View Full Version : Iron Man supporting characters casting ideas
Just starting a thread for the supporting cast members of Iron Man. I guess this includes anyone other than Tony Stark, but not the villains which can go in a separate thread. Who should play them and why?
Just to give you all ideas for the supporting cast if you can't remember, here's a starting list:
Jim 'Rhodey' Rhodes (aka Iron Man II/ War Machine)
Bethany Ann Cabe (on-off girlfriend, bodyguard/ head of security for Stark Enterprises, Iron Man stand-in)
Harold 'Happy' Hogan (Chauffeur, Iron Man stand-in)
Virginia 'Pepper' Potts Hogan (original secretary of Stark, wife of Happy Hogan etc)
Mrs Bambi Arbogast (long-serving secretary of Stark)
Felix Alvarez (Vice-CEO of Stark Enterprises, Stark's Lawyer)
Marcie Pearson (ex-girlfriend of Rhodey/ head of public relations for SE)
Scott Lang (Stark's research scientist, Ant-Man)
Dr Erica Sondheim (Stark's personal physician)
Abe Zimmer research scientist for Start Enterprises (not inventor of the Zimmer-Frame http://www.comics2film.com/UBB/smile.gif)
Artemus Pithins (head of public relations officer for Stark International)
Yvette Avril (Vice CEO for Stark International)
Vic Martinelli (head of security for Stark International)
Michael O'Brien Iron Man Stand-in
Eddie March Another Iron man stand-in
Clay Wilson (aka Carl Walker/ ex-Force villain & Iron Man stand-in)
There are also a number of ex-girlfriends such as Kathy Dare (she shot Tony Stark), Rae LaCoste, Rumiko, Brie Daniels and a whole load of other girls.
That's just a starter. Any ideas?
JohnJones
07-15-2003, 09:50 AM
If you look at IRON MAN (Vol. 1, Issue#300), there is listed in the back of the issue, all the people who were working at Stark Enterprises at that time, and they could be casted in a Iron Man movie with a large enough budget to it.
Well, according to today's news on Iron Man supporting characters, we have two bits of good news (at least from my point of view). First off, it looks like we WILL have Jim Rhodes, aka Iron Man II aka War Machine! Despite the fact that the villain will be Howard Stark and Tony's vietnam origin will be changed, Jim Rhodes, Vietnam pilot and marine WILL still be in it. That's one piece of great news!
But that's nothing compared to the second piece of news (since it's not too surprising Rhodey was going to be in the story since he is such a key player). The 2nd piece of good news concerns the love interest. I was ABSOLUTELY sure that I was going to be disappointed with this, because, knowing how these comic adaptations often are, they go for the exact opposite to what fans often want.
Well, in this case, the love interest is... BETHANY CABE - my all-time favourite Marvel supporting character and love interest for Iron Man! Apparently, Virginia "Pepper" Potts Hogan was going to be the love interest originally in earlier drafts. I'm glad she isn't, because she really belongs with Happy Hogan. She should still be there, maybe as the one who swoons over Tony but is never noticed, but Bethany is generally the fans all-time favourite Stark girlfriend. She is a very strong character, Madame Masque's arch enemy, and has taken on various super villains all on her own in combat. She even has the honour of being the first "Iron Woman", since she wore the Iron Man armour in issue #300.
And just for the record: Jim Rhodes IS black - it has stated in the comics on many occasions that he is of African-American descent, and he has even spoken out at times against racial prejudice - he should be played by a black actor. Bethany, on the other hand, IS white, with RED hair. Her most distinguishing features are the kiss curls near her cheek bones, and she has GREEN eyes. Both characters should therefore be played by appropriate actors, and not have their races switched.
Now if only the villain were changed to Justin Hammer, we would have the villain matching up completely with the supporting cast, since both Rhodey and Bethany were intimately involved in the fight against Hammer.
So who would you cast as Rhodey and Bethany?
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Meoww! Send in the clowns!
glenroberts
11-16-2004, 03:43 PM
I think Christopher Judge of Stargate:SG-1 would make a great Rhodey.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Welshcat:
<B>Just starting a thread for the supporting cast members of Iron Man. I guess this includes anyone other than Tony Stark, but not the villains which can go in a separate thread. Who should play them and why?
Just to give you all ideas for the supporting cast if you can't remember, here's a starting list:
Jim 'Rhodey' Rhodes</B> (aka Iron Man II/ War Machine)
Bethany Ann Cabe (on-off girlfriend, bodyguard/ head of security for Stark Enterprises, Iron Man stand-in)
Harold 'Happy' Hogan (Chauffeur, Iron Man stand-in)
Virginia 'Pepper' Potts Hogan (original secretary of Stark, wife of Happy Hogan etc)
Mrs Bambi Arbogast (long-serving secretary of Stark)
Felix Alvarez (Vice-CEO of Stark Enterprises, Stark's Lawyer)
Marcie Pearson (ex-girlfriend of Rhodey/ head of public relations for SE)
Scott Lang (Stark's research scientist, Ant-Man)
Dr Erica Sondheim (Stark's personal physician)
Abe Zimmer research scientist for Start Enterprises (not inventor of the Zimmer-Frame http://www.comics2film.com/UBB/smile.gif)
Artemus Pithins (head of public relations officer for Stark International)
Yvette Avril (Vice CEO for Stark International)
Vic Martinelli (head of security for Stark International)
Michael O'Brien Iron Man Stand-in
Eddie March Another Iron man stand-in
Clay Wilson (aka Carl Walker/ ex-Force villain & Iron Man stand-in)
There are also a number of ex-girlfriends such as Kathy Dare (she shot Tony Stark), Rae LaCoste, Rumiko, Brie Daniels and a whole load of other girls.
That's just a starter. Any ideas?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Bigkid
12-13-2004, 04:09 PM
Christopher Walken as Howard Stark (but this was already mentioned by MOI in the Iron Man casting thread). But, since this IS a SUPPORTING character, I'd figured that I'd mention it here. And since I'm not very familiar with all the characters from the Iron Man book, I really can't comment TO in-depth like about people other than The Mandarin, who, if thing's stay the way they seem to be playing out, will not make it into this film. Many people have the feelign that putting his character into this film would be somewhat on the racist (and politically incorrect) side.
Bah! Down with PC!
Come on! Anyone else going to contribute to the supporting characters cast list?
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Meoww! Send in the clowns!
Bigkid
12-13-2004, 10:32 PM
I'm right there with YOU WELSHY! DOWN WITH PC!!
I'm just saying, that that is what people are saying, that it's politically incorrect to have The Mandarin portrayed on screen the way he was depicted in the Iron Man book. I could care less, myself, but that seems to be where we are at now as a society. What ya gonna do, right??
Well the latest news is that Terrence Howard maybe have been offered the role of Jim Rhodes, aka War Machine.
http://www.forthnet.gr/media/PGallery/Oscars/470xN/2Terence_Howard.jpg
I haven't seen him in anything. I hope he can pull off the military man feel though - he seems to look a little too jovial in some of his pictures, although that might not be a bad thing for wise-cracking Rhodey.
I think he's a great chioce. He can pull it off.
Sweet, todays news finally got the verification on Terrence Howard being War Machine. Pretty cool casting.
Bigkid
10-13-2006, 03:54 PM
I was never a collector of the Iron Man comic, so I don't really even KNOW who Jim Rhodes was.......... I think it was on THIS site that I first was ever made aware of the Jim Rhodes/War Machine character. I think, however, if they were going to get ANY actor for this role to be able to do justice to it, Terrence Howard makes a great deal of sense. He's just a damn good actor........and now, this flick has 2 Oscar(T.M.) nominated actors in it. Although I've never been a big Iron fan......I have to tip my hat to the people who're putting it all together. They may have themselves a big winner here. Who they cast as Bethany Cabe......well, to be honest, it's like I said: I was never a collector nor a big fan of the Iron one........but judging by WC's description of her, it would be nice to find a red-head to play her. But make sure that she's a really good actress, NOT just go for someone who's a red head. HEY..... what about that actress from Sin City......one of the prostitutes....... the one who's in the elevator at the end of the movie with Josh Hartnett........OYYYYY.....WHAT WAS HER NAME AGAIN??! PLEASE..........SOMEBODY............SHARE that information with me so I can get a decent nights sleep!!!! :x
I was never a collector of the Iron Man comic, so I don't really even KNOW who Jim Rhodes was.......... I think it was on THIS site that I first was ever made aware of the Jim Rhodes/War Machine character. I think, however, if they were going to get ANY actor for this role to be able to do justice to it, Terrence Howard makes a great deal of sense. He's just a damn good actor........and now, this flick has 2 Oscar(T.M.) nominated actors in it. Although I've never been a big Iron fan......I have to tip my hat to the people who're putting it all together. They may have themselves a big winner here. Who they cast as Bethany Cabe......well, to be honest, it's like I said: I was never a collector nor a big fan of the Iron one........but judging by WC's description of her, it would be nice to find a red-head to play her. But make sure that she's a really good actress, NOT just go for someone who's a red head. HEY..... what about that actress from Sin City......one of the prostitutes....... the one who's in the elevator at the end of the movie with Josh Hartnett........OYYYYY.....WHAT WAS HER NAME AGAIN??! PLEASE..........SOMEBODY............SHARE that information with me so I can get a decent nights sleep!!!! :x
I haven't seen Sin City unfortunately so I don't know. I would love for Bethany Cabe to be in this movie but I don't know if her character is written in. It might only be Pepper Potts and Happy Hogan at the moment, Stark's secretary and chauffeur respectively. Bethany was only really introduced when Tony first became involved with alcohol, but she was introduced in the exact same issue of Iron Man as Jim Rhodes so I don't see why that should stop them. Besides, they always alter storylines and characters for the films, like Mary Jane in the first Spidey movie even though she only turned up later. However, chronologically speaking, unlike Bethany, Rhodey was actually supposed to be there in Vietnam when Stark first became Iron Man and the two teamed up, but that was retconned into the storyline.
According to the latest rumour, Rachel McAdams has exclusively been sent the script to her with the intention of her becoming Virginia Pepper Potts Hogan.
What do you think of the casting?
Obviously she would have to change her hair colour but here's a pic:
http://www.latinoreview.com/images/upload/movieimages/movieimage_8688.jpg
She does look quite the girl next door (which she usually did anyway) and that might be suitable for Pepper compared to someone like Bethany Cabe (who isn't in the movie as far as I'm aware) who would be more sophisticated and glamourous.
BTW I've seen Crash now and Terrence Howard could work pretty well as Rhodey.
We need a boxer-type for the part of Happy Hogan - someone tough like Vinnie Jones (but obviously not him for various reasons).
Bigkid
01-18-2007, 09:53 AM
According to the latest rumour, Rachel McAdams has exclusively been sent the script to her with the intention of her becoming Virginia Pepper Potts Hogan.
What do you think of the casting?
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WC!
Well, I guess the speculation is over........because what I read of today's news, Gwyneth Paltrow has been cast as "Pepper" Potts.......apparently, Jon Favreaux & she worked on a film together years ago.......and he offered her the role.........so look at that, huh??! 2 Oscar nominees AND an Oscar winner.......all in the same film together! Pretty damn good casting for a Marvel, Live-Action Comic book, if you ask me! But hey....they always seem to get really terrific actors for their projects.......even if some of the time not too many people agree with the casting.
Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts? Where did you see this? What odd casting. I wouldn't have pictured her as the character. How tall is she as well? Taller than Downey Jr?
Bigkid
02-17-2007, 08:52 PM
Well, she comes off as VERY tall when I've seen her on screen. I don't know how tall she ACTUALLY is, but I don't know if that's going to be a big problem. I read this news a few weeks ago right here on the pages of comics2film.........I, personally, think this is a pretty smart move. Not only for Favreaux to get her, but for HER in particular. She needs to get her career going again......and I really believe that THIS could be the thing for her. A big action flick based on a hugely popular Marvel comic, surrounded by terrific actors called Robert Downey Jr. & Terrence Howard......and who KNOWS just who the other actors are going to be in supporting roles here.
In the latest piece of news, Jon Favreau says:
As you all know, RDJ, Gwyneth, T Howard, and Jeff Bridges are all on board. We've had a week of rehearsals and I'm currently working with the writers to tailor the material accordingly. Mr. Bridges has a haircut that will no doubt be of interest to any of you fans of the books.
What exactly does he mean by that? It seems to be one which might have fans speculating about his character, and a haircut that is fairly radical. The only character I can think of with an "unusual haircut" is Obadiah Stane, who has a bald head. If Jeff Bridges is sporting that look, then it might suggest that he's playing Stane.
However, Bridges seems slightly rotund for Stane and a bit too cheerful. Although it's the bald headed actor cliche, I've always imagined Stane more along the lines of Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor) in Smallville. Not so much though for the bald head, but more for his performance. However, he would be a bit young for Downey Jr, even though in fact, Stane was probably younger than Stark in the comics.
Well it looks like I called it correctly. Jeff Bridges is Obadiah Stane (I wonder why they keep spelling it Obidiah when it was spelt "Obadiah" in the comics?).
Apparently he is sporting a freshly shaven head.
I'm still not sure about his casting. I hope he has lost some weight though. Stane was never a tubby man. What I am happy about is that they've gone with someone older for Stane rather than a young actor (even though Stane was younger than Stark). This lends some gravitas to the casting.
Bigkid
06-16-2007, 09:17 AM
I haven't been in this forum for some time, so I'm sure there's a LOT more to talk about........but I decided to take a peek into this subject. I think anytime that you cast Jeff Bridges in anything, you're just giving your film a better chance of doing much better. He's a dynamite actor, has been for years. I'm glad that he was cast in the film......although, as I've stated before, I'm not that big a fan of the Iron Man comic, so I'm not at all familiar with the character that he's been cast as. Although I feel that you couldn't have asked for a better actor than Bridges in any role. :D
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