Marvel Studios' recent action-flick
Iron Man 2 has grossed $621,166,816 world-wide, surpassing the original film. And while the film is a major puzzle piece to the eventual
Avengers film, because of that it had mixed reviews. And according to
CinemaBlend, Favreau was not only unhappy with the finished product, but wanted to direct The Avengers, but Marvel Studios' typical pet peeve got in the way; Negotiating
CinemaBlend says
"Favreau really wanted to direct The Avengers but Marvel didn’t want to pay for him. Their negotiations with Favreau to secure him as the director of Iron Man 2 were difficult and Favreau worked out a deal that got him paid more money. Marvel wasn’t willing to pay that kind of money again when it came time for The Avengers, and so even though Favs wanted to direct their superhero team-up movie, they didn’t want him. Instead Marvel has made it a point to seek out cheaper talent to direct all of their subsequent movies. Joss Whedon was hired to direct The Avengers and while he’s a mega-talented director he’s also a much cheaper hire than someone like Favreau.
Obviously creating an
Avengers film that united some of the studios' biggest properties would require tons of cash, with special effects, and of course talent. You have to cut costs somewhere and Whedon comes in.
On the story of
Iron Man 2 having to be a major puzzle piece for
The Avengers,
Cinemablend says
"Iron Man 2 wasn’t the movie Jon Favreau wanted to make. Marvel interfered heavily with his work on the movie and turned the project into an infomercial for The Avengers. Favreau felt the movie was rushed into production (and if you followed the development process you know it was) and they pushed him into making it without a fully realized script. Iron Man 2 wasn’t the movie he wanted to make and because of that, if there’s an Iron Man 3, there’s every reason to think he won’t be back. Marvel doesn’t want to pay him and Favreau may not want to deal with more Marvel interference.
Favreau wasn’t the only one unhappy with Iron Man 2, and apparently Tony Stark himself, Robert Downey Jr., saw the same problems. And as expected,
“While he's locked for Iron Man 3, chances are, that will be his last movie.” And plus it's been said that the franchise would only be a trilogy.
DCMF - You can take this only as a rumor for now, but this does seem like at typically 'Marvel' act upon things. And the thing about Marvel using
Avengers to interfere with Favreau's story sounds about right for how things turned out. Though Iron Man's third return won't happen anytime soon, hopefully Marvel & Favreau will make up.. If this is true. What do you think?