14 DAY TRIAL // “Iron Man 2” is starting to shape up just nicely and, with a release date set for April 2010, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that major players involved in it are already dishing out details, keeping fans on their toes as to what they should expect from such a major production. Mickey Rourke is one such player, offering Empire details on the costume of one of the villains that Iron Man will face in the sequel.
Rourke plays Whiplash in the film, one of the two villains that the public will soon meet. While the “Wrestler” star is no stranger to playing baddies, or at least bad boys, and well familiar with the concept of pulling a physically challenging part, he reveals playing Whiplash is somewhat more difficult than he expected. He’s having lots of fun, the actor reveals upon returning from location in Brazil for Sylvester Stallone’s “The Expendables,” but the Whiplash costume is giving him trouble.
“I’m having the time of my life!” the actor says about what it means to have joined one of the biggest movie franchises of our time. “It’s been really brutal, because my Iron Man suit weighs 23lb. It’s sort of a half-suit, with half my skin showing, with lots of Russian tattoos, because [Whiplash is just] out of a Russian-zone prison.” Rourke further explains for Empire. As one can imagine, comic books fans who have been waiting for details of this kind rather impatiently are already hard at work trying to envision Whiplash’s costume.
Meanwhile, director Jon Favreau is also offering fans insight into the upcoming production. Just like main star Robert Downey Jr. too revealed a while back, Favreau is saying this “Iron Man” film will focus more on the making of the superhero than on his actions once he’s become that. As fans must remember, Downey Jr. hinted that the film might take a more human approach to the story, dealing with the inner conflict of being Iron Man.
“Tony’s expected to be a role model and I don’t think he’s ready to be one.” Favreau says of the main character and his journey to self-discovery and, ultimately, acceptance. “He’s under a great deal of pressure and when you’re under pressure, I think you find outlets for that. That’s one of the tensions of the film: it’s one thing to say you’re Iron Man, and another thing to actually become Iron Man.” the director concludes by saying.