It’s been five weeks since the one and only phone call my reps have gotten from Marvel. I know their hands are full with the Hulk and I’m sure they will get into it shortly, as they tell me they intend to. I ran into the Marvel guys at the Hulk premiere and everyone sounded eager to get to work on IM2.
I am concerned, however, about the announced release date of April 2010. Neither Robert nor I were consulted about this and we are both concerned about how realistic the date is in light of the fact that we have no script, story or even writers hired yet. This genre of movie is best when it is done thoughtfully and with plenty of preparation. It might be better to follow the BB/DK, X/X2 three year release pattern than to scramble for a date. It is difficult because there are no Marvel 09 releases and they need product, but I also think we owe it to the fans to have a great version of IM2 and, at this point, we would have less time to make it than the first one.
Come on Marvel! Give Favreau the paycheck bump and get to making the film. IF Marvel decides to go with another director, I guarantee you, that director will go more CGI for the film and do away with most of the live action and practical effects that Favreau loves using.
We live in a different movie world than we did a few years ago, when a 51% drop in box office revenues would have spelled death for a film (Jurassic Park II anyone…). Today, with movie studios eager to nab as much as they can opening weekend, the drop is probably expected, especially as the summer box office heats up with a major motion picture hitting theaters each weekend.
Regardless, Iron Man took the top spot once again bringing in an estimated $50.5 million for its second weekend, racking up up an estimated $177.1 million in domestic box office sales. Even though this drop sounds dire, Nielsen EDI estimates ticket sales are up 16% from this time last year.
But year to date, 2008 trails the same portion of last year by 2% with $2.87 billion in industry grosses. The young summer boxoffice is off 4% from the same stretch of the previous swimsuit season, as even the strong “Iron Man” grosses have failed to measure up against the first two weekends of the biggest film from summer 2007, “Spider-Man 3.”
Sounds to me like the only thing that can save the movie industry is YOU. Stop those illegal downloads and start buying those $15 tickets, overpriced popcorn and drinks, so you can sit in a noisy theater listening to the jack-ass behind you gabbing away during the best parts of the movie, while Stinky McFat crowds you out of your seat while smacking his lips loudly with every bite of that Kit Kat bar. Yes, those cell phones ringing non-stop only add to the ambiance, and the crying child - who should never have been allowed in the theater in the first place - makes you long for those days when everyone knew how to behave themselves when attending the movies.
Because you like girls in bikinis, and because Iron Man is the topic on everyone’s lips as of late, Marvel comes to the rescue with this cover for Iron Man: Viva Las Vegas written by the film’s director Jon Favreau.
Following the success of the Iron Man movie over the weekend, Marvel Studios updated its movie schedule as follows:
Punisher: War Zone (Lionsgate)- December 5, 2008
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (Fox)- May 1, 2009
Iron Man 2 - April 30, 2010
Thor - June 4, 2010
The First Avenger: Captain America - May 6, 2011
The Avengers - July 2011
Spider-Man 4 - Still in development
Ant-Man - Writer/Director engaged
It was announced that Iron Man 2 would introduce Thor. While Robert Downey Jr, Gweneth Paltrow, and Terrence Howard are signed for three films, it is uncertain if Jon Favreau will return as director.
Take the jump for the rundown of the animated series and animated direct to DVD projects
I had the opportunity to see the Iron Man movie last evening. The best part about this showing? It wasn’t sold out, wasn’t packed with noisy kids talking during the movie, and not a single cell phone went off during the flick. All in all, a great movie going experience.
But what of the movie itself? I have a few early thoughts after the jump.
Over the next couple of weeks, expect to be inundated with content spilling out of Marvel and the studios as they make sure every single seat in every single theater in every single country is filled with people chanting Iron Man.
Monday, September 10th, 2007--by Stephen Schleicher
Apple went ahead and dropped the Iron Man trailer on its site a day early, so that means you should get thee to the site post haste and view the trailer in magnificent high definition. I had my reservations about Robert Downey, Jr as Tony Stark, but after seeing the trailer, I’m sold.
Sold I Tell You! This movie is going to rock!
If teh Interwebs get clogged and you can’t get the trailer for yourself, take the jump for some screen caps.
Over at his MySpace page, Jon Favreau posted a message to let everyone know we’ll be seeing some of that Iron Man footage real soon.
I hear you all loud and clear. You want to see the footage that we brought to SDCC. Why not post it in HD instead of having everyone download a grainy bootleg? I agree. I am trying to get a version out to you ASAP. This is a big movie, however, and it takes time to get the proper approvals from all parties involved.
I am happy to report that both Marvel and Paramount have agreed to get a version of the footage out to you very soon. I will report the specifics when I get them. Thanks for your enthusiasm and patience.
Well hot damn. For those who got to see the footage at the San Diego Comic-Con, how was it?
One of the big events at the Marvel booth was the unveiling of the Iron Man Mark 1 Armour. Superhero Hype! has some great shots of the suit including some close-ups that really look good. I am really impressed at the amount of detail the creators put into this suit and can’t wait to see this behemoth in action.
Captain Marvel gets a new title with Brian Reed writing and Lee Weeks doing the art work. It’s not one of those stories where Mar-vel comes back from the dead, rather a time-travel story where the Captain comes to grips with his death.
More highlights from the Mondo Marvel Panel after the jump.
Apparently it is the Audi R8. Audi and Marvel have teamed up to give Tony Stark a ride in the new film, that will help lessen the burden of Marvel financing all the promotion itself.
As part of its involvement, Audi will likely pony up tens of millions of dollars to help promote the movie worldwide upon its release, set for May 2008. Details of the marketing plans are still being worked out. Recruiting heavyweight promotional partners like Audi for “Iron Man” is particularly crucial for Marvel given that the pic is the first the company is self-financing, with Par only distribbing.
One of the interesting things about the $108,000 car is it has been designed with the movie promotion in mind; the engine housing glows at night similar to Tony’s chestplate, and the car’s headlights resemble the eye slits of Iron Man’s helmet. Audi actually went to great lengths to get the attention of Marvel to get its car(s) in the film, similar to the deal GMC Dodge had with the Fantasticar from this summer’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and GMC had with the Transformers.
You would think with his fortune he’d be kickin’ it in the back of a stretch limo surrounded by hotties, while his man servant drives him around… ah, the life of a millionaire playboy.
This doesn’t sound good at all.
Over at his MySpace page, Jon Favreau posted a message to let everyone know we’ll be seeing some of that Iron Man footage real soon.
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