Does a "War Machine" movie even make sense?

[Rock Sexton]

Just curious what everyone's thoughts are. I saw Don Cheadle was quoted saying writers are putting together a story/script. Yet, when I think about it, what's the point? War Machine and Iron Man are essentially the same thing, a guy manning a technologically advanced suit. I know in comics there's a lot of that with superheros sharing the same set of powers ..... She Hulk, Beta Ray Billy, etc. etc ..... but I just don't see how the general audience is going to take to it as a stand alone film because they already have their established suit guy in Iron Man.

 

[marcvader]

This just has bad idea written all over it. Cheadle I like ya, but laters.

 

[bubbadoom]

why not? if they have a good story then go for it! expand that universe!

 

[C. Lee]

A rich engeneering genius playboy white guy with a suit of armor.

A career military serious more reserved and staid black guy with a suit of armor.

Yeah, they both have the suit of armor....but there are plenty of differences they can write into thier storylines to differenciate them from each other.

 

[The Guard]

As has just been pointed out, I would image there'd be a heavy military tone to the WAR MACHINE movie, as he works to develop what Tony is doing, The Avengers, etc.

And his best friend Iron Man just might pop in to wish him luck.

 

[raybia]

Just curious what everyone's thoughts are. I saw Don Cheadle was quoted saying writers are putting together a story/script. Yet, when I think about it, what's the point? War Machine and Iron Man are essentially the same thing, a guy manning a technologically advanced suit. I know in comics there's a lot of that with superheros sharing the same set of powers ..... She Hulk, Beta Ray Billy, etc. etc ..... but I just don't see how the general audience is going to take to it as a stand alone film because they already have their established suit guy in Iron Man.

Does a War Machine movie make sense? Hell, Iron Man 2 didn't even make sense.

 

[MadVillainy]

No a War MAchine movie doesnt make sense. Who would be the villain? And as people said Iron Man was sucessful because of Stark's personality. Rhodey doesnt have a strong enough personality out of the suit to make things interesting

No to this :

 

[marcvader]

Plus their visual cues are too similar. They fly around in the same fashion. Same HUD usage. Same fighting stances and styles except one uses bullets and more missiles. Why make another movie about a hero that's similar but not the same as what we've gotten before. He's good as a supporting character and that's what he's been. Why not make a movie from the huge selection Marvel already has? Dr.Strange, Namor, Black Panther, Heroes for Hire, Captain Marvel, Nova, Moon Knight, Cloak and Dagger, etc, etc.

 

[MadVillainy]

Also I dont hear that much demand for a War Machine movie. From fanboys or the GA

 

[Dark Raven]

No a War MAchine movie doesnt make sense. Who would be the villain? And as people said Iron Man was sucessful because of Stark's personality. Rhodey doesnt have a strong enough personality out of the suit to make things interesting

No to this :

Well Rhodes, as written by Jon Favreau and portrayed by Terence Howard or Don Cheadle doesn't have a strong enough personality. The comic version of Rhodey is more laid back and less serious. Maybe that version could've supported a movie. But then, we'd need a different, more fast-talking actor for the role. But Rhodes wouldn't have been that type of character in the movies, because he was playing the straight man to RDJ's Tony Stark, who was already fast talking. Having both of them like that would've clashed.

Movie War Machine definitely doesn't have a strong enough presence or personality, and as I've said in the Avengers thread, it would dilute the Iron Man franchise. It would be like having Predator 2 without Arnie.

If it's a serious military thriller, that might be okay, given the right leading man (which I don't think Cheadle is) but it could easily end up like Stealth.

 

[The Overlord]

I think Rhodes works better as a supporting character then a protagonist.

 

[tamron]

I've always like James Rhodes as a character, so I won't dismiss this idea out of hand. I think it's a chance for the character to get further developed in the MCU.

As far as a potential storyline, I wouldn't be surprised if they riffed off of a storyline from War Machine's first solo series wherein he was trying to help a Nelson Mandela-type figure from a cruel dictator in the African country of Imaya. The UN and SHIELD knew what was going on but didn't help, so Rhodey barged in. Which makes since considering comic Rhodey is a little more gung-ho. But that storyline could allow the more order-taking soldier movie Rhodey some character growth, as he comes to see maybe there are times to be the "lone gunslinger" as he called Tony in IM2.

This would also allow them to connect it to Black Panther in someway, being set on the same continent.

 

[DarKush]

Of course it makes sense. I think a War Machine film or series could be even more kickass than an Iron Man one, particularly if it took cues from the sadly cancelled Greg Pak series. It gave WM an international backdrop and had him in various war zones, and taking out some very nasty war criminals, etc. I think the Pak series could be a nice model to base a movie on. It provided Rhodes with a supporting cast, something of a potential love interest, it delved a little into his backstory, and it gave him a pretty easy to grasp mission/motivation.

The Blackwater-type organization was one of the villains he faced in the Pak series. I don't see why that couldn't be brought into a film. Though a Pak inspired series would probably work best as R-rated.

I don't know enough about WM's history to say whether he has a rogue's gallery, but not having one doesn't negate him having a movie. You could always create villains. Or they could use Iron Man villains that aren't being used for the IM movies.

 

[bubbadoom]

You have a built in name recognition with WM, due to IM2, and a solo movie could be used to help introduce other Marvel characters - perhaps Black Panther, Luke Cage, etc.

All it takes in a little imagination and creativity.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Sure it would be cool, but is it nescessary? There's already a franchise with a battle-armor wearing superhero.

What could another possibly bring to the table?

Let's see some more heroes with more unique stories/powers first; Black Panther, Sub-Mariner, Dr. Strange, etc.,...

 

[The Guard]

What connection does Rhoades have to Nick Fury? What are the changes Nick could show up here, and set up a Nick Fury/Shield film? Granted, THE AVENGERS could also serve that purpose.

Someone else pointed out that there is already a battle armor wearing superhero.

So it kind of makes you wonder if they're positioning Rhoades to take over being Iron Man at some point, as in the comics. Maybe in a second AVENGERS film?

 

[tamron]

So it kind of makes you wonder if they're positioning Rhoades to take over being Iron Man at some point, as in the comics. Maybe in a second AVENGERS film?

They've already positioned it. Remember Fury wanted an IM suit on The Avengers, but not Stark, at the end of IM2. Rhodey fits the bill.

Stark is an Avengers 'consultant', as seen when he met Thunderbolt at the end of TIH.

So yea, a WM movie could be how Rhodey goes from WM to IM leading into Avengers 2. But if that is the case, you'd have to wonder, 'What Stark would be doing in Avengers?' I can't see them sitting the character out the action completely.

 

[chapin]

A War Machine movie doesnt sound like a good idea

 

[Spidey-Quad]

Nope, only happens ... after Namor ... which means ... NEVER

 

[A Necessary Evil]

I would see it...but I'd rather see other movies before a WM movie...like Luke Cage, Black Panther, Namor...to name a few.

 

[GhostPoet]

Does a War Machine movie make sense? Hell, Iron Man 2 didn't even make sense.

IM2 was amazing.
therefore I think a War Machine movie just makes sense.

 

[The Mast]

why not? if they have a good story then go for it! expand that universe!

If expanding the universe costs as much as writing/distributing a comic, go for it.

When it involves spending the money of a small nation on a flick that, in fairness, will be mediocre at best and boring at worst? That's just distasteful.

They're giving fans stuff that they already have. We already HAVE a Marvel Universe, we've had it for multiple decades. Don't make a War Machine movie for the benefit of comic readers, because we don't need it.

My conclusion, therefore, is that they do it for the Saturday night popcorn-eating public. In which case, if they can't be bothered to go read comics, don't cater to them. Spend the money on enriching and enhancing existing comic franchises, or better yet, making something original.

 

[bubbadoom]

wouldn't a War Machine film be "enhancing an existing comic franchise?" a WM movie has a built in audience recognition that many other above mentioned characters do not. if you are going to gamble millions of bucks, why not put it on what you might consider a 'sure thing'?

don't get me wrong, i too want to see Dr. Strange, the Black Panther, etc. - but if Marvel thinks a WM movie can work, then more power to them!

 

[E-Man]

It's certainly not too bad of an idea since they already have an existing foundation in the Iron Man movies. Would I choose to film another movie over War Machine? Yes I would because there are better characters. At the end of the day though it's not like it's such a horrible idea as some people are saying. We're talking about a spinoff from an already popular franchise. You're going to retain some of that same franchise's drawing power, so it's not like this doesn't make business sense at all.

I don't get how some people are just outright offended that they're even thinking about this. It's not like this is the only movie that Marvel can make. They're not sitting there thinking, "Man **** Namor, Moon Knight, Iron Fist, and some other favorite character of some kid on a message board. We gotta make War Machine our last ever movie dammit!"

 

[HighFivingMF]

Why not? I'll sit through anything but Namor at least once. But Squirrel Girl first.