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Jon Favreau And Marvel Still Negotiating Over Iron Man 2
Iron Man turned out to be a surprisingly fun, entertaining and dynamite movie. It had its weaknesses for sure, but as a summer comic book movie it knocked it out of the park. A great first outing for the brand new Marvel Studios!
Now, as some of you may know the director of Iron Man, Jon Favreau has not yet been signed to direct Iron Man 2. According the my good friend Robert over at IESB, the reason he isn’t signed yet is because the two sides havne’t come to an agreement over money yet. IESB gives us this:
About a week ago, the IESB was tipped off by a junior source at Marvel Studios that there had been some delays with Jon’s negotiations regarding the sequel. When asked why I was told that Marvel and Favreau hadn’t been able to come to terms regarding money.
Ok, the article goes on to say they the two sides have only had 1 phone conversation in the last 5 weeks. But that doesn’t really mean anything at all… since Marvel has their hands full right now with Hulk getting released this week as well. 5 weeks isn’t anything to get uptight over.
However, some people (including my buddy Robert) are automatically labeling Marvel Studios as being “cheap” since they won’t just lay down and meet Jon Favreau’s demands… calling Marvel cheap before even knowing how much Favreau is asking for. I never cease to be amazed how much people always feel the need to rally against “THE MAN” without ever stopping to consider that “THE MAN” might be right from time to time.
Look, I REALLY like Jon Favreau and I hope he comes back to direct Iron Man 2… but before people go and get their panties all twisted up over this, let’s just wait and see what happens once Jon and Marvel start the negotiations again, and till we find out how much Jon is asking for.
The reality is, the DIRECTION of Iron Man was pretty good… but not great. The real strength of the film was in the script (by Mark Fergus… who also did the screenplay for “Children Of Men”). Favreau did a good job… but let’s be honest here… if YOU were the head of Marvel Studios and you thought you could get another director who could do as good of better than Favreau did with a good script in their hands for less money than Favreau is asking for… You’d get a new guy too. So would I.
But as I said… who knows… maybe Favreau isn’t asking for all that much… maybe he’s asking for way too much… or maybe the reality is they honestly just haven’t had time to really get to negotiating yet and everyone just need to hold their horses for a few more weeks before forming any sort of opinion or jumping to conclusions. Just a thought.
if they make the mandarin the new villain it wont matter who directs it- it will suck.
together we can change this- just like we made sam raimi have venom in spiderman 3- we can also have favreau not have the mandarin if most of us speak!
stop the madness!
I say keep him. It ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
They should certainly try to keep as many of the original crew as they can. However, if Favreau is asking for a ridiculous amount, there is no reason to keep him. Harsh, but true
Unless he was being totally mental and unreasonable personally I wouldn’t get the other guy.
I would give the guy who directed the film a nice bonus and thank him for not fucking it up and delivering us a gigantic smash hit film.
I don’t think I subscribe to your “everyone is replaceable” theory. I mean sure people are replaceable but that doesn’t mean you should.
Maybe Favreau is asking for way too much money but he just does not seem like an unreasonable guy. But then again maybe he is being a dick I don’t know but personally if I was Marvel I would be doing everything I could to secure him. Iron Man was a second tier character. Look at all the other comic book movies based on the lesser knowns. Daredevil?Terrible. Ghost Rider?Terrible. Punisher?Terrible. Catwoman?Terrible. Iron Man was a second tier character but Favreau did not treat the material with the type of second tier mentality that seemed to be applied to the films just mentioned.
For me the main reason the film succeeds is Downey and Favreau. Not the script. In fact take that exact same script line for line and beat for beat and replace the director and lead with Paul Anderson and Nic Cage. It would have been painfully awful.
The script was fairly standard popcorny fare. Hardly mold breaking stuff. Downey improvised a lot of the dialog. That is how they worked on the film. A lot of improvising because as a director Favreau allowed it.
But as I said if he is being completely unreasonable then fair enough but it would have to be really unreasonable for me to turn him down if I was the studio. If there is any problems like this I really hope it isn’t the studio being cheap because Favreau delivered them a gigantic blockbuster and I would hope that they would treat him as he deserves to be treated.
I also hope he isn’t being a a big head either because he seems like a nice guy.
it took them 5 years to find a director in the first place. I say stay with Favreau unless his demands are beyond unreasonable
The main reason Favs might not want to come back is because of the pressure to make the April 2010 release date that Marvel wants. It doesn’t give him a lot of time to create a quality product. It’s not just Iron Man either but Marvel has a whole film slate building up to an Avengers movie and all it takes is one delayed project and the whole stack of cards falls down.
I say concentrate on getting ‘Thor’ or ‘Captain America’ ready for 2010 Marvel. Give Favs more time to craft a sequel and i’m sure he’ll gladly do it and we’ll all be happy.
Is Favreau the one who pushed for Downey Jr. to be in “Iron Man?” If so, I’m sure they will want to work together again, and I’m sure they’ll back each other.
It was weird for Marvel to announce a release date without even re-signing the main talent.
I believe the article mentions that Favreau is only asking for what most directors are getting for the average movie, not an exorberate amount of money. If that is true, then Marvel IS being cheap. If it isn’t and he is asking for too much, then more power to them to try and find another good director.
Hey Alex,
You said:
“It was weird for Marvel to announce a release date without even re-signing the main talent”
That’s not really true. The cast, including Robert Downey Jr. are signed for the next one. They signed a multi film deal when they first came on board.
Alex getting Downey was Favreaus idea. Downey, before Iron Man, was hardly at the top of studios “must hire for lead in franchise” list.
and Phil Gee is right. Apparently on Favreau’s my space page he says he is concerned that the 2010 release is unrealistic since they don’t have a script or anything in place yet. He would prefer to do a 3 year gap like batman/dark knight and the xman films. He said that way they can take their time in writing it and developing it to deliver quality rather than feeling rushed to make a film just to make a deadline. He also says that he has had one phone call from them about the sequel and he is sure they are busy with Hulk and expects to talk more seriously soon.
so its not about money apparently. He doesn’t want to have to rush it. He wants time to develop it properly.
Production Budget: $140 million
Worldwide Gross: $538 million
Also its still in theatres & hasnt even came out on DVD yet
Marvel Studios should just pay this guy whatever he wants
open the damn purse strings!!
Hey Goodbar,
You said:
“Marvel Studios should just pay this guy whatever he wants”
Why should they pay him whatever he wants? The direction for Iron Man was good… but certainly not great. Why give a guy more than he’s worth if you can get an even better director for the same or less money?
There were over 400 names in the credits for Iron Man. Should all 400 of them just get whatever they want too?
Remember, I’m a fan of Favreau… and I’d like to see him back. But that doesn’t mean I check common sense at the door.
@ John
“The reality is, the DIRECTION of Iron Man was pretty good… but not great. The real strength of the film was in the script (by Mark Fergus… who also did the screenplay for “Children Of Men”).”
OK. I’ll bite; how would YOU defend the notion that the direction was ‘pretty good’ as opposed to ‘great’? What could have been done better? What were its failings?
More to the point, please explain how you differentiate between a ‘pretty good’ directing job with a great script…and a ‘great’ directing job of a ‘pretty good’ script.
As a screenwriter, I’m dying to hear your response.
it just seems so much easier man
Im sure the cast & crew would want him back…he prob has a good repertoire with them. Unless hes asking for some retarded sum i say go for it.
It just seems that when doing a trilogy its best to stick to the same director (minus the 1st Star Wars trilogy) Especially when the first one was soooo well received.
But your right….until we know more its all speculation
Plus i think i just wanted to post those impressive BO numbers :)
Well according to Favreau its not about money. Its about the development. Favreau doesn’t like the idea of having a release date in place when there is no script. There is no clear indication that there is any real problem as he also said he hasn’t had any real talks with them yet. He expects talks to resume once the hulk release is over with. I would be very surprised if Marvel didn’t want to get him back.
Favreau really doesn’t seem like a liar or a jerk so it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
The original Star wars trilogy is often brought up as an example of proof that changing directors isn’t always a bad thing but that is a bit of a different situation as Lucas was still heavily heavily involved in every aspect of Empire and Jedi obviously. They hardly kicked him off and handed them over to a completely new set of film makers. The only reason lucas didn’t direct was because he felt so stressed making the first one he swore he wouldn’t do it again. But those films for all intents and purposes are lucas films. especially Jedi. Richard Marquand said he felt that Lucas was really directing. He was over his shoulder so much he wondered why Lucas didn’t just direct it himself.
Hey Probitionate
Directing is about a lot of things (as you know). Shot selection, atmosphere creation, using the visuals to tell the story, getting a certain performance out of your actors, shot selection, lighting, pace… ect. ect. ect.
For me (and many other people I’ve talked to), Favreau did a pretty good job with all these things… but nothing more. He did pretty well. He got handed a great script (for its genre) that had some compelling characters (especially Tony), got handed some great performers (but aside from Robert, didn’t really get a lot out of them) and a solid story.
A bad director would have botched it. A good director would fulfill it’s potential (this is where I felt Favreau generally fell into place), but a director that did a great job would have added to it. I don’t feel favreau added much… and that’s ok, because he did his job.
If I had been handed the movie with the exact same script and the exact same actors and the exact same budget…. I would have totally screwed it up. But that’s why I’m writing a blog and not directing a $180 million dollar movie. :P
First of all, I have to say that the shooting script for ‘Iron Man’ is well done, and I had forgotten that one of the writers, Mark Fergus, wrote ‘Children Of Men’…but it should be pointed out that there were two teams of writers on the film John : Fergus & Hawk Ostby and Art Marcum & Matt Holloway.
Now, about Favs not being signed on yet. So what? Most likely they will give it to him anyway. The film is a hit, and having an actor or director “asking” for a little bit mre on a paycheck for a sequel or two is nothing groundbreaking it’s been done a million times. This practice will be done a million times more and then some. There is nothing unusual here.
Yes, Favs has done a good/great job. But as opposed to…well, what George up there mentioned. I don’t 100% agree with him, but here it is. Not a lot of folks loved Daredevil. The director of Daredevil, Mark Steven Johnson, went on to do Ghost Rider. Tim Story made two Fantastic Four films.
They’ll let directors come out with films that have (let’s play fair) mixed reactions to adaptations of their books and characters, but pass on the guy who pleases everyone across the board?
Call me unconvinced.
However–they also may be taking Favs up on that other offer of his. Anyone remember it? Directing The Avengers?
“John
Hey Goodbar,
You said:
“Marvel Studios should just pay this guy whatever he wants”
Why should they pay him whatever he wants? The direction for Iron Man was good… but certainly not great. ”
thats is just your opinion
From Favreaus MySpace page
“I am concerned, however, about the announced release date of April 2010. Neither Robert [Downey, Jr] 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.”
he does also say he saw the marvel guys at the hulk premiere and everyone is really keen.
I would say this story is more than likely a mountain out of molehill.
Fantastic Four was going to my next point as well Darren haha. You took the words right out of my mouth. or offmy fingertips – I know its different studios but the fact that anyone would rehire tim story after FF yet Favreau is having problems seesm nuts to me.
I couldn’t desagree more!!! Any nerd could write that script. Favreau is the key of Iron Man’s success, delivering the exactly perfect amout of ALL elements, so that the movie can be apreciated by all sorts of viewers. No script could go that far. Favreau – and, of course, his crew, ’cause the man didn’t act alone – achieved a great thing, that is telling a good story in a way that made 95% of the audience leave the theaters with a smile on their faces.You don’t think that he added too much? That’s just the goal here: put out a good flick that represent all we want from the story. Or you prefer the Sam Raimi’s way, with the 10 minutes talk between that stupid Mary Jane character and spidey? I would pay him 10 times more to do that again. It’s better than paying Chris Tucker for Rush Hour 3…
Hey Latin Friend
You said:
“Any nerd could write that script.”
Ummmm… noooooo. “All the elements” as you said, are FROM THE SCRIPT.
It all starts with the script. Every word, every action, the story, the scenes… it all comes from the script.
No sir, not just “any nerd” could have written that script. Hence you get movies like Fantastic Bore and Ghost Rider…. bad scripts make for bad movies.
Good directors can make a good script even better. But good directors can’t make a good movie out of a bad script.
Favreau, Downey, Jr. and Bridges made Ironman work. The script just took off from Batman Begins.
If it’s not the same director and lead actor, it ain’t gonna happen. I say give Favreau and Downey Jr. whatever the hell they want.
If either one of them is out of the picture, I’m not going to watch it….two times. And THAT’S where the real money’s at.
John:
I hear what you’re saying. To me, this is a matter of going beyond ‘executing what’s on paper’, and ‘leaving your mark’. A question of ‘value-added’…or, in simple terms, ’style’.
Vocalist…as opposed to singer.
Guitar player…as opposed to guitarist.
Movie star…as opposed to actor.
‘Directed by’…as opposed to ‘A Film By’.
LOL
Actually, I think Favreau was thier first choice but he ws comitted to another film that fell through. The script was actually written by four writers, who at first worked in pairs, then sent notes to each other. Eventually, the pair who wrote Children of Men stayed on through filming when the other two guys were called away for a TV pilot they were committed to. Favreau brought in the guys from Children of Men while the other two started the script at the behest of Marvel. There’s a great article on it in Creative Scrennwriting Magazine.
they should hire a new director for Iron Man 2, maybe somebody that can deal with action better or make a movie more stylized. I think Russell Mulcahy or Luc Besson. I actually think Luc Besson would make an AMAZING Iron Man movie. I can’t even imagine how his Iron Man movie would be like. I love Russell Mulcahy because he has a wonderful kinetic visual style. Luc Besson knows how to make popcorn movies, he is a guy that has a wild imagination.
John,
Would you like Luc Besson or Russell Mulcahy to direct Iron Man 2?
I couldn’t disagree more with this piece. To say that Favreau did an “ok job” is nothing less than a slap in the face. The guy made a genuine blockbuster. He didn’t simply deliver a big opening weekend (which any pretty film can do, thanks to advance marketing), he delivered a film that has grossed almost $600 million and IS STILL IN THE TOP TEN. Who knows what the final take will be, but it’s fair to say that this film wildly exceeding expectations in terms of box office–something the suits should pay attention to. Not nearly as relevant to the suits is 93% fresh rating at RT, but it *should* matter to those of us who appreciate good movies. How often does a film cross-pollinate exuberant reviews with massive profits? Not very.
Your argument that the script is responsible for the massive take is just plain silly. While it’s true that a good film can’t be made from a bad script, it’s equally true that a bad film can be made from a good (or even great) script, and that’s far, far more common.
Imagine if Marvel Studios’ inaugural film had been poorly received, or simply mediocre. It would have put a nasty taste in the fan’s mouths, and could have been a huge embarrassment for a studio with long-reaching ambitions. Favreau delivered–period. He should be compensated appreciably for doing so.
im sure this is all posturing and he will be back.
they are cutting the 2010 date kinda close tho considering there isnt even a story written yet.
and personally just to add my 2 cents, i think robert downey jr. is the one responsible for the major part of the success of iron man.
But, Leeloo… who is responsible for bringing Downey Jr. on to the project? Favreau wanted to cast him, and pushed for it when the studio balked. That’s what a director does–he finds and brings together all the elements that make a successful film.
Hey Paul,
Actually, the person responsible for brining Robert Downey Jr. on the film was Sarah Finn. And Where did you hear that the studio “balked” at brining on Downey?
Actually not every word was in the script because Favreau as the director allowed a lot of improvising and Downey who Favreau picked improvised a lot of his lines.
Downey for me is the main reason the film is so great because I imagine that same character played by Nic Cage and I think it would have been awful. And since Favreau picked Downey and backed him when the studio didn’t want him and he turns out to be the films main gun I would say Favreau deserves a lot of praise for seeing Downey in this part.
The script and storyline was fairly bland really. There is nothing special or new to the structure itself. It isn;t bad but it is hardly earth shatteringly original. d
Downey put it over the top and favreau gave it the extra omph it needed to avoid being just another second tier super hero film.
I saw Favreau and Downey in several interviews talk about the studio not wanting him and that Facreau did and that he fought for him.
Hey George,
I’m not saying I don’t believe you, but I need a link to a source, because I heard TOTALLY the opposite. Favreau didn’t bring Downey Jr. on, nor did the studio “not” want him. If the studio didn’t want him, he wouldn’t have been in it.
Hi John,
Here’s the first source I came up with on a quick Google search, but I heard this more than once while the film was in production.
http://tinyurl.com/637ppz
Straight out of Favreau’s mouth (assuming he’s not being misquoted).
Well he actually did bring him on. Sarah Finn may have put him forward as an option and maybe that is what brought him to Favreaus attention but Favreau decided he wanted him and had to lobby hard with the studio for them to agree on him.
Robert Downey Jr was hardly at the top of the execs must hire list.
Hey George,
Finn cast Downey, and Favreau approved and took it to the studio. All this talk of the studio “balking” at Downey or not wanting him or Favreau having to fight the studio to get Downey on is false.
The urban mythasizing of how the heroic Favreau (who I’m a huge fan of and have supported from the very begining) single handedly traveled to Jamaica and pulled Downey Jr. out of the mouth of a killer shark, brought him back to Hollywood and had to fight through 200 Studio security guards with nothing but a pocket knife and then went on hunger strike until he finally made the spinless studio bend to his will… gets blown out of proportion.
Robery Downey Jr. got the role much like about 80% of actors get their roles. It was a GREAT casting decision… but there was nothing out of the ordinary about it.
John,
I’ve now submitted three different sources, two of which feature Favreau explicitly talking about the studio’s reluctance to hire Downey. How much more evidence do you need? And, no offense intended, but why should we believe you instead of the guy who was directly involved?
So favreau is lying about lobbying hard for him then? Downey is lying as well when he says the same thing?? No one is claiming favreau wen and fouth sharks john. But he made a casting decision that was fantastic thats all.
If you think any studio had robert downey at the top of their must hire list you are crazy.
Sarah Finn did not “cast” Downey. Casting directors do not cast movies john. They do not tell directors who they are going to have in their film. They put together lists of suitable people and then the director and producers go over that list and see if anyone appeals to them. The casting director gets a brief and puts together a list of folks who fir that brief. The director will have his wish list, the studio will have theirs the producers and she will have the list she likes. perhaps she did put him in her list so it was he ridea to suggest him but there is no way Sarah Finn told Favreau “oh Downey is you lead by the way. You have no say. I have cast him and thats final”
I normally agree with you 99% of the time but we definitely see differently here! Love the site by the way. LOVE IT.
Hey George,
You really have to read what I wrote dude. I never said he didn’t “lobby” for Downey. The moment he goes to the studio and says “I want this guy”, he’s lobbying for him. Totally… 100% agree with you.
And, as I already said: “Finn cast Downey, and Favreau approved”.
My point is just that the idea that the Studio didn’t want Downey and Favreau had to fight them to get him isn’t quite true. No, he may not have been their first choice, but they didn’t fight Favreau on it. There’s always a casting process. They go through it with several names, different people have differnt first picks… and then they make a final decision.
My only point is that there was never a situation where the studio said “no, we don’t want that guy” and then Favreau had to step up and fight them over it.
I don’t think we’re actually saying very different things here.
The reason Iron Man did so well was because of Faverau and Downey. The script didn’t have an original bone in its body and was as clichéd as they come. It’s been one of the main points when people have been criticizing the film. It was an origin story plain and simple something that’s been done many many times before. But…that didn’t detract from the movie because Faverau and Downey handled the material well and made it fun.
Faverau has said that he came to the studio with the idea to cast Downey, they didn’t like the idea because the guy isn’t exactly the first actor you think of when casting a super hero film. So Faverau had to have him audition for the studio and then they saw the light. I don’t think there was much “fighting” since Downey was introduced pretty early in the production process.
Anyone who thinks Jon Favreau did a “great” job directing Iron Man knows absolutely nothing about the art of direction. He took the script and basically followed it like a paint by numbers book. Visually the movie had all the artistic merit of a first year film school student. No he didn’t screw the movie up when some others might have, but so could 100 other directors with basic skills.
Everything will change after the Hulk premire…..
Hulk Smash compatish!
They’ll hire Favreau again. Studio execs like their jobs. They won’t make the decision to switch directors, because if they do, and the second movie tanks, they’ll take the fall. Favreau has them by the snardlies.
“tipped off by a junior source” ????
“1 phone conversation in the last 5 weeks”????
John, I’ll go back to the 1st point in your article. This doesn’t mean anything. I’ll go as far to say it ALWAYS takes more than “one phone call” to get anyone to sign/resign for anything. A lot of speculation with a genesis of “a junior source”.
The success of Iron Man doesn’t rest on any one person. As with any ‘project’ in any ‘business’, it takes a team to achieve success, but only 1 person to cause a failure.
That being said, It doesn’t matter who the studio gets as at this point. I believe that Marvel has more to worry about with Thor casting and production than Iron Man 2.
Daniel`J
Agree to disagree. His ideas and his direction of where he took the movie are a great deal of the reason the movie did so well and was so enjoyable. Is staying close to the script really such a bad thing? I mean that is what it is there for in the first place, right? If he had not gone with his ideas and gut instincts, we would have had something along the lines of X-Men 3.
As for the look, this isn’t the artistic type of movie. No one is looking for Speilberg-esque shots. The movie sets out to wrap you in with the characters and story and keep you entertained through the whole film, which I believe it did. A summer blockbuster is set to entertain the fans and make money for the studios, and it accomplished both thanks to the cast and crew under Favreau’s direction. Having a mega-blockbuster your first time around is not something 100 other directors could have done.
By the way, you must be hanging out with some EXTREMELY talented first year film students. ;)
I’m going to say it again, cause I want to make my stand: I think Favreau’s job was more decisive for the success of the movie than the writer’s. And if John Campea, whose ideas are often great, desagree, so be it. But know man, that i’m not alone. I consider myself a nerd that can write pretty well – maybe better in portuguese – and I totally think that I could write that script. For those who think that the director just followed the script, I ask you: DON’T YOU THINK THAT THE WRITER JUST FOLLOWED THE COMIC BOOKS??? The great merit of the movie was not the “art of direction”, but a really great comic heroe flick. That’s that.
According to one site Marvel have put an offer out to favreau today.
Latin Friend:
You can barely write e-mails, never mind a Hollywood script. The writers didn’t just “follow the comic books”, either. Quite a few elements were taken from the comics, absolutely. But some of the story elements in the movie happened DECADES apart in the comic books! To take those elements and produce a coherent script, in essence transforming the story from one medium to a completely different one in the process, is NOT as easy as you think, and is obviously beyond your meager skills.
John’s right: the writers had at least as much to do with the success of this movie as Favreau.
And Daniel-J: In short, don’t be such a douchebag. You know your ideas can’t stand up to real criticism, so you begin by insulting anyone who dares disagree with you. LAME! I await your retort, as pathetic as it will be….
“obviously beyond your meager skills”??? That from a guy who criticizes insulting instead of making an argument??? What an ass! You didn’t even singled out ONE element that was brought by the writers to the movie. And I never said they did a poor job. Just that I could do the same shit based on the comics, but I would never dream in directing it…
If anyone but Jon makes my next movie I will be really depressed. In fact I need a drink right now just thinking about it…
If you make any changes just don’t take the main stars out of the movie thats what makes you lose a lot of people and when you lose people you lose money.