Natalie Portman on “Thor” role ...