In a round-about way, I just learned of the major news break regarding Iron Man 2. The first images of the main stars of the film have been released, causing a major explosion of activity online.
Aside from the reminder of just how amazing the Iron Man armor is and how stellar Robert Downey Jr. is in the role of Tony Stark, the real news is the first glimpse of Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow. For those not in the know, I supplied a primer on Black Widow in Marvel Comics here.
The first Iron Man movie was such a surprise hit that it even took your author by surprise. After the disappointing Spider-Man 3, X-Men 3 and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, it was looking like the super hero movie genre was dead before it got to shine. How wrong I was. Director John Favreau managed to take an obscure super hero from the 1960’s and translate him for the masses in a way that paid homage to the source material without alienating the guy on the street.
How can he top this? The second Iron Man movie promises to be bigger than the first with the slinky Russian super-spy the Black Widow and the surly Whiplash proving that Tony Stark’s super hero lifestyle may be many things but it will never be boring… or safe.
Possibly the most important female role in a super hero flick since Catwoman in Batman Returns, Black Widow will surely be turning the heads of movie goers. Expect to hear a LOT about the character in the coming year leading up to the film’s release date.
I have to say that based on the first image I am very impressed. They have remained faithful to the comic book imagery (even down to those funky bracelets) without making it look overdone or absurd.
Black Widow (by JG Jones)
This news is certainly more of a positive slant on the film in comparison to the image leaked of Mickey Rourke dressed as the villain Whiplash which excited no one.
Iron Man 2 will be released on May 7, 2010.
