Who should play Shellhead?

[easy D]

Now, I know there's another forum for this. But I was curious to see a poll. So I thought of some likely canidates to play Tony Stark, and I was curious to see what you guys would think. So here are my choices.

Matthew Fox http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0289142/
Bruce Campbell http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0132257/
Oded Fehr http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004912/
Kiefer Sutherland http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000662/
Rufus Sewell http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001722/

[norrinraad]

Of the choices, I'd pick Matthew Fox (he's the doctor on Lost if I'm not mistaken). Though his style may be a bit intense for the playboy Stark, I think he's the closest physical match.

[easy D]

Well, all of the actors listed on here are a bit intense. And, with the exception of Oded Fehr, all are around the age of 40. And trust me, I've thought long and hard about all of them. I'm a cashier, man. I spend most of my work day surrounded by tabloids, women's, and entertainment magazines. I know my sh**.
I've already thought about the rest of the cast, though. Iron Man is the only one left I haven't decided who I want to play.
Here's the rest if your interested.

James Rhodes-Morris Chestnutt
Pepper Potts-Katie Holmes
Mandarin-Chow Yun Fat

As for anyone else, well, I don't know who else would be in the movie. But Mandarin should be in there. He's one of IM's more iconic enemies, he should be in there.

[WC]

Katie Holmes should NEVER be in an Iron Man movie. Ugh! It's bad enough she's in Batman Begins. Surely there's someone a bit more grownup looking and sophisticated, not some girl-next-door homecoming queen?

[easy D]

And here I thought Pepper was the ultimate girl-next-door type. That's what I thought the appeal of her. I thought that's what made her relationship with Tony so interesting. Sure, Tony's going around with supermodels, but he's always been attracted to Pepper, she's unlike anything Tony's ever been with. I don't know, it's not like I read Iron Man, right? :roll:
I'm just curious, Welshy, who would you pick for those roles?

[easy D]

And here I thought Pepper was the ultimate girl-next-door type. That's what I thought the appeal of her. I thought that's what made her relationship with Tony so interesting. Sure, Tony's going around with supermodels, but he's always been attracted to Pepper, she's unlike anything Tony's ever been with. I don't know, it's not like I read Iron Man, right? :roll:
I'm just curious, Welshy, who would you pick for those roles?

[WC]

There are already topics devoted to the rest of Iron Man's supporting cast. Please refer to them. I've let this thread continue because it was a SHELLHEAD poll, but if it simply turns into a general discussion of casting for other characters, it will become redundant, and I'll have to lock it.

Thanks.

[ironfan]

Well, I have to say none of thsoe choices are all that great,now I understand Oded Fehr, because thats who Wizard choice as their dream cast, but for me there are better actors to play Stark.
I know many people still have this hang up for Tom Cruise,and he does have a curtain passion for the character,but he would want to be in complete control of production and I think Marvel wouldn't want that,one guy that comes to mind is Ben Browder (Farscape and Stargate SG-1), he's a talented actor and he's around the right age.
And on a personal note,I don't normally post here because I've seen to many post deleted for no good reason,you can't call this a forum when forums are deleted because the moderaters doesn't like what your talking about in a specific topic,it's a open forum to express your ideas and feelings,not a dictatorship,I've posted thousands of response's on other sites and never have seen or had a post deleted by the moderator,because I was off topic in a thread,it's only been on this site that I've seen that and that's one reason Iron Man has so few responses because so many have been deleted,I sincerly hope this practice ceases,but i have my doubts,just thought I speak my mind.

[DarrenJSeeley]

Wonderful actors, good poll. I can't vote for "They all suck" because they don't. But here's the problem: I don't think any of them would be Iron Man. Sorry. I can take a guess at the actor to play "War Machine" Rhodes. (Tony Todd would be great) but that wasn't the question.

Who would I cast as Tony Stark/Iron Man?
I'm going to throw these three names out, those not in the poll.
Sit down, and prepare yourself...

Joaquin Pheonix
Jim Caviezel
Viggo Mortensen

[Pod]

Joaquin Pheonix

I dont think he can act like Tony Stark. From watching him in Gladiator I think he doesnt even come close to bring Iron Man to life.

Jim Caviezel

I think that he too wouldnt work but might do an ok job in the film as Tony Stark...but not a great job.

Viggo Mortensen

This is the best chioce out of the 3 you've said but his vioce...i think it isnt the vioce you'd think Tony would sound like. But if he's the chioce then...well its like that actor who played Mr.Fantastic(Ioan something?).

[easy D]

Yeah, I guess they would be good choices. But I glance through TV Guide a lot at work, and more and more, I'm starting to really like the idea of Matthew Fox as Iron Man (I'm so glad I thought of it :D).

However, I'm also warming over to the idea of Keifer Sutherland. I watched Phone Booth the other day, and later on I read an issue of Iron Man, and you know, I could definately picture him doing it.

Oh, and Darren, I'm not really liking the idea of Tony Todd as Rhodey. I'm sticking Morris Chesnutt (Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid and The Cave).

[norrinraad]

My two favourite suggestions so far are Mathew Fox (Easy D) and Jim Caviezel (Darren). However, I doubt Caviezel would do it so I'm still leaning towards Fox. Phoenix is an interesting choice but I'd rather see him as a villain than a hero.

[Bigkid]

Darren J's choice of Jim Caviezal is a really good one, actually. I've often thought that he'd be good as Prince Namor, The Sub-Mariner......but as Tony Stark I'd think he'd be just as good. He's one of those types of actors that can really make himself disappear into his characters, so I think that a strong actor for this role would be essential.....ESPECIALLY if there is going to be a lot to do with Tony Stark's alchoholism.

[WC]

Darren J's choice of Jim Caviezal is a really good one, actually. I've often thought that he'd be good as Prince Namor, The Sub-Mariner......but as Tony Stark I'd think he'd be just as good. He's one of those types of actors that can really make himself disappear into his characters, so I think that a strong actor for this role would be essential.....ESPECIALLY if there is going to be a lot to do with Tony Stark's alchoholism.

I've said Jim Caviezel myself before. He'd make a decent Stark. Would've made a decent Superman, but if not that, then Tony Stark would definitely work.

[Bigkid]

I finally got a chance to see who this Matthew Fox guy is...... I've never SEEN an episode of "Lost". And I thought that he looked like he'd be a good choice.....physically speaking, that is. I don't know what kind of an actor he is. I just remember seeing a story about him on "Extra". Funny thing is, I never watch that show......but when I'd heard that there was going to be some sort of an interview with him, and I knew that there were lot's of folks here who thought he'd be good for the role of Tony Stark/Iron Man, I thought, "Hey, what the hell, let me see what everybody's been talking about." Not a bad choice.....but I STILL don't know what sort of actor he is! :lol:

[easy D]

Ummm..... I don't know how to classify Matthew Fox in a category. A TV drama actor?
Well, someone should get like the Arads (Avi or Ari) or Stan Lee or Nick Casavettes and point them over to this idea, since a lot of people are digging it.

[WC]

I'd still favour Jim Caviezel. He seems heroic and isn't merely a boy like someone like Di Caprio (Teen Tony?). Caviezel was sporting a mustache (and goatee) in The Count of Monte Cristo and was playing an aristocratic billionaire sort. He looks pretty much like Tony Stark in there - the facial hair just needs trimming to exactly the right look, but I think he'd do very well:

http://ffmedia.ign.com/filmforce/image/montecrist-2-gwe-sm.jpg

[ironfan]

I like Jim Caviezel,he's a very talented actor,has the look and the range to pull it off.
So, many people however are still convinced that Tom Cruise will take the role after he's finished with MI:3,because of the rumors he told marvel that he could see himself as Tony Stark,the only reason he didn't take the role was because he had a full slate of pictures to do,but it's beleived that he will have free time right after MI:3 which is the time frame New Line is looking to start production.
Is this likely,tough to say,but stranger things have been known to happen in Hollywood.

[Pod]

If by the end of the year we still dont know who the actor for Iron man will be then I just wont care. I'd just be "Just make the movie!!!". I want to see a flying dude in a robotic costume saving peoples lives :lol: ...And maybe by the end of the movie theres a little hint that says Iron Man will be in the avengers (Like maybe a secretary says "you just received a letter from Steven Rogers" or something...) :wink:

[WC]

I really hope Cruise DOESN'T play Iron Man. It's not like he necessarily knows what's good for it, especially judging by his interpretations of Mission Impossible. MI was meant to be a team movie, more similar to Ocean's 11, not a solo agent series. The whole casino scam and the trickery with the SWAT team at the end of Ocean's 11 could easily have been straight out of a Mission Impossible plot.

I can just see that Cruise would make Iron Man NOT have his trademark helmet or even red and gold colours. Cruise would want his entire face showing all the time. Worse still, he'd probably want Katie Holmes to star alongside him. Ugh!

Cruise is also way too short for Tony Stark, and doesn't give the appearance of someone who is really super intelligent. He would be better off playing the Stilt Man - at least it would give him some extra height!

[easy D]

I really hope Cruise DOESN'T play Iron Man. It's not like he necessarily knows what's good for it, especially judging by his interpretations of Mission Impossible. MI was meant to be a team movie, more similar to Ocean's 11, not a solo agent series. The whole casino scam and the trickery with the SWAT team at the end of Ocean's 11 could easily have been straight out of a Mission Impossible plot.

I can just see that Cruise would make Iron Man NOT have his trademark helmet or even red and gold colours. Cruise would want his entire face showing all the time. Worse still, he'd probably want Katie Holmes to star alongside him. Ugh!

Cruise is also way too short for Tony Stark, and doesn't give the appearance of someone who is really super intelligent. He would be better off playing the Stilt Man - at least it would give him some extra height!

Well, from what I heard Cruise was in line for Iron Man, came pretty damn close to it, too. But he had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Also, if he were to be IM, he would've kept the full mask and helmet and red and gold colors (since he was a fan when he was a kid, like Cassavettes), just what I heard.

[Bigkid]

From the online stuff that I'd read, Cruise apparently had pulled out simply because he couldn't come to a meeting of the minds with the director and the producers. He wanted to have certain things his way, and they weren't willing to compromise (or vice versa). Whatever the case may be, NOT having Cruise on board just means that this film will NOT be made as quickly as we all thought. However....... you never know...... they may just be able to convince somebody else....and up and comer, perhaps... such as Adrian Grenier (Vince Chase from the HBO series "Entourage", let's just say). They get somebody like him to come aboard, it might not matter that Cruise "repulsor rayed" outta there to begin with! :lol:

(But don't get me wrong....I, myself, am not PERSONALLY offering that actor up to play the role.......just making a point).

[ps2dad]

In my opinion, Sam Rockwell would be a great choice. You may remember him from Galaxy Quest (crewman #6), Guy Fleegman. What do you think?

[Pod]

In my opinion, Sam Rockwell would be a great choice. You may remember him from Galaxy Quest (crewman #6), Guy Fleegman. What do you think?

Wouldn't that mean Iron Man was going to be spoofed? And that guy wasn't very good in Galaxy Quest, I liked him better in the George Clooney movie. But he just can't make me say "Iron Man!!" when I look at him...I would say he can play some kind of comedic type of superhero...like....Flash? :?

[Jakerman]

In my opinion, Sam Rockwell would be a great choice. You may remember him from Galaxy Quest (crewman #6), Guy Fleegman. What do you think?

Wouldn't that mean Iron Man was going to be spoofed? And that guy wasn't very good in Galaxy Quest, I liked him better in the George Clooney movie. But he just can't make me say "Iron Man!!" when I look at him...I would say he can play some kind of comedic type of superhero...like....Flash? :?
That guy was great in Galaxy Quest! Crewman #6 was teh awesome.

[Pod]

In my opinion, Sam Rockwell would be a great choice. You may remember him from Galaxy Quest (crewman #6), Guy Fleegman. What do you think?

Wouldn't that mean Iron Man was going to be spoofed? And that guy wasn't very good in Galaxy Quest, I liked him better in the George Clooney movie. But he just can't make me say "Iron Man!!" when I look at him...I would say he can play some kind of comedic type of superhero...like....Flash? :?
That guy was great in Galaxy Quest! Crewman #6 was teh awesome.

What?! Come on! That guy had no point of even being there! But he did have one line I liked him in...Err...well it's not that great but I still liked it..."Is there any air!?!" :lol: That would pretty much be the same thing I would say in his situation.

But he was also very funny in The hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, which oddly ebough is also a space adventure flick. Or matchstick men...that was good too. I just wouldn't qualify him for being that good in Galaxy Quest.

[Knightfall93]

No Tom Cruise... he'll turn it into him wearing a jet pack and going round shooting people with handguns and... hiding from aliens and/or squads of evil guys in basements... :(

[tecspyder]

Oh come on, I think Cruise would have done a great job as the ol' shell head! I’m sure we've all seen MI:2. He could easily pull off a smooth, suave guy with inner demons. Heck, that’s almost all he ever does! I think people hate on Cruise because of that whole scientology thing. I say let the man worship whatever he wants to worship. It’s none of our business anyway.

But back on the subject, I think the problem with casting Iron Man is a common one: Almost any white guy with a mustache can look the part! I think we have to dig deeper into the character and find an actor who can really ACT rather than someone who simply can look like Tony Stark.

How about Dylan Mcdermott from the practice? I’ve been very impressed with his acting skills and he defiantly looks the part.

[Pod]

Cruise might go all scientology on Iron Man and we'll see the wierdest version of Iron Man ever. I really don't know if there are any hispanic guys that look like Tony and can pull it off on film.

[tecspyder]

Tom Cruise wouldn't be DIRECTING the movie 'pod! His views wouldn't even be mentioned or represented in the film.

Again, look up Dylan Mcdermott and tell me what you think.

[Pod]

Tom Cruise wouldn't be DIRECTING the movie 'pod! His views wouldn't even be mentioned or represented in the film.

Again, look up Dylan Mcdermott and tell me what you think.

He'll find a way.. :shock:

I think he'll want to screw with the origin even when the director or writter doesn't. He's on the top of the biggest ***** of Hollywood! :twisted:

[WC]

Oh come on, I think Cruise would have done a great job as the ol' shell head! I’m sure we've all seen MI:2. He could easily pull off a smooth, suave guy with inner demons. Heck, that’s almost all he ever does! I think people hate on Cruise because of that whole scientology thing. I say let the man worship whatever he wants to worship. It’s none of our business anyway.

I don't like Cruise because of his ego. Where did the Scientology come into something like the first Mission Impossible? I'm not sure I even knew he was a scientologist at the time when it came out in the cinemas. But he screwed with that franchise, turning the hero of the Mission Impossible series into the villain and making himself out to be the main man (instead of having a team of agents). I can see Cruise would turn someone like Jim Rhodes into a villain if he felt like it. Or if Captain America happened to guest star, he'd make him the villain just so Cruise can look good.


But back on the subject, I think the problem with casting Iron Man is a common one: Almost any white guy with a mustache can look the part! I think we have to dig deeper into the character and find an actor who can really ACT rather than someone who simply can look like Tony Stark.

How about Dylan Mcdermott from the practice? I’ve been very impressed with his acting skills and he defiantly looks the part.

Dylan Mcdermott is also rather charisma-less. He'd be a rather boring Stark.

[tecspyder]

Yeesh! I try my hardest not to be offensive but sometimes…

Tom Cruise did not WRITE Mission Impossible one, two, or three! He helped produce them (which means he helped pay for the movie), but he didn’t start producing until AFTER all the scripts were finished. He had absolutely NOTHING to do w/ Phelps’ “turn to the dark side” or any other aspect of the first movie. If you didn’t like the movie because of that, don’t blame it on Cruise, blame it on the writers David Koepp, Steve Zaillian, and Robert Towne. Hell, you could even blame it on the director, but not Tom Cruise.

I’ve never understood how can you talk about somebody’s ego or their personality (especially an ACTOR!) when you’ve never even meet them! And what does that have to do with anything anyway?! Heck, if it’s true, it might aid to the character!

And are you telling me, you would rather have some guy with no passion for the movie, other than to collect his pay check, to star in a film OVER an accomplished and well respected actor who’s been banging at the door, begging for this part? Are you kidding me? That passion ALWAYS bleeds through to the final product.

Sometimes I am shocked at how little people know about movie production on a web site called comics2FILM!

*sigh* Ok I’m better now. I apologize if I offended anyone, I honestly didn’t mean anything by it.

[andrewnovak]

During a Dave Letterman interview Tom Hanks made this remark " I am an Iron Man, Tony Stark." This shows he has the character on his mind. Take it as you wish.

[Bigkid]

During a Dave Letterman interview Tom Hanks made this remark " I am an Iron Man, Tony Stark." This shows he has the character on his mind. Take it as you wish.

ANDREW!

Well, even so, I'm sure that, despite his great box office pull, I don't think that he'd be getting the role. I mean, stranger things have happened, and stranger casting choices over the years have been made, but I just don't think that Favreau could honestly say that THE actor to be able to portray ole Shellhead could be Tom Hanks. I mean, the film's going to get green lit anyway, so they aren't going to have to cast Hanks in order to get it done.

[ironfist07]

Why not Johnny Depp? I mean come on he can have that moustache goin' and the class and wit. besides all they need is Tony Stark, Iron Man will be CGI or on occasion a stunt double so does it matter? Tony has to have the class he does in the comics, even when he was a drunk, and we all know Johnny can do the drunkard bit! lol

[Pod]

Why not Johnny Depp? I mean come on he can have that moustache goin' and the class and wit. besides all they need is Tony Stark, Iron Man will be CGI or on occasion a stunt double so does it matter? Tony has to have the class he does in the comics, even when he was a drunk, and we all know Johnny can do the drunkard bit! lol

I just don't see it. I mean, he has some quality but overall he can't do it. First I think he wouldn't want to do it. Then if he would be in the film, his face and body would really have to be changed. Yes he is very good at being different types of characters but I just can't picture him doing a good Stark.

[Bigkid]

I, too, agree that Johnny Depp wouldn't really even be interested in doing an IRON MAN film. I think he's done his bit with doing films that are of Hollywood nature (i.e. money makers), now I believe that he's wanting to stick with doing a lot of art house type stuff. He's a terrific actor and all, but I have this feeling that he'd turn it down. 8)

[Pod]

I mentioned Iron Man to one of my friends yesturday and they said a few actors should play him and I think he was watching too much of Pirates of the Caribean because he thought Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp should play Tony. I still don't know if those guys can act like Tony, but yeah Depp is good at changing his personality and appearance for a role.

[norrinraad]

The more I think about Matthew Fox in this role, the more I like the idea. He's about the right age for the part, he is well known to genre fans thanks to Lost, he is not a huge screen star so it won't cost anywhere near to land him what it would cost for Cruise or Depp, and he nicely resembles Tony, at least as close as we're gonna get. He's a guys guy but I can see women digging him too, so I don't see him as much of a stretch as Tony. Can he play an alcoholic womanizer? I wouldn't have thought so two years ago, but Lost has shown that he's more versatile than I assumed. I say lock him into a 3 picture deal now before some producer sticks him into something on the screen that will make his asking price go way up.

[Pod]

The more I think about Matthew Fox in this role, the more I like the idea. He's about the right age for the part, he is well known to genre fans thanks to Lost, he is not a huge screen star so it won't cost anywhere near to land him what it would cost for Cruise or Depp, and he nicely resembles Tony, at least as close as we're gonna get. He's a guys guy but I can see women digging him too, so I don't see him as much of a stretch as Tony. Can he play an alcoholic womanizer? I wouldn't have thought so two years ago, but Lost has shown that he's more versatile than I assumed. I say lock him into a 3 picture deal now before some producer sticks him into something on the screen that will make his asking price go way up.

Yeah he can pull it off too but I don't think he'll have any time because of all the Lost episodes and he's in Hawaii to shoot the show. So maybe after the show raps up he can try to get the role for Iron Man.

[norrinraad]

Yeah he can pull it off too but I don't think he'll have any time because of all the Lost episodes and he's in Hawaii to shoot the show. So maybe after the show raps up he can try to get the role for Iron Man.

True, but surely he must get hiatus time? Many TV stars find the time to make movies during off season. If you think about it, I don't see the role being that challenging for Fox on a physical level. Tony Stark is not an action hero, he's a billionaire industrialist. Iron Man is the superhero here, who to all the world is Stark's bodyguard. Unlike Superman who is clearly Routh in both identities and Batman who is still Bale even underneath the cowel, much of Iron Man would be CGI and stunt work anyway, I would think. Most of Fox's scenes would be boardroom and galas, with some drinking and womanizing mixed in. :P I'm sure they could work around his Lost schedule if they really wanted to. After all, he wouldn't be required to pull of the kind of stuff Cruise does in Mission Impossible, or even Garner did in Daredevil.

Now, if they go ahead and decide to redesign the mask so Fox's face is visible (which kinda doesn't make any sense), then I could see this being a much more demanding role for him, taking up too much of his Lost time and preventing him from taking the part.

[Pod]

Now, if they go ahead and decide to redesign the mask so Fox's face is visible (which kinda doesn't make any sense), then I could see this being a much more demanding role for him, taking up too much of his Lost time and preventing him from taking the part.

I think they might redesign the mask to open like a two-door thingy. Like the middle opens up in a way...ok I don't know how to exacly explain it but I mainly think they might redesgin the mask to show his face without taking off the helmet. I personally want the "In his head" look I see done alot of times in the comics.

[norrinraad]

I think they might redesign the mask to open like a two-door thingy. Like the middle opens up in a way...ok I don't know how to exacly explain it but I mainly think they might redesgin the mask to show his face without taking off the helmet. I personally want the "In his head" look I see done alot of times in the comics.

Ah okay, I see what you're saying Pod. Some kind of trick to allow us to see Stark underneath the mask, or at least some reaction shots. That makes sense to me now. I thought you meant an open face plate or something, which would kinda defeat the purpose if he had a secret identity to protect! :P

[The Xenos]

On another message board, someone suggest that, in light of recent events, Iron Man should be played my Mel Gibson.

Then someone said Ted Kennedy and his enormous head should be Modok.

Then I said the entire film needs to be a drinking contest for the last man standing. Literally.

[WC]

I'm going to lock this thread, simply because I don't think it helps having people hop back and forth between one Tony Stark casting thread and another. It's better to have all the ideas in one central place and there's already a sticky above.

If anyone wants to still view this thread, I'll put a link to it in the other thread.