Shane Black And Sir Ben Kingsley Tease A Big Reveal With 'The Mandarin' In IRON MAN 3
Talking at the Iron Man 3 press conference in London yesterday, director Shane Black and actor Sir Ben Kingsley were quizzed on a big reveal in the movie in regards to 'The Mandarin' character. While that isn't revealed here, be warned that there may be what some consider to be SPOILERS AHEAD.
Iron Man 3 is a movie full of clever twists and turns, but there's one which may end up being a little...controversial. While those who attended the press conference for the movie in London yesterday were warned not to ask anything too revealing, that very twist - which involves 'The Mandarin' - was brought up. Thankfully, both director Shane Black and Sir Ben Kingsley handled it perfectly and the former had this to say when asked about a pivotal scene which included Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle and Sir Ben. Black was specifically asked about whether or not the sequence was improvised or fully scripted.
"These are fabulously talented people who have the ability to make structure seem like improv," he said. "They knew the scene backwards and forward and they performed it in such a loose wonderful way that it makes it seem like it's just occurring in the moment and they're just dancing and thinking on their feet. We covered it like every other scene. We shot it like every other scene. It's probably the truest to the script of most any scene in there and it's one of the best because of the talents of the people involved. In particular, just seeing Sir Ben open up and at the end of the shooting day, the crew spontaneously applauded after that scene."
As for what inspired his unique take on 'The Mandarin', Kingsley had this to say (come back and read this again after seeing the movie and it will take on an entirely new light). "It's great. Of the many devices that 'The Mandarin' employs, all of them are rooted in observation on my part and I won't name names, but some members of the audience might be able to recognise that I'm doing them. It's a beautiful script and as Shane rightly points out, there's very little deviation from what was on the page by Drew and Shane. There was our mandate and we followed it pretty well to the letter." Stay tuned for more highlights from the Iron Man 3 press conference!
Photos And Video From The London IRON MAN 3 Press Conference
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: April 25th, 2013 (UK). May 3rd, 2013 (US).