Iron Man 2 WITHOUT Favreau?!! What is Marvel Thinking?

Disheartening news out of IESB.net! They've learned that Marvel Studios Chairman David Maisel is playing it cheap with director Jon Favreau, and that they may go with another director for Iron Man 2! Read the story and comment on this HORRIBLE possibility.

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/news/articles/4654.asp

Even if they pay more for Favreau, their going to make more money with the sequel so what are they thinking? the reason the movie made as much as it did was the connection Favreau had with Downey and everyone

Are they idiots? My god, if they dont sign favreau i will be very upset. He made a great movie and they made enough money to give him a raise. Marvel executives are dumb and i wish i could replace one of them.

did he ask for more money? if not why get a reward did anybody else? if so then he does if not then he dont

on the hompepage poll, i voted for the option that any decent director could make iron man 2.

i believe this to be so. iron man was not some directorial masterpiece. the main strength was in the acting.

any decent director should have no problem in getting such a good group of actors to continue and develop relationships and character interactions that they have already established.

any decent director could make a good continuation of an already well-established story. all they would need is a good script.

I agree with you wolvie that any decent director "COULD" make a good sequel, but don't discount these points:
1. Favreau is responsible for bringing on the excellent cast and fighting Marvel over Robert Downey Jr's involvment in the first place, not to mention the tremendous chemistry between the actors which is part of its success. Will a new director bring back that chemistry, and will the actors even WANT to do it without Jon?
2. Favreau was responsible for the comics loyal script, and is a comics fan from way back. Can we risk a director that isn't. That usually turns out bad.
3. Jon was also VERY concerned that he give the hardcore comics fans their props, from communicating to geeks online, to inserting fun easter eggs.
3. From what I understand, Jon is only asking for a modest and "standard" bump from the bargain salary of $4 million that he got for the first movie. It has made around $540 million at this point, is still quite strong at theaters, and hasn't even touched the DVD sales yet. Marvel CAN afford this.

Bottom line. The stupid execs are being greedy and risking a multi-million dollar franchise for probably only 5 or 6 million dollars. Chump change for a franchise of this potential. Maisel should be fired for even letting this rumor get online.

I agree with you wolvie that any decent director "COULD" make a good sequel, but don't discount these points:
1. Favreau is responsible for bringing on the excellent cast and fighting Marvel over Robert Downey Jr's involvment in the first place, not to mention the tremendous chemistry between the actors which is part of its success."

of course, now that Downey jr. has become involved, that isn't really a concern. favreau has done a good job, but i can't see the franchise falling apart as a direct result of his absence.

Will a new director bring back that chemistry, and will the actors even WANT to do it without Jon?"

i would contest that the chemistry was done to favreau, or that his role in creating said chemistry was greater than that of the actors. if the actors don't want to continue without jon, then i would be surprised. i'm sure Downey et al would understand a departure over such circumstances. also, i have seriously over-estimated favreau as a man and as an artist if he will leave a project he supposedly "loves" or a character of which he claims to be a "fan" over a matter of a raise.


2. Favreau was responsible for the comics loyal script, and is a comics fan from way back. Can we risk a director that isn't. That usually turns out bad."

really? chris nolan knew of the batman character, but was not a fan. Same with brian singer. if memory serves, the only other instance of a true "fan" being in charge is sam raimi.



3. Jon was also VERY concerned that he give the hardcore comics fans their props, from communicating to geeks online, to inserting fun easter eggs.

i'm sure there are other directors capable of incorporating sufficient nods.

3. From what I understand, Jon is only asking for a modest and "standard" bump from the bargain salary of $4 million that he got for the first movie. It has made around $540 million at this point, is still quite strong at theaters, and hasn't even touched the DVD sales yet. Marvel CAN afford this."

sure. but why is it so important? is $4 million such a small wage for making something about a character you "love"?

i personally doubt the truth of this rumour anyway. no need for mass-panic.

yet.

Bottom line. The stupid execs are being greedy and risking a multi-million dollar franchise for probably only 5 or 6 million dollars. Chump change for a franchise of this potential. Maisel should be fired for even letting this rumor get online.

Your answers aren't wrong, they are just risky. My point is that Favreau is the IDEAL director and PROVED he could do it right. Why risk that on a new director that PROBABLY won't have all the above pluses?

And I have to disagree with your first answer. Favreau was responsible for the onset chemistry AND securing the stars in the first place. He's personal friends with all of them, and they are onboard because of him. They all stated that the whole experience was a "delight" because of Jon. Also, I could see Downey blowing the whole thing off, or at least being difficult, if Favreau was dissed by Marvel. Even if contracts were signed... there are ways.

NEW info Here:
Marvel Makes Belated Offer to Favreau for Iron Man 2

well, there we go. i doubted the truth of that rumour, and it appears that i was right to do so.

it still worries me that $4 million dollars could be viewed by anyone asa platry, difficult or unreasonable wage.

also, i would disagree that another director "probably" wouldn't be able to conjure a similar product. favreau is hardly the be all and end all of directors. what he got was good performances out of good actors. not exactly something to write home about, is it?

if the actors don't want to come back without favreau, then i don't think they are the type of actors i would ideally want in a film about a character whom i care about. these actors are not stupid. if favreau had left under these circumstances (a raise, or lack thereof) then i actually expect most of those actors to be (a) shocked and (b) lowering their opinion of him. Downey in particular, judging from his record. he isn't in it for the money.

i never thought favreau would be the kind of man who would let a small raise come before his art, and i don't think he is.
however, i will certainly think less of him if he doesn't think of $4 million as "enough"