The King's Speech Director Tom Hooper Turned Down Iron Man 3

The King's Speech Director Tom Hooper Turned Down Iron Man 3

Apparently Hooper, who's movie The King's Speech is currently winning every award in existence, was offered the directors chair on Iron Man 3 but turned it down for another adaptation of Les Miserables..

News
By MarkCassidy - Feb 23, 2011 06:02 PM EST
Filed Under: Iron Man
Source: La Times Blogs

Bit of interesting news from LA Times here. Although we now know that Shane Black will be taking over from John Favreau on Marvel's Iron Man threequel, the movie could have ended up in the hands of a very different director indeed..



According to a person who has worked closely with Hooper but who asked not to be identified because the director did not authorize this person to speak on his behalf, the Brit was offered the director's chair on "Iron Man 3," the latest installment in the Robert Downey Jr. franchise. He turned it down, and "Lethal Weapon" writer Shane Black wound up landing the job several weeks ago.


I have to say I'm very curious to see what Hooper might have done with this franchise. The King's Speech was expertly crafted, and although he might not seem like a good fit for the big action set pieces that a movie like Iron Man 3 would surely need, I think more of a focus on the characters after the uneven Iron Man 2 could have been just what was needed. Anyway, it's moot now. Shane Black is in the drivers seat. Let's hope he delivers.

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HavocT
HavocT - 2/23/2011, 6:30 PM
What a dumbass.
Xandera
Xandera - 2/23/2011, 6:34 PM
He'll regret that in the future...


Guys, check out the Eleventh Sub-chapter of WHITE FIRE... Unforeseen Battle!

White Fire
Jer3miah
Jer3miah - 2/23/2011, 6:41 PM
Too bad... Heh, I found the original pic. I see who the guy is, if it is, indeed, the one who presented the scoop.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 2/23/2011, 6:42 PM
I guess not. I just think he was an unusual choice for marvel to go to. And can you get two more different directors than he and Shane Black?
superotherside
superotherside - 2/23/2011, 6:44 PM
hmmm... interesting but no maderian for iron man 3 and no trilogy for iron man iron man needs about 5 movies to do the character right the've done the first two now for 3 more! armor wars for iron man 3!
sylon
sylon - 2/23/2011, 6:45 PM
He's smart to steer clear of the franchise after that abomination that was Iron Man 2.
CaptainAmerica
CaptainAmerica - 2/23/2011, 6:47 PM
I just hope Iron Man 3 goes back to being epic. Iron Man 2 wasn't bad, just no where near as good as the first one which was EPIC.
MovieMann
MovieMann - 2/23/2011, 6:53 PM
A Director of his caliber is not going to want to ad an installment of a mediocre franchise to his resume. Besides he is an artistic director not an action director.
RaMan
RaMan - 2/23/2011, 7:02 PM
Wait what? Am I the only one that like Iron Man 2? Hell I take IM2 over Inception any other day. IM2 was a popcorn flick and it delivered so yeah...
@VideoColor - 2/23/2011, 6:51 PM

I liked IM2 more than the first one.
golden123
golden123 - 2/23/2011, 7:05 PM
@videocolor: are you just being bias because IM2 is a comic book film (which I totally understand) or do you actually think a popcorn flick that delivers is better than a ground breaking psychological thriller.
adamdusza
adamdusza - 2/23/2011, 7:11 PM
I agree that I loved Iron Man 2. Liked it better than first one. Liked how Tony had to deal with dying while still becoming the man he wants to be. Tony is a flawed hero and having to go through that fear of dying while having enemies coming after him at all sides was awesome. Love this movie.
oreilly
oreilly - 2/23/2011, 7:14 PM
This could be the best for both Hooper and Iron Man 3. Hooper doesn`t really need to settle for Iron Man 3 especially if the King`s Speech wins Best Picture and/or Best Director like someone else mentioned. Plus his style seems to be doing period dramas and european films and I don`t know if that would meld to well with Iron Man. Maybe he can do Captain Britain? LOL.
marvel72
marvel72 - 2/23/2011, 7:14 PM
tom hooper would of never taken this movie,its not serious enough.

his gonna stick to movies that'll give a chance winning more awards unlike iron man 3.

@ hulk2008

i thought iron man 2 was good,but nowhere near as good as the first one.
Mysterion
Mysterion - 2/23/2011, 7:26 PM
I just checked his resume on IMDB, why would Marvel even approach him to direct a CBM? Its like Marvel approaching Woody Allen to direct the Avengers....but then again they got Keneth Branagh to direct Thor.
Blackmatter
Blackmatter - 2/23/2011, 7:28 PM
Iron Man 2 was just alright but 1 was better. Jeff Bridges brought life to that movie. Matter of fact Iron Monger would've kicked whiplashes' ass.
Spideyshawn
Spideyshawn - 2/23/2011, 7:29 PM
Really didnt like ironman2 love the first one tho but hopefully ironman3 finally has the mandarin and brings it back to the level the first one.
Quasimodo
Quasimodo - 2/23/2011, 7:32 PM
i enjoyed iron man 2 more than inception also
Avenger53
Avenger53 - 2/23/2011, 7:42 PM
@Samhell... AGREED! I don't think people give Jeff Bridges enough credit for his contribution to Iron Man 1... He was awesome! Rourke acted like he didn't even want to be in Iron Man 2... and after hearing his statements from press interviews, it's clear he didn't give a crap about the character, the story or the franchise.
oreilly
oreilly - 2/23/2011, 8:13 PM
@Intruder

Rourke gave his 'A' game for the movie? Yeah right, that's why Rourke had this to say about the movie:

"I read my character. I didn't read a lot of the other stuff too clearly. I have no idea what's in the movie or what it's about, to be honest with you."

Rourke didn't care enough about the movie to read the entire script or understand the story. Rourke gave a mediocre performance, the movie was just a paycheck and exposure for him.
HULK2099
HULK2099 - 2/23/2011, 9:06 PM
dammit... this couldve got a comic book movie a first oscar! the day that happens it will def. be a marvel project! best picture baby
oreilly
oreilly - 2/23/2011, 9:16 PM
That quote came from an interview in April 2010, just before the movie came out. And it`s not from just one quote, I`ve seen interviews that he had in October where he said he has yet to see Iron Man 2 and he has no interest in seeing it.

It seems to me that he clearly doesn`t care too much about the movie. I think that he may have been passionate about it at first, which is why he went to the russian prison, but maybe he wasn`t happy with the movie when he was shooting it much like RDJ allegedly was which led to the rift between Favreau and RDJ.

I don`t think Iron Man 2 was a bad movie, it was just a disappointing movie. And it definitely suffered because of what i think was a weak script.
oreilly
oreilly - 2/23/2011, 9:26 PM
@HULK2099

I`m not sure a comic book movie will ever win best picture. At least not one based on a main stream comic book with a main stream comic book hero. Comic book movies like Road to Perdition or 300 I can see possibly winning, but The Dark Knight might be the closest a main stream comic book movie will get to winning Best Picture.
Sweep
Sweep - 2/23/2011, 9:45 PM
They probably threw a few scripts at him. Iron Man 3 being one of them at the time. You're absolutely right though ROR, The King's Speech was a well put together movie. Maybe a more cerebral comic book movie would of taken his fancy. Something in more of an "Unbreakable" mould.

Orphix
Orphix - 2/24/2011, 1:37 AM
well there is no script for IM3 yet - just Marvel Studios and some producers assembling a 'team'. They probably asked if he was interested in being considered a couple of months ago. And he obviously decided it wasn't for him. It's not like his career is struggling.

As for the IM vs IM2 debate - I MUCH prefered the first film. I just found the second one dull and less comprehensible. The first one had higher stakes and Stark was a lot more driven. Fav talked alot about 'the sins of the fathers' but they never really used that to its full potential.

Using Fury as a Deus Ex Machina to point Stark in the right way seemed a weak and easy way to tell the story. It was like they were more interested in advertising The Avengers. However I am sure Marvel Studios learnt ALOT of lesson from making IM2 in that regard and REALLY looking forward to Thor and Captain America. :o)
ScottPilgrim
ScottPilgrim - 2/24/2011, 1:49 AM
@Orphix

Couldn't agree more ironman (1) was incredible, maybe the best. Then came number whic was just overall...shallow.

Around about 4 or more well known ironman story arcs spread so finely across 119 mins that to me it just came across rushed. And don't even get me started on the dj'ing scene.

The Mark V was cool to be fair.

On Hooper directing number three. Nahhhh can't really see it.

I feel the clear choice is Kenneth Brannagh. In Thor he will need to cross, mix and blend the fin line between science and magic. This would be key for someone trying to direct ironman 3 where ironman should be facing the mandarin.

Thoughts anyone?
Orphix
Orphix - 2/24/2011, 2:22 AM
If Thor does really well I can see Branagh being asked to work with Marvel again in some capacity BUT most likely on a sequel to Thor.

Though he may get a producers role on other properties like Fav. Obviously anything that is seriously up and running already are less likely to have any involvment from him.

ScottPilgrim@ Yep - that DJ scene was pretty wierd and out of place. Just seemed to go on forever and it came out of nowhere. His descent into alcohol was hardly Leaving Las Vegas.

Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer was excellent tho. Wanted to see more of him and hope to see him in The Avengers (you never know)!
BenRielly
BenRielly - 2/24/2011, 2:59 AM
Iron man 2 was glass good movie that fell terribly short of its full potential. They should have used the demon in the bottle plot especially because he was dieing. I felt as though they had that aspect in the script and then yanked it. I listened to the directors commentary on the DVD and Favreau spoke of how he had originally had a bunch of manderin Easter eggs throughout the film but wouldnt explain why he took them out.

And last but not least waaay too much improv especially with the Senate scene.

The movie just felt really hollow as if were missing pieces...

Tony's alcoholism due to his impending death and More behind the scenes manderin puppet mastery ie the "shadowy emporer".

Think about it... Just imagine Tony drunk during the Senate scene. Now doesn't it make a bit more sense he acted that way. :-)
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 2/24/2011, 4:40 AM
I liked Iron Man 2 for what it was, but what it was was disappointing. It didn't come near the heights it should have after the first one. Right up until just after the Formula 1 scene with Whiplash it was shaping up to be awesome. Then, after establishing Whip as a formidable threat to Stark he sits behind a computer for the rest of the movie while Stark walks around talking about strawberries. Dull second half. And a useless, unexciting ending.
hunterelf
hunterelf - 2/24/2011, 5:10 AM
if you've seen the commentary and behind the scenes of IM2, you'll see how elaborate the plot actually is.
to sum it up, RDJ and whiplash are both following their father's footsteps. this ties it really nicely with the first films montage of tony and his father. The father and son relationship is there, but you just have to dig in the movie.
i do agree that the DJ scene seemed out of character and was a mood breaker..

back to the topic, dont think he can direct action films at all lol
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 2/24/2011, 6:58 AM
Hooper doing IM3 would've been akin to Nolan taking over Batman and Aronofsky taking on Wolverine. I think it would have been a nice change from the mostly pointless IM2. I still think Black will be alright (even though he from the dreadful town of Pittsburgh,) next to having less experience I don't think he is a big drop in talent from Jon Favreau.
satanors
satanors - 2/24/2011, 7:59 AM
Good..... we don't want iron man 3 to turn into a boring oscar winning movie. By the way, i wonder why iron man 2 was not nominated for the oscars? It was boring and the story was crap allright.
Ryguy88
Ryguy88 - 2/24/2011, 8:11 AM
Boring movies with crappy stories get Oscar noms?
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