Hollywood’s household name, Robert Downey Jr.’s journey to becoming Iron Man is legendary. Not only was Iron Man the beginning of Downey’s successful journey, but it was also the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The first Iron Man film started a massive six-phase run introducing some of Marvel’s greatest superheroes, eventually leading to their epic union as the Avengers. However, Downey’s journey as part of Marvel wasn’t always smooth, as the sequel to the first Iron Man derailed Marvel’s momentum. The tension escalated when a high-profile actor was demanded to play the antagonist.
Iron Man 2 lived up to its predecessor, thanks to Downey’s magnetic portrayal of Tony Stark and Mickey Rourke’s commanding performance as the menacing Ivan Vanko, also known as Whiplash. While Rourke’s intense portrayal perfectly complemented Downey’s Stark, behind the scenes, things were as smooth. Director Jon Favreau and Marvel found themselves in a constant battle after bringing the Oscar-nominated Rourke, as his demands and on-set challenges kept tensions high.
As insiders revealed earlier, Rourke made some bizarre demands to Kevin Feige and Favreau for his role in Iron Man 2 despite having title knowledge of the character’s comic book origins.
Among these requests were having Whiplash wear a Samurai-style bun, accompanied by a pet bird on his shoulder, and specific instructions for his character’s tattoos. While Favreau and Feige eventually agreed to these conditions, Rourke further pushed the envelope by asking for a pay raise. Surprisingly, this was also granted with Downey’s offering to reduce his paycheck to accommodate Rourke’s salary. Well, isn’t he a generous star?
After Iron Man 2 was greenlit almost instantly after the first chapter, the pressure to meet the expectations of the first film’s massive success was immense. Marvel kicked into high gear and pre-planned sets and visual effects before beginning the filming. Despite the tension and constraints, the movie was a box office hit, earning praise from critics and fans alike.
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