Iron Man 2: Mickey Rourke’s very strange requirements to participate in the film – CinéSérie

The darling then terrible of Hollywood Mickey Rourke, star of the 80s, embodies in “Iron Man 2” the main antagonist of Tony Stark. A role for which the actor had a list of original requirements.

Iron Man 2the MCU on the road to success

In 2010 comes out Iron Man 2sequel to the first Iron Man (2008) and 3rd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, still in its infancy. If the reviews are mixed for this new adventure of Tony Stark, the film collects more than $623 million at the global box office. Among the superhero film interests is Ivan Vanko, the film’s villain. This one, interpreted by Mickey Rourke, wishes to avenge the forfeiture and the death of his father, former associate of the father of Tony Stark.

Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) – Iron Man 2 ©Marvel Studios

Having also built an ARK mini-reactor, he will join forces with Tony Stark’s competitor, Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), to carry out his personal war against Iron Man/Tony Stark. Extravagant in this role, unheard of for the former glory of 80s cinema, actor Mickey Rourke approached Jon Favreau’s film with special requirements.

Russian accent, samurai bun, parrot… and a big salary

As reported vulnerability in 2022, the production ofIron Man 2 had its share of complexities. In particular concerning Mickey Rourke, who agreed to play Ivan Vanko without having read a single line of script, but presenting surprising conditions. According to a source close to the actor, he would have met Kevin Feige and Jon Favreau at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, and said:

I will do it. But I must have a samurai bun. I have to speak with a Russian accent. And I must have a bird on my shoulder.

These three requests are accepted. But Mickey Rourke has another, which first do not pass. Indeed, Marvel Studios offers him $250,000 for the role, which the actor categorically refuses. In full revival with the film The Wrestler of Darren Aronofsky, his rating is going up and he thinks he’s worth more than that. Especially when Robert Downey Jr. has to collect the sum of $10 million… But the president of Marvel Entertainment at the time, Isaac “Ike” Perlmutter, proved intractable. The costs are revised downwards, and in particular cause the replacement of Terrence Howard by Don Cheadle for the character of Lieutenant-Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes aka War Machine, the first city requiring a very high fee.

Marvel like Mickey Rourke don’t give up, and it finally takes the involvement of Robert Downey Jr. to unblock the situation. Indeed, the star agrees to reduce his stamp to increase that of Mickey Rourke. The exact sum is not given, but Vulture’s source then referred to “a major amount“.

A complicated participation, which in the end will not have satisfied the actor at all, who lets loose on Marvel and Jon Favreau once the film is released…

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Iron Man 2: Mickey Rourke’s very strange requirements to participate in the film – CinéSérie