Deadline Hollywood Daily is reporting that an offer is on the table and that all this hoohaw is just standard contract negotiating "games." The non-sourced article made it sound as though the offer had been already out there before the rumors hit, but if you read some of the comments, not a lot of people buy that. Especially when Favreau himself says he had only had one phone call with Marvel execs since the Iron Man movie came out and that no offers had been made. When they say "very recently," it probably means yesterday or this morning, after seeing all the bad press that Marvel Studios Chairman David Maisel was getting.
Here's what they said:
Bottom line is, even if this is just the typical "game" that is played in Hollywood, Favreau doesn't deserve the hassel. Marvel should know better than to do that since Hollywood has screwed them for years over their characters. Favreau brought a fairly obscure Marvel character into the limelight and has birthed a multi-million dollar franchise that will probably see several years of blockbuster success. He should be praised and rewarded. PERIOD. Don't forget where you came from Marvel. Hollywood is a whore, don't YOU be.
Here is more evidence of ongoing shenanigans from
Ain't It Cool via
Comics2Film:
Today, Harry Knowles at AIC chimes in, confirming IESB's story. Remember that Knowles has a professional relationship with Favreau, having been a producer on the diretor's attempt to bring 'John Carter: Warlord of Mars' to the big screen.
Writes Knowles, "There is a very very strong chance that unless David Maisel pulls his head out of his ass and work on this deal - you'll see Jon Favreau directing anything but an 'Iron Man 2' or an 'Avengers' movie."
He later continues, "Jon Favreau wants to do more 'Iron Man' movies. He would love to play in the Marvel Universe. Sadly... David Maisel is penny pinching his own company into a malignant purplenurple."
Like IESB, Knowles is not at liberty to name his sources, but adds, "When I brought this up with [Marvel Studios chief] Kevin Feige at the Austin screening of 'The Incredible Hulk' - he said they would be working with Favreau - but that isn't what I've heard from other sources - and it isn't what IESB is hearing either."
So as you can see, the evidence is piling up against Marvel. Shame on Maisel for dicking around.
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