Bridges is The Mandarin & Favreau is Happy Hogan.

[Advanced Dark]

http://movies.ign.com/articles/761/7...0&RSSid=761733

I think this is the only thing that makes sense after reading Kevin Feige's comments lin the link above.

#1 Feige says the major roles are filled and we won't be hearing anymore casting annoucements.

#2 Happy Hogan and Mandarin are two major roles not mentioned in any casting yet??? What gives???

Well Favreau was rumored or suggested for Happy Hogan since the beginning and no way in hell Favreau is gonna play The Mandarin. Jeff Bridges is probably too old for Happy and in a twisted way and as Favreau said "We'll be impressed, amused, and confused".

So the cast is complete guys.

Bridges Joins Iron Man
Actor to play "confidant" of Tony Stark's.
by IGN Staff
February 6, 2007 - And the Iron Man casting just keeps on coming with the news today that Jeff Bridges will appear in the Jon Favreau-directed movie adaptation of the Marvel Comics character. Robert Downey Jr. is already set to star as the title character, a.k.a. Tony Stark.

Bridges will play, according to The Hollywood Reporter, "a confidant and close business associate of Stark, a longtime employee at defense contractor Stark Industries who plays a major role in shaping Stark's life."

"We've been talking to Jeff for a long time," says Marvel's president of production Kevin Feige. "He's excited about doing a movie like this, and we're excited to have him in this particular role. There are many facets to this character which I can't discuss, but looking at the spectrum of all of Jeff's roles, this fits in nicely with the man who played Starman, Tucker, Big Lebowski with a little bit of Tron thrown in."

Feige adds that the addition of Bridges rounds out the ensemble, so we probably won't be hearing too many more major casting decisions for this project. In addition to Downey Jr. and Bridges, Terrence Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow are also onboard -- though come to think of it, do we know who's playing the villain of the piece yet?

Shooting begins this March in Los Angeles, with a May 2008 release planned.

I can see the ad campaigns now. "Who is The Mandarin?" I honestly think it would have been better for the highlighted quote to have never been said. That is...if I'm correct.

[Batman1939]

very good news can you 100% say its true.

[fu manchu]

I think it could also mean that the rest of the cast will be rounded out by unknowns, including The Mandarin. That the big stars for the movie have been cast.

Plus, I don't believe The Mandarin has ever been the confidant and close business associate of Stark and a longtime employee at defense contractor.

[Carlo Comicus]

I don't believe Jeff Bridges is The Mandarin.

[Antonello Blueberry]

Will they do something so similar to Batman begins? I strongly doubt it.

[Sun_Down]

Umm...

Bridges will play, according to The Hollywood Reporter, "a confidant and close business associate of Stark, a longtime employee at defense contractor Stark Industries who plays a major role in shaping Stark's life."

[FlawlessVictory]

Hmm, something fishy is definitely going on. One has to wonder, why wasn't it announced what character Bridges will be playing? But the Mandarin does not fit the description of "a confidant and close business associate of Stark, a longtime employee at defense contractor Stark Industries who plays a major role in shaping Stark's life." I seriously doubt this is true considering what BB did with Ra's Al Ghul but if it is true then I would find it extremely lame and disappointing.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by FlawlessVictory

Hmm, something fishy is definitely going on. One has to wonder, why wasn't it announced what character Bridges will be playing? But the Mandarin does not fit the description of "a confidant and close business associate of Stark, a longtime employee at defense contractor Stark Industries who plays a major role in shaping Stark's life." I seriously doubt this is true considering what BB did with Ra's Al Ghul but if it is true then I would find it extremely lame and disappointing.

And yet that's exactly what I think they're going to do. Everyone will be expecting the Mandarin to be...well, Chinese, but once again the supposedly villain of the orient will turn out to be a white guy...again.

[Advanced Dark]

Originally Posted by fu manchu

I think it could also mean that the rest of the cast will be rounded out by unknowns, including The Mandarin. That the big stars for the movie have been cast.

Plus, I don't believe The Mandarin has ever been the confidant and close business associate of Stark and a longtime employee at defense contractor.

No. It says Bridges rounds out the ensemble and no more "major" casting decisions. I'd say the lead villain is a major casting decision. And yes I understand they're describing Bridges role as a confident to Stark. That doesn't matter. I'm telling you he's The Mandarin. The role has been changed and updated for the film because they could NOT keep it as it was in the comics. I'm pretty sure Favreau even said way back in the beginning The Mandarin would not be the same as in the comics. The only other possibility is that they cast the mandarin without telling anyone who it was and are keeping some actor a secret. Uhhh no.

[ObakeTora]

Originally Posted by Advanced Dark

No. It says Bridges rounds out the ensemble and no more "major" casting decisions. I'd say the lead villain is a major casting decision. And yes I understand they're describing Bridges role as a confident to Stark. That doesn't matter. I'm telling you he's The Mandarin. The role has been changed and updated for the film because they could NOT keep it as it was in the comics. I'm pretty sure Favreau even said way back in the beginning The Mandarin would not be the same as in the comics. The only other possibility is that they cast the mandarin without telling anyone who it was and are keeping some actor a secret. Uhhh no.

yea even my old ass neighbor 77 year old Mrs Tseng knows the Mandarin is Asian!!! Flynn from Tron as the Mandarin???? Helll no!!!!

[FlawlessVictory]

Originally Posted by Advanced Dark

No. It says Bridges rounds out the ensemble and no more "major" casting decisions. I'd say the lead villain is a major casting decision. And yes I understand they're describing Bridges role as a confident to Stark. That doesn't matter. I'm telling you he's The Mandarin. The role has been changed and updated for the film because they could NOT keep it as it was in the comics. I'm pretty sure Favreau even said way back in the beginning The Mandarin would not be the same as in the comics. The only other possibility is that they cast the mandarin without telling anyone who it was and are keeping some actor a secret. Uhhh no.

I understand you may not be able to keep The Mandarin exactly how he was in the comics, and I'm all for the updating/tinkering of characters in a comic book movie if done well, but Jeff Bridges as The Mandarin?!? That's awful. You might as well not call him The Mandarin and just make up a new villain because this sounds/looks nothing like The Mandarin. Not to mention IM was gonna get compared to BB to begin with(billionaire heroes with no super powers, grounded in reality, strong casting etc) but to throw in a plot twist that I would assume would be similar to BB is insane. And at least Liam bears a resemblance to Ra's Al Ghul. Just when I was getting pumped for this movie, I get levelled with this.

[Advanced Dark]

^ You're missing the beauty of it. Kind of like The Usual Suspects.

[Advanced Dark]

http://www.thefilmasylum.com/newsite...t_from=&ucat=2

It seems Feige makes different quotes. Here it says Bridges character is central to the storyline throught the entire film. "Central".

I'm also wondering if Bridges is gonna play not only The Mandarin but that this character is also his Father. Just to throw so more out there into the wind.

[Antonello Blueberry]

Bridges is not only Tony Stark's father and the Mandarin, he's also Obadiah Stane.

[Advanced Dark]

zip it.

[Iceburgeruk]

Originally Posted by Advanced Dark

http://movies.ign.com/articles/761/7...0&RSSid=761733

I think this is the only thing that makes sense after reading Kevin Feige's comments lin the link above.

#1 Feige says the major roles are filled and we won't be hearing anymore casting annoucements.

#2 Happy Hogan and Mandarin are two major roles not mentioned in any casting yet??? What gives???

Well Favreau was rumored or suggested for Happy Hogan since the beginning and no way in hell Favreau is gonna play The Mandarin. Jeff Bridges is probably too old for Happy and in a twisted way and as Favreau said "We'll be impressed, amused, and confused".

So the cast is complete guys.



I can see the ad campaigns now. "Who is The Mandarin?" I honestly think it would have been better for the highlighted quote to have never been said. That is...if I'm correct.

Could you please get your facts straight.

IGN says that (in their opinion) : Feige adds that the addition of Bridges rounds out the ensemble, so we probably won't be hearing too many more major casting decisions for this project. In addition to Downey Jr. and Bridges, Terrence Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow are also onboard -- though come to think of it, do we know who's playing the villain of the piece yet?

The direct quote is : "This rounds out our ensemble, and I think it's one of the strongest casts ever assembled for one of our films."

IGN added the we won`t be hearing anymore updates. Favreau simply says the ensemble is rounded out (rounded out could still allow one or two more castings). The iron man ensemble cast is tony stark and friends. The mandarin is not gonna be a part of that ensemble he is thwe outsider, the threat.

Besides casting Jeff Bridges as the Mandarin is not a daring move (as everyone`s said it rips of batman begins) it is in fact a move which would cause a lot of outrage.

People might think i am exagerating but imagine the backlash that would occur if someone cast a white actor to play Martin Luthor King Jr in a serious movie about the civil rights leader`s life. Would black people be happy with such a move? Would such a movie be likely to do brilliantly?. If you say yes they would be fine with it and not try to get the film scrapped tghen you are an idiot.

[Advanced Dark]

Originally Posted by Iceburgeruk

Could you please get your facts straight.

IGN says that (in their opinion) : Feige adds that the addition of Bridges rounds out the ensemble, so we probably won't be hearing too many more major casting decisions for this project. In addition to Downey Jr. and Bridges, Terrence Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow are also onboard -- though come to think of it, do we know who's playing the villain of the piece yet?

The direct quote is : "This rounds out our ensemble, and I think it's one of the strongest casts ever assembled for one of our films."

IGN added the we won`t be hearing anymore updates. Favreau simply says the ensemble is rounded out (rounded out could still allow one or two more castings). The iron man ensemble cast is tony stark and friends. The mandarin is not gonna be a part of that ensemble he is thwe outsider, the threat.

Besides casting Jeff Bridges as the Mandarin is not a daring move (as everyone`s said it rips of batman begins) it is in fact a move which would cause a lot of outrage.

People might think i am exagerating but imagine the backlash that would occur if someone cast a white actor to play Martin Luthor King Jr in a serious movie about the civil rights leader`s life. Would black people be happy with such a move? Would such a movie be likely to do brilliantly?. If you say yes they would be fine with it and not try to get the film scrapped tghen you are an idiot.

Your comparison is ridiculous and your understanding of the world ensemble is flawed. It's just a group of actors that work together which does not exclude villains. LOL Favreau said early on this would not be the Mandarin from the comic books except the name would be the same. Isn't that a clue enough.

Here's one quote from Favreau early on re: The Mandarin...

http://www.superherohype.com/forums/...54&postcount=3

en·sem·ble (n-smbl)
n. 1. A unit or group of complementary parts that contribute to a single effect, especially: a. A coordinated outfit or costume.
b. A coordinated set of furniture.
c. A group of musicians, singers, dancers, or actors who perform together: an improvisational theater ensemble; a woodwind ensemble.

This is from Wikpedia using the term ensemble cast in another comic book movie:

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
X2 (film)X2 is an action movie, first released in the United Kingdom on April 24, 2003, and in the United States on May 2, 2003. The film is the second part of the trilogy; following X-Men (2000), and preceding X-Men: The Last Stand (2006). It was directed by Bryan Singer, and starred an ensemble cast including Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Rebecca Romijn, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, Shawn Ashmore, Kelly Hu and Alan Cumming.

Note: Villains and Heroe's are part of an ensemble cast.

[fletch1076]

I think it is more likely Bridges is going to play Stane, pulling the strings in the background of this movie. I having a feeling they are going to use the Manderin as more of a myth then an actually person. Maybe having Bridges/stane harnessing his powers or rings.

[Advanced Dark]

Didn't Favreau say there wouldbe no rings nor magic in this film? I'm pretty sure about that. I think the identity of the Mandarin to Stark will be a mystery until the end and it'll wind up being his Jeff Bridges character whoever he is whether he's also his father or not.

[fletch1076]

look it, if your not going to have any rings, and he is not asian, then what's the freakin point. I understand changing him so he fits this time, but come on, If he wants it that realistic with no magic and stuff, then pick one of im's villians that are based more in reality. Don't butcher manderin to make him more like stane, just make stane the villian.

[fletch1076]

P.S. Stark's already has a confident, it's Rhodes.

[X Knight]

i always thought that, instead of magic rings, the rings could be technology-based ( perhaps nano-technology ). or, they could be part of a gauntlet, or glove........some type of advanced weaponry.

oh, and if Bridges turns out to be the Mandarin......then I will lose all excitement for the movie.

the Mandarin IS ASIAN!!!! If you are going to include the Mandarin as a villain, the he has to be asian!!!

I mean, why can't they have a powerful ASIAN business tycoon who is a rival to Stark. he can be mysterious.....perhaps he has a royal/warrior bloodline.....and he is interested in acquiring powerful technology.....

[fletch1076]

can we please get over having all our comic book movies grounded in reality. Great, it works for Batman, but all of a sudden it has become the blueprint for comic movies. Let's see the main characters life has to suck and it has to be dark. FF tried to stay true to the comic--not reality and it got slaughter, why because it was light hearted--shoot them. Now Iron man is going down that road. Comics were made to be an escape from reality. Stay true to the comics. Not ever superhero has the same back story. deal with it.

[Advanced Dark]

^ I like having them grounded in reality. Not the heroes but the rest of the world. Iron Man is not a freaking mutant and this is a 100+ million dollar film not a 60's 4 color comic. They need to ground a film like Iron Man in a real world environment. That's what makes it even better IMO. If you dont' want reality go watch 300. Comic books were made to be an escape from reality but not all in the same way. Iron Man himself is not a reality. He's a fantasy hero. That suit could not be made now and work like he does in the comics. It's escapism.

[fletch1076]

granted--but if your are going to ground Iron man in reality, and thats your angle, then manderin, although a fan favorite, shouldn't be the villian unless you are doing him the justice he deserves.