Good on Cinema Blend for again confirming what we’ve heard and expected of the working relationship between director Jon Favreau and Marvel Studios: it sucks. With “Iron Man” hitting major box office gold and laying the groundwork for the studio’s ambitious crossover plans, most assumed he would get first dibs for “The Avengers” as a giant thank you from the fledgling studio to the man that made them bankable.
For a while, Favs seemed like the number one choice, but the big stumbling block turned out to be “Iron Man 2.” Favreau was open about being rushed into production on the big budget sequel so soon after the first film, and it looked briefly like he would be replaced because they couldn’t meet his quote (how familiar sounding). Favreau, quite the negotiator, used the fan outrage to his advantage once word got out that he was being lowballed and scored a much higher fee for “Iron Man 2.”
Naturally, Marvel, living up to their petty reputation, reacted by poisoning the “Iron Man 2” well. Cinema Blend’s source, while not providing specific hints, claims Marvel exerted strong control over the sequel, shoehorning in the hefty’ Avengers’/’SHIELD’ subplot meant to set up future movies in the Marvel universe. Even those who liked “Iron Man 2” found that these moments seemed more than a little detached from the major storyline, which itself felt patchy and underwritten.
According to the source, relations are so bad that when Favreau split for “Cowboys And Aliens,” he left for good. Already a producer on “The Avengers,” he’s sure to have a sizable amount of input on that blockbuster, but the relationship might be so damaged that he may not return for “Iron Man 3.” While $600 million domestic says that Paramount and Marvel would want a third one, as “Iron Man 3” is the final proposed film in their joint arrangement before Marvel Studios distributes through Disney, even Robert Downey Jr. is peeved: according to Cinema Blend, RDJ soured on making “Iron Man 2” enough that after an “Avengers” film, where he would certainly would be top-billed, “Iron Man 3” would be his last adventure as Shellhead.
Want to make right by the fans, Marvel? Here’s our incredibly dorky idea: offer Favreau and Downey Jr. sweetheart deals/raises for “Iron Man 3” and “The Avengers 2.” In the latter film, tackle the popular Civil War storyline that turns Tony Stark into an incredible dick and surprise everyone by veering from continuity and offing Iron Man at the end. Then, make future Marvel films in the wake of a superhero community that’s just lost its most popular and powerful creation to greed, avarice and war profiteering. You’re welcome.