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

[MaskedManJRK]

Actually, my hope is that Bridges is Sal Kennedy of the current books. It would make sense, since Favreau mentioned a lot of the modern comics.

Besides, who else could get the role of that mushroom-dropping, hippie Futurist then The Dude himself? t:

 

[Capt Throbberson]

I just don't see a reason why to keep Bridges character's name a mystery and the other's not.

Morgan Freeman wasn't announced as Fox right away, which isn't really a role people would consider important enough to keep a secret. Just because they haven't announced exactly who he is doesn't mean he's the Mandarin.

 

[Chris B]

Here's one idea that recently came to mind, what if in the film continuity, Obadiah Stane was at one point an employee at Stark Industries and acted as a mentor to a Tony Stark for a time. At some point, the two had a falling out with one another and Stane went and formed his own business. This idea is only playing on the concept that Marvel isn't being entirely candid about Bridges' role.

 

[Advanced Dark]

Morgan Freeman wasn't announced as Fox right away, which isn't really a role people would consider important enough to keep a secret. Just because they haven't announced exactly who he is doesn't mean he's the Mandarin.

Yeah but the Mandarin has been cast already so then the actor playing his role is being witheld for some reason. Why? I say because he's not Asian. Otherwise there would be a reason to reveal it.

 

[Chris B]

Yeah but the Mandarin has been cast already so then the actor playing his role is being witheld for some reason. Why? I say because he's not Asian. Otherwise there would be a reason to reveal it.

But then how do you explain the Gene Kahn character in that casting call?

 

[Advanced Dark]

^ I'm just trying to fill in the gap. The way I see it with the info I have now Bridges is playing a dual role. A confidant to Stark who is revealed later to be The Mandarin. We'll hear throughout the film of the bad doings of the Mandarin with Stark and everyone trying to figure out his identity. The audience will assume some Chinese character as well possibly suspected one or two of the other cast annoucements and with Bridges being close to Stark nobody would suspect it right away.

Keep your friends close.
Keep your enemies closer.

Edit: I didn't catch that Kahn part in the casting call. Hmmmm. Was that thrown in there to stir things up because Feige's comments alone weren't 100% but then in Marvel's earnings report it clearly says the cast is complete. No question about it. So that eliminates the chance of Feige's words being taken the wrong way.

The only possiblility then is that they have already cast someone and they're just not telling us yet. I'm just trying to figure it out like the rest of us. Could it be possible the Mandarin's alias appears differently in the film. Like a disguise but they'll use an actor to make it look better?

 

[Chris B]

While I may prefer something else, I think that Bridges is probably playing Obadiah Stane. Like I said the a few posts ago, I would like it if they did something where Stane did work for Stark at one point before the two had a falling out.

I kind of think that maybe the Mandarin, assuming he is still a Chinese character, wont have a lot of screen time in this Iron Man movie. I could see something where he is operating behind the scenes and Stark doesn't actually fight him until the climax. I think that could also extend to something where the character's fate is left ambiguous and they intend to bring him back in the third film. This would explain why they aren't aiming for some A-List actor for the role.

 

[Advanced Dark]

^ It's just weird how each role so far of importance has been filled by a very strong talent. Then one of the biggest roles in the films whether he's behind the scenes or not is cast...but not revealed like the others. The more mystery the better though.

 

[Chris B]

I think that once we get set pictures of Bridges, I think we'll be able to develop a better idea of who he is playing.

 

[Advanced Dark]

^ Maybe. I hope Favreau does manage to keep some secrets away from us.

 

[Chris B]

I don't know. Everyone wants to know who Bridges is playing, and once filming starts, it'll be hard for them to keep it a secret, IMO.

 

[Advanced Dark]

^ It won't be hard if he IS playing the Mandarin. It's not like he'll be wearing a Kung Fu outfit. LOL If he is it'll not only be a surprise to the audience but to the other characters in the film so unless they show him phsyically fighting with Stark then how would we know from a pic? We might however easily be able to say he's not the Mandarin as opposed to whether he is.

By the way I just sent a message to Favreau asking him:

Is Jeff Bridges playing the Mandarin?

Yeah it sounds silly but I remember at the Con he said he would have revealed who the villain was when the fans lined up to ask quesitons but NOBODY asked. So before he stood up and left he said "by the way..."

 

[Chris B]

You make a valid point. Still, I just have a hard time believing that Bridges is playing the Mandarin. I think the character wont have a lot of screen time in this film, which is why I think we haven't heard any news on that front because it's a role they don't need to cast right away.

 

[Chris B]

On the message you sent to Favreau, it should be interesting to see how he responds.

 

[Advanced Dark]

^ How? You mean if. LOL I'll let you know it would be funny. I also sent messages to a few other people involved in production to see if I could get a hint. Then it's just a matter of if they tell me not to repeat it or not.

 

[Advanced Dark]

New quote from Jon Favreau:

We've had a week of rehearsals and I'm currently working with the writers to tailor the material accordingly. Mr. Bridges has a haircut that will no doubt be of interest to any of you fans of the books.

See the Q & A thread for his whole post.

 

[TNC9852002]

So,...how many Iron Man characters have recognizable haircuts?

-TNC

 

[Katsuro]

This pretty much throws out the Bridges at Mandarin theories, not that there was any credibility to it in the first place.

If his haircut is supposed to be interesting to comic fans, that means that the haircut is a good indicator of who he's playing. I highly doubt they would cast a white man as The Mandarin, yet give him a haircut and Fu Manchu anyways (someone should manip that!)

 

[Weadazoid]

hmmmm


I have a theory, could Bridges have a smaller role then his name sugests...could he be Justin Hammer? A man who doesn't neccessarily take on the role of main villain simply a villanous kind of guy in the world of Iron Man.

I would imagine Bridges coming off very well as Hammer.

 

[Cyrusbales]

Whatever Bridges does, he's gonna be good! RDJ and Bridges, this looks like one of the best comic book movie casts already.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Mr. Bridges has a haircut that will no doubt be of interest to any of you fans of the books.

On Jon's MySpace page a little while ago, he confirmed that Bridges would be playing one of the following:

Mandarin
Justin Hammer
Edwin Jarvis
Howard Stark
Obadiah Stane


I think we can rule out Mandarin based on the post in the "Iron Man Casting Calls" thread where they are casting for Gene Khan, which is an alias Mandarin uses. That leaves us with:


Justin Hammer

Edwin Jarvis

Howard Stark
Can't find a pic


Obadiah Stane

Jarvis and Stane have haircuts that would be of interest to us. But Jarvis is supposed to be someone old enough to have served Tony Stark's parents as well, so I don't see that. My guess, based on the above, is that Bridges is Stane and they plan on changing some of the character's backstory.

 

[Advanced Dark]

Don't you think Stane is the most obvious. Hair-CUT. Meaning all gone.

 

[Ironfan72]

I believe Jarvis is out for Jeff, simply for the reason's stated, that he would have to be much older and Jarvis never really played much of a role in Tony's life,other that being a butler.
If I were a betting man, I'd put money on Jeff playing Obidiah Stane and being the true villian of all three films, with Mandarin being either a alias or a flunky for Stane.

 

[Advanced Dark]

Jon already stated quite Clearly that Mandarin "IS" the villain.

 

[the reel chris]

QUINT: Is The Mandarin the only villain? Are you doing a one villain/one hero film?

JON FAVREAU: Ahh... sort of... (laughs).

AICN @ SDCC '06

Jon already stated quite clearly that Mandarin is "A" villain.

edit: I take that back; he doesn't say much of anything clearly