His role in Iron Man 3 may have been a minor one in the grand scheme of things, but it was certainly memorable! Playing a news reporter with a somewhat unhealthy Tony Stark/Iron Man obsession, it came to a surprise to a lot of fans that the actor - best know for starring in Happy Endings - was cast without fans getting wind of it. In the following interview with Vulture, he talks about what it was like to be a part of Shane Black's threequel and offers some insight as to why he believes the Russo brothers are a good fit for Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
On Whether He Was Told Which Role He Was Auditioning For:
No, it was completely secret. I actually got the role in a roundabout way: I got called in about three years ago to meet Robert Downey Jr. and write web series stuff for him. He's basically my idol, and he was trying to find an online presence for himself, and through that we just started working together. Eventually I got the call for Iron Man, and I read sides that had nothing to do with what I did in the movie, and I performed it once while no one was in the room — it was videotaped, and I'm sure Shane Black was watching it from his helicopter or something. And then I got a call the next day that I was going down to shoot it.
On How Much Of The Scene Was Improvised:
A lot of it. Although a lot of it was written, too, because Drew Pearce, the writer, is amazing. His dialogue was really good, and Shane Black [co-wrote it], and there's not much you need to do to improve on Shane Black's dialogue. It was awesome, it was like reading Lethal Weapon scenes. Shane was really cool about my improv background, and he gave me some amazing notes, and we'd do one regular take and one take where Robert would start improvising. All I had to do was keep up with him to come out looking good.
On How Long It Took To Film His Scenes With Robert Downey Jr.:
It was actually about six days. Oddly enough, there was a lot of blue screen and green screen that we had to be around for. I would have done the whole movie just waiting around, though, because it was so cool.
On Whether He's Hoping To Return For Any Future Marvel Movies:
Well, the Russo brothers are the best people ever, and they cast me in Happy Endings. I did text Joe Russo to say, "I don't think my character dies, so if you need a local news cameraman to show up in Captain America 2 … I know it doesn't make sense, but just hear me out on this!" He was really cool about it and turned me down right away.
On Why He Believes The Russo Brothers Are The Right Choice For Captain America: The Winter Solider:
I think that if you look at something like Community, they're really good at that sort of controlled chaos and they can exactly nail that genre. They've been able to do that sort of thing all along, and it totally lends itself to a movie like Captain America. Also, I think Chris Evans is kinda funny! But Joe and Anthony are gonna make that movie really [frick]in' unique. The one thing that Marvel always does — and I know I sound like a company man saying this — but they always pick amazing directors. Look at [frick]ing Thor, it was directed by Kenneth Branagh! And getting to do Iron Man 3 last summer with Shane Black, and now getting to be the lead in my own action comedy … I learned so much. It was like going to action movie boot camp. I don't know if I'm gonna be good at it, but I think I'm going in well-equipped.
Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 3 pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?
STARRING:
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man
Ben Kingsley as The Mandarin
Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts
Don Cheadle as Rhodey/War Machine
Guy Pearce as Aldrich Killian
Rebecca Hall as Dr. Maya Hansen
Ashley Hamilton as Jack Taggert
James Badge Dale as Eric Savin
Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan
RELEASE DATE: Out Now!