Iron Man 2 will not be Demon in a Bottle



Posted by on 07. 04. 2009in News Chat

With Iron Man 2 going into principal photography today, all eyes are now focused on the story. Clearly the strongest story in the Iron Man books was Tony Stark’s battle with alcoholism in the story arc Demon in a Bottle, which also brings about War Machine.

Will this be the plot of Iron Man 2? According to RDJ, its not.

Cinematical shares:

Robert Downey Jr. brushed off the rumors with a “Not Really” to the MTV Splash Page. “As a matter of fact, I think that’s probably best saved because it’s such its own storyline. We’re going for the interim space [between the origin and Demon] which is more a look behind the mask of someone who says he’s Iron Man and what it really is to become a superhero.”

I am both disappointed and pleased to see Robert Downey Jr address it this way. Yes, the story is huge and it deserves its own stage, so he anticipates that it will be “saved” speculating Iron Man 3.

We already saw that Stark has no problems with cocktails before noon, and always seen with a drink in his hand. The stage is set to lead up to the alcoholism. And the catalyst in Demon that sends him on the downward spiral is the accidental death of a politician when he suit malfunctions. Already friends with the bottle, he consoles his depression and worry in some binge drinking.

Also, we were are being introduced to Justin Hammer in this film, who in the comic turns out to be responsible for the suit malfunction. Also, while Stark is struggling with Alcoholism, Rhodey takes on the Iron Man persona wearing the armour for a while, and eventually becomes War Machine adopting a heavy combat version of the armour called the “Variable Threat Response Battle Suit, Model XVI, Mark I”

Fan speculation is a buzz that since RDJ mentioned War Machine in an interview (though not actually admitting he would be in the movie) that we will see Cheaddle in the War Machine armour.

Personally I would love to see the Demon in a Bottle storyline, but if they are saving it for a third movie, I can wait. I don’t want to see such a sensitive subject just get tossed aside as a subplot resolved in a couple scenes.

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34 Responses to “Iron Man 2 will not be Demon in a Bottle”

  1. R1ZE says:

    I’m sorry, I know its old news by now… but I’m still pissed it’s gonna be Cheadle as War Machine

    That said, I’m glad we’re not getting to DiaB yet. It’d be too soon – we need to see Iron Man being happy and have another fun movie first

    • Batman says:

      Hey, I agree! I was really upset when I found out Terrence Howard got replaced. I was looking forward to seeing him in the sequel, and potentially as War Machine.

      Also agree that Iron Man 2 should not be dark… yet…

    • Cinema-Phreak says:

      While It was sad to see terrance howard go, I don’t think they could have done any better on a replacement. Don Cheadle has amazing range and I can see him in the part without ruining it. Imagine if the studios had made the wrong pic and had gone hey we could get vin Diesel he’s darker skinned. Point being is that sooo many other bad decisions could have been made on the replacement this is the best they could have done once you get past being upset about the replacement.

    • riggs says:

      terrance howard sucks, cheadle ftw.

  2. AARON says:

    Yeah really, no “Dark” story lines for Iron Man 2 please, this is supposed to be fun, like the first one

  3. Josh S. says:

    Hopefully, we can avoid “dark” storylines altogether. We don’t need another “Dark Knight” or even “Spiderman 3″. All I want from the new Iron Man is more explosions, more witty banter from T. Stark, and War Machine. Nothing else need change.

  4. Nicolas says:

    The Dark Knight overrated??? WTF??? Best comic book adaptation of all times!!!

    • Michael says:

      Comic book adaptation? It was an original screenplay. It was NOT based on the acclaimed Dark Knight graphic novel by Frank Miller.

      It’s a movie based on a comic book character(s) but is not a direct adaptation from an existing story. Is it good, yes. One of the best movies based on a comic book character. There is a big difference between basing a film on a character vs adapting a novel.

      Rod’s point is the Demon in a Bottle is major storyline, directley from the pages of the book. It’s dark and gritty and it’s a signifigant part of Tony Stark’s history. If Marvel wants to continue down the PG movie path, we may not get to see it. For that matter after recent comments from Warner Bros. regarding their films based on DC characters, we may not get another Batman film on the level of Dark Knight. Millions at the box office and DVD sales be damned. Dark Knight was close to being R-rated and now niether Marvel or DC wants to come close to crossing that line.

    • Rodney says:

      The franchise is a comic book Adaptation, but The Dark Knight movie is not adapted from the Dark Knight book.

      And they could easily do Demon as PG-13.

    • Comics to film aside, there have been H’wood movies made that either were about alcohol and/or addiction and/or a character recovering from such substance abuse that were rated PG to PG-13. There have also been characters in PG/PG-13 films that, as part of that character, the character chooses to begin to sober up.

      So it is possible.

  5. War-Journalist says:

    I agree that we should see a bit more funning and gunning with IM2, but I am curious to the point of worry as to WTF they are going to do for an interesting story this time around. I trust JF & RDJ completely, but I still worry. And I will never understand WHY they would forsake the R. There are certain characters that need an R to be good movies. I want to see Marvel remake Blade. I want to see Marvel Studios give us a perfect Punisher film. I’d like to see a Werewolf by Night as well. Obviously movies like Iron Man and the Hulk don’t need R’s (and if they can be avoided, they should be), but saying you’ll never make an R movie is downright… crushing to fans of those “hardcore” stories. I agree they should keep the rating open to more audiences, but nobody over 21 wants to go to the theatre to see a PG Blade/Punisher/Werewolf.

    • Rodney says:

      So if Nolan remade Blade, and it was PG-13 like Dark Knight, you think it would suck?

      I don’t think there is anything “hardcore” that can’t be done PG-13. Remember for years comic books were governed by the Authority Comics Code to keep certain content clean in the books, and since ditching the Code, none of the books got “better”

      Some of the best storytelling in comics came from the mid 80s before most of the books became about the “Image” and pinup art. All of which was restricted by the comics code to not show gore, blood or nudity.

  6. SlashBeast says:

    I kind of wanted to see Stark’s alcoholism come to the screen but if it’s left out for later it’s fine by me too. Besides, it already looks like there’s going to be a hell of a lot of other characters and plot lines crammed into the movie.

  7. 3R!C says:

    Wonder what prompted the change. Didn’t the director say he wanted the next film to be about Stark’s battle with alcoholism? Man, I really wanted to see War Machine in action!

    • Rodney says:

      The War Machine events actually take place AFTER the Demon in a Bottle story in the comics. It is still possible they will do War Machine in this one, or at least introduce the Armour to set it up for Rhodey in the sequel. I wonder if he will look at the armour and give us “Not yet baby.. maybe next time” in this one. lol

  8. HAZMAT says:

    Ugh…

    I hate the whole alcoholism bullshit….Id rather just seeing him thrust a pole through radioactive mans pancreas…

    And again…what the hell is Justin Hammer doing in this movie????

    Id rather have the freaking Mandarin then THAT guy!

    At least well have Dynamo and (maybe and hopefully) Blacklash

    And the Black Widow…. but shes a bullshit villain really

    • HAZMAT says:

      And BY THE WAY

      WHY did they HALF ASS the Mandarin?? He was in the first movie…and then he doesnt die…so obviously hell be in the 2nd one…right? No.

      The Mandarin was the terrorist that was always rubbing his pinky ring….and his group was called “Ten Rings”
      They changed his character name because we dont fight the Japs anymore…so they gave him an Arabic name..not a Japanese one

      But he was in it…and I thought they were going to keep it going with the whole Mandarin thing..but apparently they forgot about him…

      Dont get me wrong…I hate the Mandarin but…seeing as they already introduced him…and id rather see him then…Justin Hammer

      We already have a smart guy in a suit..Dynamo…and Blacklash…Get rid of Justin Hammer..No one gives a shit about him, and bring in the goddamn Exemplars.

      • Rodney says:

        And you figure they “half assed” Dr Connors in Spiderman?

        Raza and his red ring, might imply he is Mandarin, but it could also be that the ring ends up in someone else’s hands in the sequel. Mandarin HAS Ten Rings, not just one. Maybe there is a mysterious man higher up than Raza who comes for the Rings from his generals. We don’t know.

        And Justin Hammer might be a cameo appearance too. He plays a big role in the Demon in a Bottle storyline, and maybe they are introducing him in this movie just so he isn’t a complete stranger in the third.

        We don’t know.

    • And the Black Widow…. but shes a bullshit villain really

      Of course she is…because…she won’t be a “full time” villain? There may be a point in the film where she “switches sides”?

      As for Manadrin (or lack thereof), I would not rule out The Avengers movie, Iron Man 3…4…whatever. But if you really want to know, I…don’t mind Manadrin’s delay. In fact- and I know this is unpopular- if the character never showed his mug at all in the IM/Avengers films, I’d be fine by it.

    • One more thing. Mandrin was not Japanese in the comics. He was Mongolian.

    • HAZMAT says:

      Im not stupid. I know she was an Avenger, Im fully aware that she “switches sides” I just wont know how much of a villain shell be in IronMan 2 so i dont know if i can put her up in my villains list next to Dynamo (Even though Dynamo also becomes good temporarily in the comics)

      And yeah sorry, what I meant to say…was that they changed his country of origin so it would fit todays war with Iraq
      But thanks for the correction, Mongolian (I actually didnt know that…I thought it was china hence the Mandarin name)

      Rodney,
      No because thus far, Im hearing from everyone that Lizard will be in spiderman 4/5.
      It would have been half assed if they introduced Connors, like they have, and then not used him

      I hate the Mandarin, but now that you have him…might as well fucking use the guy…

      Your Raza theory makes sense, and i like it.
      Also I love your Justin Hammer theory, that would be grand, have him in it for 3 seconds.

      But then again…the way he was rubbing the ring and doing that evil menacing expression had MAIN VILLAIN written all over it!

      But it would be cool to have an actual Chinese (Or Mongolian) Dude step in and take the ring…

      • Rodney says:

        And after recent comments from Favreau and RDJ, Demon in a Bottle will be the basis of a future sequel. So how is that any different?

        • HAZMAT says:

          If they do then its good and bad

          GOOD:
          Blizard, Melter, Constructor, Blacklash and that water wizard guy will be in it

          BAD:
          They probably wont include any of those bad guys and just stick to the “inner demon” shit and focus on the really cool bad guy, Justin Hammer, which will make it a really thrilling movie

          So with that logic i say:
          BAD! NO!

          Unless they do things a la Marvel and change the whole story and have different villains for the inner demon thing and completely change the story…maybe have doc-oc fight ironman…

          cuz who said they HAVE to do things by the book..right? who needs…Blizard and the Melter…one of the 2 coolest villains ever…awesome villains..nope…just justin hammer…

          Sandman killed uncle Ben.

    • HAZMAT says:

      Ironman 2 = Exemplars! =]

  9. bdaviet says:

    I hope they get to it sooner or later. Great story.

  10. sjp1966 says:

    I am unfamiliar with the comics, is warmachine a good guy or a bad guy?

    • Rodney says:

      Good guy. When Stark is unable to use the suit he got Rhodey to step in… eventually Rhodey got a suit of his own to fight crime.

  11. Devan Price says:

    I smell another emo dancing Peter Parker…

  12. spiderfreak182 says:

    i think waiting is good, we dont want another venom origin misshap…

  13. dom says:

    terry tate would be a great war machine/rhodey.

  14. Kristina says:

    See, at least they know not to shoehorn this in with the other storylines they have going. If only someone had done this with Spiderman 3…

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