Iron Man Sequels Best Actors Worthy to play the "Real" Mandarin in Iron Man 4

[JamieEvan]

Personally, I think an asian actor is the best choice. One vote for Ken Watanabe

 

[jaymes_e06]

Keanu Reeves... no really.

 

[Majik1387]

I'm down for Keanu.

 

[MichaelChen]

Keanu IS mixed, which makes him closer to Mandarin's actual ethnicity than most of the pure Asian names that keep getting tossed into the hat.

 

[SlamAdams]

Guy Pierce

 

[FVD]

Keanu IS mixed, which makes him closer to Mandarin's actual ethnicity than most of the pure Asian names that keep getting tossed into the hat.

I wouldn't object to Keanu also, as he has had previous training in Kung Fu not to mention sword training in Ronin 47 or whatever that movie was called. I had no idea Mandarin was of a mixed race though. Mark Dacascos ain't a bad choice either but I'm sure Marvel will go with a bigger name like Keanu.

 

[Dark Raven]

Mark Dacascos has already been used in Agents of SHIELD just as a henchman, when he was playing the main villain in Hawaii Five-0 before.

 

[MichaelChen]

I wouldn't object to Keanu also, as he has had previous training in Kung Fu not to mention sword training in Ronin 47 or whatever that movie was called. I had no idea Mandarin was of a mixed race though. Mark Dacascos ain't a bad choice either but I'm sure Marvel will go with a bigger name like Keanu.

Yeah, he's mixed: half white(British) and half Mongolian.

 

[FVD]

Yeah, he's mixed: half white(British) and half Mongolian.

Awesome! Kinda looks like John Constantine with bling lol. Now I do think Mandarin oughta be redeemed as I'd love for a Masters of Evil centred Avengers film to happen in the future. And here's hoping led by Doctor Doom too provided the FF rights are back at Marvel by then.

 

[MichaelChen]

Manu Bennett

 

[yllum]

There is only one choice- johnny depp! get him!

The salary for the film will be $100m for just rdj and depp

 

[A Necessary Evil]

Oh, we're still on this topic?

 

[2002SpideyFan]

Well, its undoubtedly should be a purely Asian actor. It can be Chinese American actor. But he definitely has to look Asian. Mandarin often been portrayed with definitive Asian features, so it's logical to make him according to the comics this time. Considering the fact that Mandarin has strong national pride towards China and he definitely considers himself as Chinese, which illustrates in his favoritism towards Chinese culture. My personal choice would be Aaron Kwock. No whitewashing this time. Mandarin doesn't look even remotely Caucasian. I'm, unlike many out there who try to whitewash Asian characters, want to see faithful representations of my favorite comic book characters, and that includes racial representation. Also, I don't want Iron Man 4 to happen. Iron Man 2 and 3 were horrible, so I would like to see a reboot of the series, with new actors and new continuity. Jon Hamm could've been a great Tony Stark.

 

[2002SpideyFan]

The Mandarin is not racially Chinese. He's half british, half ethnic mongol.

Aren't Mongolians and Chinese genetically identical? They look the same, they just culturally different? Many Chinese have Mongolian ancestors. So why Chinese can't play a culturally Chinese character who's ethnically Mongolian? They made a movie about Genghis Khan where Khan was played by a Japanese actor.

Andy Lau is pure asian. He'd be a horrible choice to play a half white character.

Andy Lau, a pure Asian (who is also a good actor), a horrible choice to play the Mandarin, a character that looks pure Asian? But that horrible actor from (terrible) Arrow show, who is from New Zeland, who has no Asian features, also, he's a horrible actor, would be a good choice to play a purely Asian-looking character that culturally Chinese? Jesus... I think I have cognitive dissonance.

Andy Lau visually looks like the Mandarin. Great choice.

it's the simplest of minor retcons to simply have him be born in Mongolia or Britain, especially since he's all about Genghis Khan and not China to begin. It's barely even a retcon, considering how little he cares about China itself

 

[MichaelChen]

[sarcasm]Yeah, he never looks mixed, is never drawn with green or blue eyes or racially mixed facial structure. Heck, I must just be imagining that even the Dragonseed Saga picture you posted has him with green eyes[/sarcasm]

 

[MichaelChen]

"it's the simplest of minor retcons to simply have him be born in Mongolia or Britain, especially since he's all about Genghis Khan and not China to begin. It's barely even a retcon, considering how little he cares about China itself."

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5...ocF2YGol5tYHR8z6zjbFhEKIXeQQ=w1366-h768-rw-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/O...s8sYEY-T4FQgFBFKLE80JizJDk3g=w1366-h768-rw-no

You do love to quote him, and never look at what he actually does: enslave, exploit, repeatedly attempt global genocides that would impact the Chinese as much as anyone else. In the context of his actual actions, China is sometimes the slave-plantation this decedent of Genghis Khan and British aristocracy wants back, and other times just one more victim of his global schemes.

 

[2002SpideyFan]

Yeah, he never looks mixed, is never drawn with green or blue eyes or racially mixed facial structure. Heck, I must just be imagining that even the Dragonseed Saga picture you posted has him with green eyes[/sarcasm]

Yes, he never looked mixed. On your first picture he still looks Asian. George Tuska always drew the Mandarin with strong Asian features. Here's another picture of the Mandarin from the same comic.

Does he look Caucasian here?

Second picture is only a cover. In the comic itself he was drawn Asian.

He always looked more plainly Asian-like than Caucasian-like. If he wouldn't be drawn with strong Asian features, there would never be an accusations thrown at him for being an Asian racist stereotype or Yellow Peril esque/Fu Manchu villain. The only time when he was visually whitewashed was in Fraction's run, where Salvador Larroca on every cover drew him as if he was white. The fact that he looks purely Asian, wears Chinese robe-like clothes, and shows strong national pride towards China is definitely not an implication that Mandarin is Asian, right? He's a white guy who just happens to live in China and to have Asian facial features.

Does he look Caucasian in here? Your problem is that you're denying for some unknown reason the fact that Mandarin is Asian. I don't why you're doing that, but that definitely shows your ignorance towards the character. Mandarin is Asian, deal with that.

 

[2002SpideyFan]

You do love to quote him, and never look at what he actually does: enslave, exploit, repeatedly attempt global genocides that would impact the Chinese as much as anyone else. In the context of his actual actions, China is sometimes the slave-plantation this decedent of Genghis Khan and British aristocracy wants back, and other times just one more victim of his global schemes.

So the words that the character says himself don't illustrate his true nature, but your subjectively written fanfick about him being some sort of greedy profiteer who only haunts materialistic agendas does resembles his true nature? The character identifies himself as Chinese. So I don't know which point you're trying to prove, since you're trying to argue with a fact.

 

[Chris B]

I have to admit, Keanu Reeves wouldn't be a bad choice if they weren't going to go with a purely Chinese actor. Barring that, I like the Andy Lau suggestion. And they did try purportedly try to get him for a role in IM3.

 

[MichaelChen]

So the words that the character says himself don't illustrate his true nature,.

"To know that you are superior in mind, in body, in spirit, EVERYTHING! To know that power is your BIRTHRIGHT! To know that untold thousands exist on this world for no reason but to SERVE you! To channel their power through YOUR empire, be it of land or of business, channeling upward to fuel YOU, to fuel your GLORY!" - The Mandarin

You love quoting speeches, here's one for you where the Mandarin lays out his motives, and it's the ugliest blend of aristocratic entitlement, Ayn Rand flavored social darwinism, and sheer narcissistic greed imaginable. It's all ME ME ME!! The Mandarin wants everyone to be slaves who only exist to fuel him. Metaphorically speaking, he wants to eat everything. He's a vain, greedy, exploitative, enslaving aristocrat. Sometimes he admits that outright, sometimes he doesn't, but even when he doesn't his actions show it clearly. I give much more weight to actions, but if you want words, here ya go.

 

[2002SpideyFan]

"To know that you are superior in mind, in spirit. EVERYTHING! To know that power is your BIRTHRIGHT! To know that untold thousands exist on this world for no reason but to SERVE you! To channel their power through YOUR empire, be it of land or of business, channeling upward to fuel YOU, to fuel your GLORY!" - The Mandarin

You love quoting speeches, here's one for you where the Mandarin lays out his motives, and it's the ugliest blend of aristocratic entitlement, Ayn Rand flavored social darwinism, and sheer narcissistic greed imaginable. It's all ME ME ME!! The Mandarin wants everyone to be slaves who only exist to fuel him. Metaphorically speaking, he wants to eat everything. He's a vain, greedy, exploitative, enslaving aristocrat. Sometimes he admits that outright, sometimes he doesn't, but even when he doesn't his actions show it clearly.

"In respect to your valor as a foe, I shall give you a great honor!! I shall let you be slain by a warrior's sword" (c) Mandarin, Tales of Suspense #54.

"Have you grown so vain? Or has greed made you... Imprudent? You show no honor. And honor is ALL. Without it, life is worthless. Therefore, since you have no honor..." (c) Mandarin, Invincible Iron Man #241.

These two particular excerpts deliberately show that: Mandarin epitomizes himself as a honored warrior who is willing to give his opponent a respectful death by the sword, which is a manifestation of respect in a battle. And it shows that Mandarin strongly relies on the code of honor, and he devoted himself to that, because he is willing to kill one of his henchman because he cheated in a fight with the Mandarin. Again, he follows the principles of honor, though, his actions aren't honored, but it justifies his attitude.

As for the, "ME ME ME ME", it makes sense that it's all about him, since he's a megalomaniac who arrogantly entitled himself as a man who shall subjugate everything and everyone because he is superior.

Also, your excerpt from Revenge of the Mandarin was quite fascinating to read, but how does it proves that the Mandarin doesn't identify himself as Chinese? He speaks about power and domination, but how does it show that he isn't Chinese? Wait, wasn't Mandarin in that story defined with such description, "one of Iron Man's oldest foe's. A crashed alien space ship gave him knowledge and power far in advance of Earth's -- which he has often used in an effort to bring back Imperial China."?

Also, that image when Mandarin refers to China as his homeland, it's not from Dragon Seed Saga. It's from Armor Wars part II.

 

[The Overlord]

I wonder if the "real" Mandarin is simply one of those characters that time has not been kind too. He seems like he is dated in the worst way possible, not kitchy dated, more like a reminder of an outdated world outlook.

Despite his unfortunate original presentation, I could overlook his stereotypical origins, if I thought he was a consistently compelling character, but I don't think he is, I think he is a archetype with wildly inconsistent characterization.

I don't think the writers have done a good job giving him a defined and rich personality and a good reason why he is Tony's arch enemy, he seems like an outdated stock villain who be anyone's arch enemy and it wouldn't matter.

 

[2002SpideyFan]

I wonder if the "real" Mandarin is simply one of those characters that time has not been kind too. He seems like he is dated in the worst way possible, not kitchy dated, more like a reminder of an outdated world outlook.

He's not that kind of a character. He has surrounded himself in an ancient Chinese aesthetic, which illustrates through his flagrant clothes and his environment, but that only gives him more individual characteristics. If you don't like that, there's always his businessman persona, which doesn't wear robes or headdresses of Chinese emperors. As for his outlook, his outlook revolves around his life mission of the complete subjugation of all existing authoritative /social /political layers because he is againt political environmentalism, because he was oppressed by the government in a past, which took away his pride and patrimony, so he declared war against them. I find it interesting and I think it contrasts quite well with what Iron Man represents.

Despite his unfortunate original presentation, I could overlook his stereotypical origins, if I thought he was a consistently compelling character, but I don't think he is, I think he is a archetype with wildly inconsistent characterization.

He's been written as a compelling character quite a few times. And his characterization is wildly true to the character. It never was fundamentally changed when it would be inconsistent with the character. There are some variations that make emphasis more on his megalomania, and there are some that portray him as a more subtle, profound character with strong ideological outlook. But he's been a consistent character. John Byrne's Iron Man run, Hands of the Mandarin, Enter the Mandarin, Knauf's Iron Man run, maybe even some Fraction's stuff have a compelling Mandarin in it. But I think that the most compelling Mandarin was in John Byrne's run, since there he felt more like a human rather than an archetypal villain.

I don't think the writers have done a good job giving him a defined and rich personality and a good reason why he is Tony's arch enemy, he seems like an outdated stock villain who be anyone's arch enemy and it wouldn't matter.

I think that problem was only present during the first encounters of Iron Man and the Mandarin. Writers back then weren't trying to be subtle or profound when it comes to the logical reasoning behind the villain and the hero. Even so, I think at first Mandarin and Iron Man were supposed to be an emblematic reflections of our society and political environment of the 60's. Iron Man was a rich democrat who used his resources and knowledge to help people and to make world a better place. He worked very close with the government and was a part of the industrial complex. Mandarin was an insurrectionist that believed in individual supremacy and rational individuality, who used all his resources and knowledge only to annihilate all the political/social/economical layers in order to subjugate authority and power from everyone who has it, thus making himself the only prevailing authority that there is. He was oppressed by the corrupt government, which took away his patrimony and dignity, so he antagonized the government as his prior target, and he tries to destroy political environmentalism and oppress the authorities. It's sort of like with the Joker and Batman. Order and logic versus chaos and irrationality. Though, Iron Man and Mandarin both are rationalists and idealists.

But if you need less convoluted/metaphorical explanation, I think John Byrne gave the definitive answer as to why the Mandarin is Iron Man's arch-enemy. He wrote a two-part story in which he re-contextualized the origin of both Iron Man and the Mandarin, thus making the Mandarin the one who organized captivity of Tony Stark and Yinsen in south Asian, thus he figuratively created his own enemy.

 

[2002SpideyFan]

Continue reading an old stuff with the Mandy. Racially insensitive as hell, but still fun. But thank god they didn't whitewashed him in the comics. Otherwise I would lost my interest in the character, since being Asian is a part of his complexity.

 

[wampa1]

I think Keanu Reeves is a genius idea (although I always wanted him for the Silver Surfer).