UPDATE 06/11/08: Let’s just say that if you want Fav aboard for Iron Man 2, umm, it’s a good time to let Marvel know.
And everything was going so well! Today, Peter reported on director Jon Favreau’s moderately disconcerting statement to fans regarding Marvel Studios‘ proposed 2010 release date for Iron Man 2. In summary: Sounds like a rush-job, there’s no script, and like a shady GF/BF in the summer Marvel hasn’t called him in weeks! We haven’t speculated on the reasons for why Fav is not yet signed for a sequel, but after consulting with inside sources IESB just called out the studio for being cheap (and crazy).
“So bottom line, Jon Favreau has not been locked in to direct Iron Man 2 for the simple reason that Marvel is being cheap - this is 100% accurate folks, no bullshit.”
Bold statement. Their latest source (who is said to work for Marvel) says that Marvel Studios Chairman, David Maisel, believes that a sequel to the smash hit (and top 3 comic book movie all time imo) will be a huge success with another director, no big deal. So…is Fav asking for the world (and all its sushi and eight Jacuzzi limos)? Apparently not, he just wants a reasonable “bump” in his paycheck, the “regular standard director’s fee.”It’s well known that Fav, coming off the disappointment of the big budget Zathura, didn’t receive major moolah for the first film, so a bump would be common sense and totally warranted in most eyes.
It’s too early and the info is too vague to send the Net’s dark fanboy cloud to hover over Marvel, but Fav continues to go public, thereby sending out code to the studio, with his feelings about the situation. There’s already pro-Fav thunder in the Slashfilm comments. Marvel announced the release date for the sequel without consulting him, and they also revealed their intricate plans for The Avengers, a flick that Fav had expressed interest in directing, without his knowledge as well. One of the many enjoyable aspects of Iron Man was that it felt effortless, and the tonal balance—light but badass to speak plebe—was perfect. When one thinks Marvel Studios, one instantly thinks quality/summer fun because of Fav’s vision and labor. Why go against the grain? More as it develops…
Discuss: Who do you side with (we know, it’s rhetorical)?
June 10th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
boo hoo, cry me a f–king river. If I get paid a “low amount” of $1 million to direct any movie, hell, I’d shut up and gladly accept the offer.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
I for one think it’s ridiculous that Marvel expects to pull off all these movies (IM2, Thor, Captain America, Ant-Man, The Avengers) as one crossover series without having to shell out some serious $. One amazing idea would be for them to co-produce the films with Universal and Paramount. This would serve two functions: they would be able to include Spider-Man and Wolverine, two of their flagship characters, and it would ease some of the financial stress of paying all these blockbuster movie starts/ directors. No less than 100% percent of everything Marvel has should go into these movies.
Am I right or am I right?
June 10th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
They don’t want to pay him the standard director pay, really? Complete BS. I am so sick of the festering disease that is greed in Hollywood right now with all the strikes and shitty productions they are putting out just to keep money in their already over-padded pockets. Pay respect where it’s due and get over it. The sad thing being that nothing really comes of it. The consequences aren’t damaging enough to warrant change of policy…sigh. I’m rooting for Reau but if this is really true and they find someone else it might not happen.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
I wonder how much of an increase he’s really asking for. It would be ashame to go ahead without him, although Favreau does make quite a few valid points. As an avid comic book fan, I was amazed at the quality of Iron Man, I truly hope Marvel Studios doesn’t f–k this up, especially with Thor, Captain America, and an Avengers film planned in the near future. Oh well, sometimes when things seem to good to be true, sometimes they really are I guess.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Also, if they change the tone/ style of the Iron Man films halfway through it could seriously mess things up for Marvel and the rest of The Avengers Series might not even happen.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
I don’t want to see this go forward with another director, and I don’t think Downey will be happy about this either since he and Jon are good friends. If they rush to ‘10 without Favreu, expect this to suck. big time.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Exactly, Iron Avenger.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
OH COME ON! Hire the FAV!
June 10th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
I enjoyed Iron Man but the hype made me enjoy it a lot less. Really, what was the Big Deal?
I didn’t like all the fake military personnel (Transformers military seemed much more real) and the talking robotics in his shop. Everything else (except for the boring sequence in the desert) was ok.
I felt like I was constantly saying “ok, here’s the next sce… yep there we go. Ok, next… ok, next… wow this movie is long.”
Good acting on the part of the main actors, for sure… but every time someone refers to Iron Man like it is genius, I kind of react underneath a little bit.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I bet Brett Ratner is currently awaiting his call.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
haha, to Aaron’s comment.
If this is true, it’s a shame really. They could have built something really special.
June 10th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Fav’s vision is what made this movie and it’s what made the studios so much money. It’s only fair that he gets his share of the pie. Hire the man.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Who called it?
I said they would end up doing something like this after IM being so successful.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I must not understand the studio process. Hiring Favreau for the second and third one seems like a total no brainer. How much money has this movie brought in so far? Why would money even be an object? Marvel seems like they’re falling into the same old studio garbage instead of being the cool creative studio that we all hoped they would be.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
If it ain’t broke…
C’mon Marvel…pay the man. How much you givin’ Raimi to do SpiderMan? Sign him up and get it done!
June 10th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
C’mon guys, this is just postering on both sides of the aisle. They’re both saying the things they need to say before they sit down and hammer out a deal. I know Fav is Marvel’s first choice and he wants to do it, they’ll work something out. And also, moving dates two years away is as easy as snapping a finger. Marvel did that for the stockholders, to show they have a schedule now.
Iron Man is the first film from the studio and on its way to 300+ million in domestic BO. They’re not stupid people, this will all be worked out shortly.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Marvel’s actions? Bad move, bad move, bad move. The guy gave you a hit. Audiences love it, critics love it, kids love it, parents love it. Pay the man for fuck’s sake. It’s hard to get a superhero movie right. I have no interest in seeing a sequel unless it’s the same team that made the first one.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Cheap assholes. GET FAV!!! He’s the guy that’ll keep the money rolling 5 years after Iron Man 2 has left the new release shelf at Hollywood Video. Fav makes great films…he makes them for the long run.
What the hell is wrong with Marvel? Are they stupid? This is the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard. That’s like telling Chris Nolan to go F himself after Batman Begins. Its logical that studios keep the director that made its first film a success. I guess Marvel is deciding to recreate what made the Superman sequels so bad. I thought they would be smarter than this.
June 10th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I really suspected this would happen since he hadn’t signed him yet at this point. Normally they would be in negotiations after the receipts for the first weekend were in. If they’re worried about expenses, think about The Avengers. Ed Norton’s salary, RDJr’s salary (which is a 12.5 million asking price now according to an EW.com article yesterday), potentially Brad Pitt’s salary for Thor, and whatever names they get to play Cap and Ant Man.
June 10th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Dear Marvel: You are one movie in and already acting like prima-donnas? Better get your feet back on the ground and fast - before you start pissing off the people who go to see your movies. Favreau did a great job for you - it only stands to reason that you take good care of the guy. Clearly - his heart is in it! Mess around with him and you might get Downey at half speed on the next one! You definitely don’t want that!
June 10th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I might not watch it really if he doesn’t direct the sequel. Shoot, they outghta take as much time as needed, although with hardly anything in 09 I can understand a rush, like Fav say.
Suddenly, I fear for the releases of Cap America and The Avengers.
Thor was doomed the moment it was announced.
June 10th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
@ Iron Avenger - Sorry but you’re wrong. Fox has the X-men and Sony has Spider-Man. Don’t expect them to cross over for quite a long long time. I can’t imagine Sony letting anyone touch their golden goose.
Re: Favs - His agent is crazy ass Spencer Baumgartner at CAA (think Ari Gold on speed) who also reps Gore Verbinski among many others. I guarantee that this all goes back to conversations between him and Marvel. Not to mention the fact that Marvel has already broadcast their slate for the next three years and Favs has publicly said that they couldn’t do IM2 in that time let alone the follow up Avengers film.
Would it be a mistake to let Favs go? Yes. Could a fledgling company who just hit one out of the park make that mistake? Yes. Will you still go see it even if Brett Ratner directs it? You saw X-men 3 didn’t you? They don’t give a crap about you or their property. It’s all business.
June 10th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I wish this news broke a few days ago so Feige could have been confronted at the Hulk premiere about it.
June 10th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Oh great….Here comes Brian Singer to fuck shit up like he did with X-Men and Superman.
I hear Uwe Bowl offered to do it for free. lol
June 10th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I’m sure if RDJ and Fav’s are such good friends RDJ could just hold out on Marvel until they accept Fav’s proposal (granted that its not to ridiculous asking price), they can do the movie without Favreau, they can NOT do it without RDJ.
June 10th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
“Oh great…Here comes Brian Singer to fuck shit up like he did with X-Men.”
Wait, did you just confuse Singer with Ratner?
June 10th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Ohiofile:
Yeah I was wrong about who owned what, but think about the money making potential here. Sony loves $. Fox loves $. Marvel loves $. And better yet, the general public loves Spider-Man and X-Men, so why on Earth not? Sony will want to do whatever they can to revive the Spider-Man franchise after #3 (which I actually thought was alright) and having him in the most talked about and anticipated superhero movie (not including TDK) would be the perfect way to do that. Also, with X-Men Origins: Wolverine out next summer they could easily establish a connection with The Avengers (Captain America and Wolverine are products of the same program.) So, I ask you, why not?
June 10th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I think this will all end after Hulks opening.
If Hulk does huge numbers I would expect Marvel to move and shake on new projects.
I thought that Paramount was only the distributer on Iron Man?
If Paramount is behind Directing choice there could be a prob. Paramount sucks when it comes to doing Studio stuff.
June 10th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
ANG LEE is waiting in the wings
to fuck up another MARVEL
franchise!!!!! come on MARVEL
hire FAV!!!!!
June 10th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Honestly, unless they go all “Empire Strikes Back” with the Demon in a Bottle storyline then it’s probably going to be rubbish anyway. If that’s the case I’d rather see Favs move on to something new…
June 10th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
IF ANY OF THIS IS TRUE, then it is a shame to see greed ruin such a promising franchise. until i hear from fav or a specific marvel rep, i will believe none of it.
is this life imitating art, ala ‘Entourage’? cameron & fav, vince & rdj? how creepy shiek.
June 10th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I honestly hope this is nothing more than speculation. Marvel
would be shooting themselves in the foot if they changes this
all up after such a success with Iron Man.
June 10th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
That sucks! Greedy Marvel. HULK SMASH! I hope they can work it out.
June 10th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Are you kidding me Marvel this has been the only marvel super hero movie I liked so far. It was directed damn well. Get your act together and pay the man. The plot made sense in this one. What the Hell was Spider-man? I’m never going to pay to see one of those ever again.
June 10th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
i will see IM2 regardless of who is directing. BUT i will pay if fav is directing because he is the man and i like to support the guys i admire. if someone else directs then i will just sneak in. lets just hope that someone *cough brett ratner cough* doesnt fuck it up. But I think Marvel has learned their lesson with him
Sign Fav!!! he rules
June 11th, 2008 at 2:16 am
You know why Marvel is going to F–k up.
BECAUSE THEY AREN’T A FREAKING MOVIE STUDIO!
They got REALLY lucky striking it rich with Iron Man, and maybe HULK, but this debacle proves the people running the show are not Hollywood savvy, and will learn a lesson the hard way.
You guys are idiots if you don’t hire the director who gave the breath of life to your “studio.”
June 11th, 2008 at 8:46 am
i think iron man can be taken seriously as a comic book/super hero movie. It was true to the comic books in that the character wasnt updated with modern looking black leather or anything like that. the actor played the character well, and it was a good movie. They cant afford to mess up the sequel, because they wont be taken seriously anymore. hopefully they can see that.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:54 am
If they don’t resign Jon, I hope he goes to WB and do a DC series just to say F-u to the Marvel Suits.
June 11th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Marvel. Please get your heads out of your asses. Iron Man was brilliant due to Jon Favreau and Robert Downey, Jr. They’re a perfect pairing. There is no reason to not pair them up again unless you’re just being greedy.
Why is it that people in Hollywood don’t understand that if they would just do these comic crossover movies right (ie. like the fans want) you’d make so much more money. You’re always thinking so short term.
It comes down to this: Please the fans, and you’ll make so much more money!
June 13th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Fav himself said he made four million for directing Iron Man. Plus some backend. Plus probably an actor fee for standing around being the bodyguard guy so he could get his face on camera.
Who knows what kind of bump he wants, but it’s likely a fairly big one.
I’d worry more about having a good script than about who is directing it.