So what's going to happen in the IRON MAN sequel?
 

I like that the IRON MAN movie is sort of reality-based and not too fantastical, at the same realism level as Batman. What worries me is that Iron Man's most famous villain is the Mandarin, who is as fantastical as it gets. So when Mandarin appears in the sequel, how are they going to interpret this villain? Is he going to be the typical Asian magician/sorcerer, as has been the typical villain in all the sword & sorcery movies. Think of the Ghengis Khan villain from The Shadow. That's how I see The Mandarin - sort of corny and a type of villain that's been overused in cinema. But he's got to be used since he is Iron Man's most famous villain. Maybe the filmmakers will work the magic aspect of The Mandarin, after all, magicians are pretty amazing geniuses that can fool people's eyes. But if they are going to use the "magic 10 rings" that give him power, then the movie is going to turn all fantastical, which may not even be a problem if Iron Man is eventually going to team up with other superheroes who do have fantastical powers (Thor, Hulk).

The good thing about Iron Monger, who was a great villain, is that they can continue using villains taking advantage of Stark's designs, as in the comic. In the sequel, they can use Iron Man's other villains, which don't really need focus, as they do on The Mandarin, such as Crimson Dynamo (Russian villain) and The Beetle (an actual plot in the Iron Man cartoon - villains who steal Stark's armor technology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armor_Wars). Just like Iron Monger, someone like Crimson Dynamo can just be one of Mandarin's goons.

This is how I see the chain of command of villainy in the sequel:
1. The Mandarin
2. Fin Fang Foom (Mandarin's sidekick)
3. Crimson Dynamo
4. terrorists

Since Iron Man is sort of like a James Bond superhero that actually deals with world problems, the sequel can start off with him fighting in Russia versus Russian rebels/terrorists, then faces and defeats Crimson Dynamo, Iron Man is then exposed to The Mandarin who turns out to be the baddie running the show even in the first movie, goes back to USA, recruits Rhodes as War Machine, or even having SHIELD along with with Nick Fury or Guardsman, join in the fight against The Mandarin and Fin Fang Foom in Asia. End of movie.

So I think that the sequel can easily have War Machine, Shield, The Mandarin, Fin Fang Foom, and Crimson Dynamo without the film being packed with too much going on. I don't even think a third film would be necessary.

Its been reported that the cast signed a three-movie deal, so we might get 3... unless they use the potential "The Avengers" movie as one of them.

I really think that they would use The Mandarin next film (the bad guys were referred to as "The Warriors of the 10 Rings" (which just screams for The Mandarin).

I would also welcome War Machine and a cameo from

It better have War Machine.

I thought Nick Fury DID have a cameo in this film, and that Samuel L. Jackson filmed it? (Haven't seen the movie yet, but I KNOW I read that.)

I'd like to see Fin Fang Foom, one of the best names for a villian.

I kind of hope they DON'T go the whole "Demon in the Bottle" Tony Stark alcoholism plotline in Part II, while it's a great story one of the thing I love about the first movie is that's a bit lighthearted compared to the super-dark heroes we've had lately, that Tony Stark actually loves being Iron Man. Having him get drunk and give it up in the second part would be a bummer I think and lose a lot of the movie's charm.

Also, hearing people say "the second one is going to be a lot darker" is becoming one of the biggest cliche in comic book movies anyway.

Did you guys watch AFTER the credits of Iron Man? If so, you would have seen the cameo by

It better have the line "I AM IRON MAN" in it and have more Iron Man action.

and talking to him about

I have never read the comics, so forgive this ignorant question... does Iron Man ever fight War Machine in the comics?

Yeah, that got my blood pumping after the credits finished.

Sucks I didn't wait after the credits. But if it doesn't happen the majority of us didn't see it anyway.

i think that is why it was tacked on, the majority didn't see it and wouldn't go anywhere to find out about it, so if it doesn't happen there wouldn't be too much boo hoo, i know i wouldn't boo hoo. but, it was cool for those of us that saw it.

An AVENGERS movie sounds good.
But IRON MAN is going to have a bit part in this year's HULK movie.

I'd hope they don't dump in all that stuff listed by the OP. Seems like too much to throw into the film. Personally, I'd like to see it concentrate on Mandarin, with some more developments with Stark, maybe allude to the alcoholism, and get War Machine in there.

What's the soonest you think a sequel would be ready to hit theatres? My guess would be 2010 or 2011 at the earliest.

2011 is set up for the Avengers movie. But there's going to be a sequel for Iron Man before that.

Between now and then you need a Thor, Cap and Ant-man film.

As for sequels, we'll see Tony spiral out of control in his drinking problem more than likely.

Reading Wikipedia, it looked like the goal was 2010.

I wouldn't mind seeing Tony hit by alcoholism forcing Rhodes to wear the Iron Man suit.

Not sure what is going to happen for the next Iron Man movie but...

Here's part of an interview with RDJ

Happy, maybe? Is that why Favreau cast himself in the role? :lol: He also mentions how he and Jon consulted with Shane Black. Anyways, I could definitely see them doing the "Demon" story and having Rhodey come in to "battle" him or something. But, yeah, the second/darker cliche is almost as annoying as "jump the shark"...

I really like Thor but the nature of his powers seem harder to rationalize that most of the other Avengers. Also, I don't want to see a movie filled with back stories more than quick clips or one liners.

The problem with Iron Man is that he has such a poor rogues gallery. He doesn't have and Magneto, or a Green Goblin or a Joker. I mean Fin Fang Foom? Seriously? I don't want to see them make the next one dark and make Tony and alcoholic but IM vs War Machine would probably be the best thing for the movie but that would be a little to similar to Iron Monger. IF they do Mandarin similar to the way Nolan did Raz Al Gul then I could see that working.

Mandarin is an obvious choice, but I'd really like to see an Armor Wars type scenario. You could set up cameos from so many of the armored bad guys with that (like Crimson Dynamo, Titanium Man, or Controller). Of course, fighting a bunch of big armored guys would be a lot like the finale to this first movie, so my second choice would be Justin Hammer, with his trio of Blacklash, Blizzard, and Beetle.

Then you've also got guys like Living Laser, Ghost, or Spymaster. The Ghost would be really aweome. Lots of good material to choose from. Hell, since they've introduced SHIELD in this one, they could do AIM in part two, and have MODOK show up.

:drool:

Just go back to issues 110-150 of The Invincible Iron Man and look for a good villain. There were plenty of great stories during that run, there's got to be someone.... (My comics are boxed up, so I don't have quick access to them right now to look.)

Although an Avengers villian, maybe Kang the Conqueror could be the villian in a more terrorist way and set him up to be the big bad in the supposed Avengers movie.