Iron Man Bridges is The Mandarin & Favreau is Happy Hogan.

Is Jeff Bridges the Mandarin???

  • Yes...it's strange but it looks that way!

  • No way!

  • Uncertain.


Results are only viewable after voting.
I've always said Chow myself too. He's not the typically cast asian villain...and he's well respected worldwide. He's like the Tom Cruise of Asia without the Scientology baggage and erratic behavior.
 
Chow Yun Fat has been my ideal choice for the Mandarin as well. You need a strong precense to counter Downey and Yun Fat chould do it. Cast Jason Issacs as Obadiah Stane and you have your villains.
 
I was thinking Chow. I imagine Favreau will rewrite Mandarin to be some sort of Hong Kong triad ganglord -- which, while cool 'n' hip and all that, is just as much an Asian stereotype as the Fu Manchu "Yellow Peril" cariacature Mandarin has always been in the comics.

Still, I'd much rather see a "modernized" Mandarin than a lame fortune-cookie wizard. And I strongly doubt that Downey, Bridges, Paltrow and Howard would have signed on to the film if Mandarin is portrayed "traditionally."

These days the mandarin is a hong kong triad warlord. Just with magic rings. He doesn`t need that much changing as long as you base him off of the modern age stuff.
 
Favreau said there would be no magic rings or magic for that matter.

Did he actually rule out the rings themselves? Or Did me just mean they wouldn't be magical in nature? They could just easily explain them as being technology based.
 
Did he actually rule out the rings themselves? Or Did me just mean they wouldn't be magical in nature? They could just easily explain them as being technology based.

That's what I'm thinking, too -- that the rings will be tech items. Possibly manufactured by Stark Enterprises, even, and stolen by the Mandarin.
 
I thought he would be a scientist of sorts who created the rings himself.
Kind of the polar opposite of Tony.
 
^That seems the most plausible. Or they're created by gems or stones that have certain properties that, when analyzed in a lab or something, become weapons.
 
Bridges better not be The Mandarin:cmad: It will be complete and utter bulls*** if he is
 
That would suck. Period. End of story. Mandarin needs to be Asian.

I'm seeing Howard Stark or Stane for Bridges.
 
It looks like the Mandarin role is still to be filled.
http://www.myentertainmentworld.com/mew/audition_newlisting.html
(Los Angeles, CA) - Send photograph & resumes ASAP to: Details Are only Available By Subscription.. Title: IRON MAN, Feature Film. CAST, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow; EXEC PROD, Jon Favreau, Ari Arad, Peter Billingsley, Louis D'Esposito, Michael Helfant, Stan Lee; PROD, Avi Arad, Kevin Feige; AP, Eric N. Heffron, Jeremy Latcham; DIR, Jon Favreau; SCR, Matthew Hollaway, Arthur Marcum, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby. Shoot Dates: March 12, 2007 (in Los Angeles). STORY: Based on the long-running Marvel comic book series, "Iron Man" tells the story of Tony Stark, the enigmatic heir to the Stark Enterprises fortune. A driven inventor and executive who seems to have it all, Tony is haunted by his dark side. Though he commands his empire by day, by night he secretly becomes "Iron Man," the living embodiment of decades of defense spending and innovation. Strapping on billions of dollars worth of state-of-the-art armor and weaponry each night to fight crime, terrorism and corporate espionage, Tony begins to crack under the strain of his fractured lifestyle and must ultimately confront the one enemy he can never beat - himself. Breakdown-- General Gabriel: 50s. A commanding officer with enormous presence. Although he can appear cold, he is in fact complex and thoughtful with a strong moral center; Yinsen: 50s-70s, character could be from the Middle East, Afghanistan, or Pakistan. A mercurial character who has many talents but keeps to himself and shows little. At first he appears severe, but later reveals he has a great sense of humor, dignity, and fearlessness; Raza: 30s-50s, a Middle Eastern character. An intense lead insurgent in Afghanistan, who speaks an indigenous tongue and English; Gene Kahn: 30s-40s, Central Asian, handsome, impeccably dressed. A renaissance man for the new millennium, he has been educated on three continents, is just as familiar with Machiavelli as Sun Tzu; Female Reporter: Late 20s-30s. Pretty but tough, she's an intellectual and fast-talking reporter who tries to outwit Tony, only to find herself a bit beguiled by his charms; Kid: 9-11 to play 8 years old. This young boy looks Middle Eastern and must be agile, athletic and able to convey a range of emotions; Mother: The boy's mother, also Middle Eastern; Reporter: 30s, male or female, could be any ethnicity. Must have professional reporting background; Beautiful Woman: 20-25, STUNNINGLY beautiful, model types, any ethnicity. (Posted: February 15, 2007)
 
If INDEED Bridges IS The Mandarin and Favreau IS Happy Hogan...then I'll be pleased...a little shocked, but very pleased.

CAH
 
I would like to know how many pics Bridges signed for. If it is 3 than he is either Stane or Stark Sr., If he signed for one he is he Manderian. Manderian is not the type of villian you could build a 3 part arc to. However, and Stane working behind close doors and such can always be present until the last part of the triligy which could be a full blown Iron wars.
 
^ Well Favreau or Feige said when hiring the actors ( and mentioned Bridges too) the whole idea was this storyline was a trilogy and the casting took that into consideration.
 
^ Well Favreau or Feige said when hiring the actors ( and mentioned Bridges too) the whole idea was this storyline was a trilogy and the casting took that into consideration.

So? What does that mean? All it means is that he cast actors who would be able to do 3 pictures, if the characters were required for it. That doesn't mean every single character is needed for 3 movies. It's no different than the Spider-Man films. They cast Harry Osborn knowing the guy would have to stay for 3 movies and become the Goblin eventually. That doesn't mean that someone like Alfred Molina was required to come back. Bridges might come back in the second Iron Man film, but that doesn't mean he has to. And Mandarin might be used in another film, but he doens't have to.
 
^ I'm just making a statement. We're all here just trying to piece together the puzzle...not prove each other wrong.
 
Well, nonetheless, I suppose we'll get a conformation on BOTH Hogan and Mandarin casting VERY soon...as filming is slated to begin in about 2 and 1/2 weeks.

CAH
 
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. :csad: D :down

I just hope this isn't one of those "Latveria Industries" type of decisions.

But at the same time, I'm a big Jeff bridges fan, so I have faith he won't pull a Nick Nolte on us.

*update- I'm not saying Nolte was Doom, just two comparisons using crappy villains
 
^ I'm just making a statement. We're all here just trying to piece together the puzzle...not prove each other wrong.

Damn, I can't believe there's a cool head around here...maybe I've been hanging around the Supes and Bat boards too long....:wow: :woot:
 
It looks like the Mandarin role is still to be filled.
http://www.myentertainmentworld.com/mew/audition_newlisting.html
(Los Angeles, CA) - Send photograph & resumes ASAP to: Details Are only Available By Subscription.. Title: IRON MAN, Feature Film. CAST, Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow; EXEC PROD, Jon Favreau, Ari Arad, Peter Billingsley, Louis D'Esposito, Michael Helfant, Stan Lee; PROD, Avi Arad, Kevin Feige; AP, Eric N. Heffron, Jeremy Latcham; DIR, Jon Favreau; SCR, Matthew Hollaway, Arthur Marcum, Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby. Shoot Dates: March 12, 2007 (in Los Angeles). STORY: Based on the long-running Marvel comic book series, "Iron Man" tells the story of Tony Stark, the enigmatic heir to the Stark Enterprises fortune. A driven inventor and executive who seems to have it all, Tony is haunted by his dark side. Though he commands his empire by day, by night he secretly becomes "Iron Man," the living embodiment of decades of defense spending and innovation. Strapping on billions of dollars worth of state-of-the-art armor and weaponry each night to fight crime, terrorism and corporate espionage, Tony begins to crack under the strain of his fractured lifestyle and must ultimately confront the one enemy he can never beat - himself. Breakdown-- General Gabriel: 50s. A commanding officer with enormous presence. Although he can appear cold, he is in fact complex and thoughtful with a strong moral center; Yinsen: 50s-70s, character could be from the Middle East, Afghanistan, or Pakistan. A mercurial character who has many talents but keeps to himself and shows little. At first he appears severe, but later reveals he has a great sense of humor, dignity, and fearlessness; Raza: 30s-50s, a Middle Eastern character. An intense lead insurgent in Afghanistan, who speaks an indigenous tongue and English; Gene Kahn: 30s-40s, Central Asian, handsome, impeccably dressed. A renaissance man for the new millennium, he has been educated on three continents, is just as familiar with Machiavelli as Sun Tzu; Female Reporter: Late 20s-30s. Pretty but tough, she's an intellectual and fast-talking reporter who tries to outwit Tony, only to find herself a bit beguiled by his charms; Kid: 9-11 to play 8 years old. This young boy looks Middle Eastern and must be agile, athletic and able to convey a range of emotions; Mother: The boy's mother, also Middle Eastern; Reporter: 30s, male or female, could be any ethnicity. Must have professional reporting background; Beautiful Woman: 20-25, STUNNINGLY beautiful, model types, any ethnicity. (Posted: February 15, 2007)

AHA! I figured it out, Bridges is going to play Stane, look at this interview from last year Favreau confirmed Stane was going to be in the movie

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/24012

QUINT: Supporting characters?

JON FAVREAU:
Rhodey (James Rhodes), Pepper Potts, Obadiah Stane... those are the core.

now look at the casting call sheet, no Stane mentioned
(thanks to the poster the reel chris posting this interview yesterday)

Shaun Toub will be playing Yinsen, look at the description, 50s-70s, character could be from the Middle East, Afghanistan, or Pakistan. I couldn't find out how old he is but he can't pass for a 30s-40s, Central Asian man.

as far as the Mandarin/Gene Kahn goes, don't know, maybe they don't want to say anything or are just waiting to announce him later, since he'll probably be played by an unknown.
 
AHA! I figured it out, Bridges is going to play Stane, look at this interview from last year Favreau confirmed Stane was going to be in the movie

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/24012

now look at the casting call sheet, no Stane mentioned
(thanks to the poster the reel chris posting this interview yesterday)

Shaun Toub will be playing Yinsen, look at the description, 50s-70s, character could be from the Middle East, Afghanistan, or Pakistan. I couldn't find out how old he is but he can't pass for a 30s-40s, Central Asian man.

as far as the Mandarin/Gene Kahn goes, don't know, maybe they don't want to say anything or are just waiting to announce him later, since he'll probably be played by an unknown.

Right on, congratulations on figuring it out :cwink:. I can't find any reason to doubt Bridges is Stane at this point. If memory serves, Favreau was dismissing the Howard Stark character also.

I favor Toub as the insurgent Raza, but could easily be wrong.

My pet theory is that "The Mandarin" is a weapon system and not a real live man, controlled and/or developed by Gene Kahn with a little help from illicitly gained Stark tech.

I've got something else pretty big I want to run past you guys, but have to wait until I'm back home tonight so's I can provide evidence.

edit: Well, I'll drop it now and back it up later. Jon is most likely not Happy; I'm doubting Happy will even be in the first flick.
 
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