Movies, Books & Disney+

Robert Downey Jr. Talks “Iron Man 3” at Comic-Con Press Conference

We posted coverage from Comic-Con’s press conferences for Frankenweenie, Oz: The Great and Powerful and Wreck-It Ralph a couple of days ago, and we were delighted to also be invited to the Iron Man 3 press conference! While Jeff and I were not at Comic-Con this year, we had two friends with a combined 50 years of Comic-Con experience on hand to help us out. (I hope we will be in San Diego for the 2013 Comic-Con to cover it with full photos and video). 

The Iron Man 3 conference brought together director Shane Black; actors Don Cheadle and Robert Downey Jr.; along with Marvel President and Producer Kevin Feige.

I left most of Peter Csanadi’s notes as is below, adding a little extra dialogue after listening to an audio recording. 

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Press Conference Table, Photo by Peter Csanadi

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Media Before Press Conference, Photo by Peter Csanadi

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Robert Downey Jr.’s Place at Table, Photo by Peter Csanadi

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Actor Don Cheadle, Copyright Disney

Some highlights from the press conference:

Director Shane Black was asked about rumors and photos online, including how much guessing is wrong. He stated that the leaked stuff is unfortunate (especially referring to the recent Iron Patriot images), but also said that they really enjoy reading all the rumors that are wrong. Sometimes things are released on purpose to get the community guessing in the wrong direction.

When asked about coming in to work on Iron Man 3, Black said that he received a lot of help both from movie director Jon Favreau and the incredible special effects team. He told them what he wanted to do, and within two weeks, they would tell him how it will be done.

When Robert Downey Jr. was asked about Iron Man’s dealings with evil forces, he talked about how “threats explore limitations”. 

Black mentioned how the movie will finish the story trilogy arc (of Tony Stark’s personal life, i.e. weapons builder, alcoholism, relationship with Pepper, etc.) and then will take it in a whole new direction. He stated that the studio was allowing him to take the character in fresh directions using very unique plot points. The filmmakers are being allowed “to take risks” so as not to become formulaic.

Kevin Feige was asked why the studio chose Black to direct. Feige said the studio trusts his story telling abilities, the same way that they trusted Joss Whedon with The Avengers even though he had no big-budget movie in his resume. Roberty Downey Jr. chimed in and said his first collaboration with Shane Black was in 2005 with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which was a very positive one and it gave him the confidence he needed to work with Black again.

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Director Kevin Feige, Copyright Disney

 
Black mentioned how many fans were angry that the Iron Man suit had gold in it and he thought that was such an odd thing for them to be angry about. He talked about Tony Stark’s personal life arc with almost dying in the first movie, being a drunk in the second one and people just not liking him. This third movie will help complete that arc with him learning important life lessons from those events with help from his personal relationships with Pepper and some friendly suit competition with Rhodey.
 

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Director Kevin Feige and Robert Downey Jr., Copyright Disney

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Director Kevin Feige, Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle, Copyright Disney

Shane Black also mentioned that while some of the story occurs in China, it will not be primarily filmed there, saying more softly, “It’s weird, we aren’t going to China”.  He then asked Kevin Feige if it was ok to have said that. Robert Downey Jr. then said, to laughter, “This is why I love Shane. He says it, then turns to Kevin and asks if he can say it”. Black compared it with a sequence in Iron Man 2 that was set in Monaco. “Many, many crew members went to Monaco. The first unit didn’t”. He said it would be similar movie magic for Iron Man 3. “The first unit won’t be going. That stays in this room.”, he said to more laughter.

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Director Kevin Feige, Photo by Peter Csanadi

Shane Black talked about what a great job Jon Favreau did with the original in terms of it being a high-tech, romantic comedy, to which Robert Downey Jr. said, “I just want to point out that Rhodey is single.”  Then Don Cheadle laughingly asked “if this was a dating service”.
 
Robert Downey Jr. soon queried, “When does the kid with the Sharpie goatee get to ask a question?” That happened a few minutes later, to which Downey said, “Finally“, while the audience clapped. Cheadle broke in and said, “this better be a great question” to audience laughter. The little boy asked Robert Downey Jr. what it was like to be a hero in all his movies (a collective “awwww”  enveloped the crowd). Cheadle then imparted, “This better be a great answer!” Downey Jr. said, “I take it as seriously as Shakespeare”.

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Actor Robert Downey Jr., Copyright Disney

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Actor Robert Downey Jr., Photo by Peter Csanadi

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Actor Robert Downey Jr., Photo by Peter Csanadi 

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Actor Don Cheadle, Photo by Peter Csanadi

Thank you to Peter Csanadi for covering this press conference for us. He is one of the finest photographers we know (his photos here were taken from 20 rows back). You can find more of his photos here.