Iron Man Swank and Jackson confirmed for Iron Man!

[Electrix]

Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner are just a few actresses who’ve fallen short in superhero movies over the last few years. But now, could a million-dollar baby be in training to take on another underdog battle?

Marvel Studios mega-producer Avi Arad confirmed to us for the first time over the weekend that 2-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank filmed some top-secret moments for “Iron Man,” the highly-anticipated superhero flick due in theaters next May. The news raises eyebrows not only because it isn’t the type of film Swank normally appears in, but also because it could be assumed that her role would lay the groundwork for a future, bigger Marvel appearance. The rumor mill first began circulating Swank’s name after director Jon Favreau capitalized the “s” in “Swank” in a MySpace blog post.

“How do you know [about that]?,” a stunned Arad replied when asked about Swank. After a few beats, he admitted: “It’s a cameo.”

Following along the lines of secret “Iron Man” actors, the man behind the “Spider-Man” and “X-Men” films dodged a question about Samuel L. Jackson’s foreshadowing scenes as Nick Fury, saying “I can’t talk about that.”

Clearly a bit frustrated, Arad then amended himself. “The Sam thing was supposed to be the biggest secret of them all,” he shrugged. “It’s amazing how it got out.”

Nevertheless, the existence of Jackson’s hard-boiled superspy reveals a newfound willingness by Marvel to begin mimicking the way its comics mix different characters into each other’s storylines on a regular basis.

“It’s because now we have control over the properties,” Arad explained, citing the new era of Marvel funding such upcoming flicks as “Iron Man,” “Nick Fury” and “Captain America,” after a decade of holding hands with studios like Sony for Spider-Man or Fox for The Fantastic Four. “Now you can mix and match. It used to be different studios having different characters.”

“You try and get three major studios to sit together and cross [promote],” he laughed. It’s too tough.”

On the Spider-Man front, Arad (who is shifting gears considerably with August 3rd’s “Bratz: The Movie”) gave us this update: “We’re starting on our journey for number 4. We’re just at the beginning of the process, feeling it, and feeling where we want to go.”

Based on Arad’s comments, however, fans might find it hard to not feel a bit speculative as to why a double-Oscar winning A-list actress would make a cameo in a superhero movie. Since “Iron Man” is laying the groundwork for the “Nick Fury” movie that Marvel hopes to begin filming relatively soon, one theory is that Swank will be a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent alongside Sam the man.

But just as probable, it seems, is speculation that Swank might be setting herself up for a starring superhero flick down the line. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned from her last award-winning performance, it’s that she certainly has the physique to pull it off.

http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2007/07/23/confirmed-hilary-swank-will-appear-in-iron-man/

 

[FaT_tONle]

Hell's Yeah....

 

[FaT_tONle]

Now who the hell is Swank... if she ain't Maria Hill... who the hell is she? Black Widow??? No way in hell I can see that.

 

[The Squirrel]

I thought John already debunked this.

Oh well... I still hope they do appear in the film.

 

[lordofthenerds]

So Favreau was lying?

 

[Nathan]

Hmm...

 

[MaskedManJRK]

So Favreau was lying?

Wouldn't be the first that these guys have done to keep secrets to themselves.

 

[FaT_tONle]

Favreau was playing mind games... I don't know why Arad would make comments like this though... I mean fans were up in the air about this after John made his comments and didn't know what to believe... I would think they wanted to keep us guessing... but is Swank and Jackson are indeed in... it only raises more questions... but it does confirm that Sam is most likely in as Fury.

 

[Caliber]

Good to see that its true and I hope Swank is Black Window as in the post above.

 

[FaT_tONle]

Hmm...

http://imageshack.us

Well is Swank is Black Widow... then they should get that girl from the first Rush Hour that Tucker made fun over the phone for Maria Hill... they look exactly the same.

 

[Van Petrol]

Cool! We'll have to wait and see if this happens.

 

[Advanced Dark]

Jon never debunked this. If you read his quote he worded it very carefully.

 

[the a1ant]

True. Wow - this cast is crazy amazing

 

[tzarinna]

This will hopefully bring a whole sleuth of people that wouldn't normally see it.

 

[JP]

I'm a little sad Avi ruined it.

 

[FlawlessVictory]

Is this the same Avi Arad that sayed this:

You know, that's why they call them rumors (laughter), you will see more than a cloud, you will have enough Galactus to rejoice (laughter).
http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2344&Itemid=99

 

[Abaddon]

Jackson is cool and all but the traditionalist in me would prefer to see 616 Fury.

 

[HailtotheKing]

If Swank turns out to be The Black Widwo then I'm dreading the idea of hearing her speak with a Russian accent. I just don't think she can pull one off and it'll end up being as bad as Beckinsale's accent in Van Helsing.

 

[Abaddon]

Maybe she'll be Carol Danvers.

 

[Warhammer]

Samuel L. Jackson finally confirmed as Nick Fury =

 

[JediMasterConor]

i was just thinking what if the Swank and SLJ cameos were what was going to be revealed at Comic Con? maybe that's why JF was denying it because what they shot might be part of the footage being shown at con

 

[the reel chris]

I'm sorry, I don't usually do this, but

HA!

Just nice to be right for once.

It just seems like they'd wind up having to 'fess anyways, I imagine they'd be bombarded with Jackson/Swank questions at the SDCC panel.

 

[Advanced Dark]

I love doing this too:

HA!

http://forums.superherohype.com/showpost.php?p=12087834&postcount=11

 

[the reel chris]

Amen brutha

 

[Advanced Dark]

^ Thank you tiny infant baby jesus only 8lbs. LOL