IRON MAN 3 Director Shane Black Defends The Controversial Mandarin Twist

IRON MAN 3 Director Shane Black Defends The Controversial Mandarin Twist

Many fans were annoyed at the usage of The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) in Marvel's Iron Man 3, but while speaking to Screenrant the movie's director explains why they chose to go the route they did, and why he felt that ultimately it worked.

By MarkCassidy - May 15, 2013 02:05 PM EST
Filed Under: Iron Man 3
Source: Screenrant

This is safe to talk about by now right? If not, and by some miracle you are reading this not knowing the Mandarin related twist in Iron Man 3, MAJOR SPOILERS from here on in.



Okay? So as anyone who's read this far will know, Shane Black and screenwriter Drew Pearce decided not to use the ACTUAL Mandarin (unless you count Aldrich Killian..and if you do, don't!) in the movie. Ben Kingsley's initially unsettling villain was actually a smokescreen, and turned out to be a hired actor named Trevor. Funny reveal no doubt, but it understandably pissed off a lot of comic fans who were eagerly anticipating seeing Iron Man's arch nemesis on the big screen after a 2 movie buildup. Well Black explains and defends the decision to Screenrant, and even if you are one of the fans that was annoyed, I think you'll have to admit that -- from a story standpoint at least -- it makes sense.

“I would say that we struggled to find a way to present a mythic terrorist that had something about him that registered after the movie’s over as having been a unique take, or a clever idea, or a way to say something of use. And what was of use about the Mandarin’s portrayal in this movie, to me, is that it offers up a way that you can sort of show how people are complicit in being frightened. They buy into things in the way that the audience for this movie buys into it. And hopefully, by the end you’re like, ‘Yeah, we were really frightened of the Mandarin, but in the end he really wasn’t that bad after all.’ In fact, the whole thing was just a product of this anonymous, behind-the-scenes guy. I think that’s a message that’s more interesting for the modern world because I think there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes, a lot of fear, that’s generated toward very available and obvious targets, which could perhaps be directed more intelligently at what’s behind them.”



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MarkJulian
MarkJulian - 5/15/2013, 2:02 PM
WTF is this bull[shite]! I don't go into a Marvel Studios movie looking for the story to tell me "something of use." I expect to be entertained!
DaenerysTargaryen
DaenerysTargaryen - 5/15/2013, 2:08 PM
Brace yourselfs, ranters are coming
TelaVizion
TelaVizion - 5/15/2013, 2:09 PM
Look, after seeing the animated Iron Man movie years ago, and after this movie, it is perfectly clear that the Mandarin does not work outside of the comics. Its time for everyone to get over it and move on.

The twist was good, it worked (story wise), and he shouldn't feel the need to explain himself. Whats done is done. Mandarin was still treated better than Venom was in that Spidey 3 crap.
jerryblake
jerryblake - 5/15/2013, 2:13 PM
"he's here ... but he's not here
he's here but he's not here ...
it's complicated.
HEY ! IT'S COMPLICATED"
JatevinM
JatevinM - 5/15/2013, 2:15 PM
I'm sorry but dont give me that Mandarin doesn't work outside the comics bullshit. Every character that has appeared in a Marvel movie is a reworked version of that character and it was done to make them work better on the big screen. If they really wanted to use the Mandarin without filling him with the racist stereotypes then they could have. The twist in all honesty was lazy and it was a poor attempt at adapting the character.

TelaVizion@ Venom was still treated better than the Mandarin because at least Venom was his own character like he was supposed to be. The Mandarin was completely and utterly disrespected as a character and his fans have every right to be pissed off about it.
TayDee
TayDee - 5/15/2013, 2:15 PM
We get it already. Comic geeks don't like it, but the general audience doesn't care and accepted it. Let this die already.
MarkJulian
MarkJulian - 5/15/2013, 2:16 PM
@TelaVizion It's not impossible to make The Mandarin work. Up until the twist HE WAS WORKING. Now we know they apparently wanted us to walk away with a moral message from Iron Man 3. None of the other Marvel movies implicitly tried to convey a moral message [save Thor]. Theses comments are the dumbest thing I've read in a long time.
jerryblake
jerryblake - 5/15/2013, 2:16 PM
P.S. They lost me on this when Killian mentioned Kadafi and Bin Laden. Not something i was expecting in Marvel cbm.
jphoenix666
jphoenix666 - 5/15/2013, 2:20 PM
Is it just me or was that the stupidest defense I ever read?

YOU SUCK Black. I'm NEVER seeing any of your movies again, All Mandarin fans should do the same.
DeadManDann
DeadManDann - 5/15/2013, 2:22 PM
Are some of you seriously complaining that they were trying to be more than just simple entertainment? Seriously?? You can dislike the twist and even the film itself, but to claim that they shouldn't strive to be more than just popcorn BS is ridiculous. I thought we all wanted more from our CBMS-- some meat on the damn bone.
FrankieDedo
FrankieDedo - 5/15/2013, 2:23 PM
Why don't you go just with something sticking to source material?

JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER MARVEL MOVIE!!!!

SHANE BLACK: GO [frick] YOURSELF!

WHAT'S WRONG WITH ORIGINAL MANDARIN???

I think that the mandarin's campness was actually fine in a movie, because it would have made contrast against the witty MCU tony stark, then it would have been win.
DeadManDann
DeadManDann - 5/15/2013, 2:23 PM
Maybe it's just Julian's comments, but still.
Moohika
Moohika - 5/15/2013, 2:24 PM
[frick] you Shane black, [frick] you..
MarkJulian
MarkJulian - 5/15/2013, 2:25 PM
No one said dumb popcorn movies. A smart and intelligent film doesn't need to try and instill a message, just execute a story with precision.
Moohika
Moohika - 5/15/2013, 2:27 PM
he couldn't find a way to do a mythic terrorist and yet he decides to go with fire breathing lava people...what a genius... -_-
AmazingFantasy
AmazingFantasy - 5/15/2013, 2:29 PM
Suck my nob Black
marcvader1
marcvader1 - 5/15/2013, 2:29 PM
While I didn't mind the twist, it worked, The portrayal of the Mandarin was working up to that point. I would even have been ok with him not having the rings as weapons and using Killian still as the main physical threat in this.
Brainiac13
Brainiac13 - 5/15/2013, 2:30 PM
This guy thinks he's clever...well.. he got people talking about it....talking about how SHIT this was!!!!

marcvader1
marcvader1 - 5/15/2013, 2:31 PM
And guys, non fanboys loved this movie, twist and all.
JaiHo
JaiHo - 5/15/2013, 2:31 PM
At first I was pissed that they took away his rings and made him Middle-Eastern. But after seeing the trailers I was like "Ok, this could still work - he seems more `realistic`, he`s intimidating, has a distinctive voice and has got incredible presence". I wish they kept the version of the Mandarin presented in those previews.
The twist is funny, true, but I just can`t stand that they annihilated Iron Man`s greatest foe (and no, I don`t accept Killian as "the Mandarin" - it seemed like they were trying to appease the fans, as in "See? The Mandarin WAS in this movie!"). As a fan I enjoyed those 5 minutes of laughter, but then I had to go through a much longer period of disappointment.
Brainiac13
Brainiac13 - 5/15/2013, 2:32 PM
Maybe he is Trudy/Invader in disguise!!!
Brainiac13
Brainiac13 - 5/15/2013, 2:32 PM
Cus they both talk shit!!!!!!!
ruadh
ruadh - 5/15/2013, 2:32 PM
I thought the twist was brilliant, and pulled off well. I'm sorry so many comic fans are so unhappy about it, but they simply took a chance on a plot. You didn't like it, but no need to get so crazy about it. Be happy with the first movie.

Also, while of course this portrayal of the Mandarin was a huge departure from the comics, no character in the marvel movies has been a straight, 100% page-to-screen adaptation.
ComixBookGuy
ComixBookGuy - 5/15/2013, 2:33 PM
Now that Iron Man 3 is over we can look forward to Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Avengers 2, Ant-Man, Doctor Strange, and Black Panther.
jerryblake
jerryblake - 5/15/2013, 2:33 PM
the problem with Mandarin twist is that Black did not take source material seriously. Same thing happened with Bane in TDKR.

Now, for the common viewer who is not familiar with Mandarin from comic books (like me) - the twist doesn't matter (still wouldn't call it a twist at all)

But for some common Iron Man comics fan - this interpretation is just insult.

Same goes with Bane. You may like the Nolan's version of the character but if you are a "Knightfall" fan (like me), you will never appreciate it. You will feel cheated.

I remember I use to like Spawn movie, until I decided to red Spawn comic books. I think, you get the point.
prettynucIear
prettynucIear - 5/15/2013, 2:34 PM
Ok so the Mandarin is fake, terrorism blah blah blah. Why does a BLOND BLUE EYED WHITE MAN say that he is the Mandarin?? What's next? A white Kahn? A white guy playing Shredder in TMNT?
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 5/15/2013, 2:35 PM
...
ruadh
ruadh - 5/15/2013, 2:35 PM
"They probably know they lost between 25-75 million in just return viewing by fan boys"

Riiiiiiiiiight. I'm sure Marvel is content with the box office take. I doubt anyone really expected this movie to make as much as Avengers, but it came REALLY close.
Superheromoviefan
Superheromoviefan - 5/15/2013, 2:38 PM
A good movie, but a crappy Mandarin. I expected not to have the powers from the comics, but he doesn't have the base of the character.
thejfather1
thejfather1 - 5/15/2013, 2:39 PM
Still pissed, but whatver, im still gonna watch every single one of their movies, im just not gonna watch IM3 in theaters as much as Avengers lol
Bigred20
Bigred20 - 5/15/2013, 2:39 PM
THEY FVCKED UP THE GREATEST IRON MAN VILLIAN!
Favreau would have gotten it right
JayJayCAW
JayJayCAW - 5/15/2013, 2:40 PM
the idea is behind it is a decent one, however, you DONT do that crap to a character that has over 50 years of history and story and a 2 movie build up, they could have easily made it that the guy in the first movie, the terrorist guy who claimed to be the leader, he was the puppet for the real Mandarin....but nope...that makes no sense to Mr. Black :S
bagadoosh
bagadoosh - 5/15/2013, 2:41 PM
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