Mandarin is villain in IRON MAN

By: Karl Schneider
Date: Monday, July 24, 2006
Source: Comic Con

Jon Favreau, director of IRON MAN, confirmed at the Comic Con that the villain in the upcoming film would be Mandarin.

The Mandarin was a Marvel Comics supervillain, a scientific genius who sought world domination. Mandarin had no superpowers, but was a superb athlete and had tremendous martial arts skills. He uses ten rings which respond to his mental commands as weapons.

In IRON MAN, troubled billionaire Tony Stark creates a life support suit to assist him after a life threatening accident. He ultimately decides to use its technology to fight evil and crime.

"The suit will be more like a weapons platform than a flying suit more of a War Machine-feel to it," said Favreau at the Comic Con.

IRON MAN hits theaters on May 2, 2008.

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Comments/Responses

• Jul 24, 2006, 03:24am •

And who could play The Mandarin? Chow Yun-Fat, that's who.

• Jul 24, 2006, 04:38am •

I like the sound of this! This is a terrific villain. One of my favorites. Iron Man is going to be an excellent movie. And yeah, I could see Chow Yun-Fat or even Jet Li playing this part. Not to divert from the Mandarin's ethnic background, but Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and Ken Watanabe would also be good choices.

• Jul 24, 2006, 05:16am •

I`m going to stay optimistic about this flick, but I kind of would rather see the older orange and gold flying suit Iron Man, then War Machine.
The Mandarin is a cool choice though. The funny thing is, I bet that they do get Chow Yun- Fat to do it, unless they get a Japanese actor like Watanbe or Tagawa. There aren't that many big name Asian actors to choose from that are recognizable to the American public. Favreau should just get an unknown asian actor. Actually the dude from the Bond movie, even though, he is Korean, could pull it off. I guess if Memoirs of a Geisha can use Chinese actors to play Japanese characters, then they can too.

• Jul 24, 2006, 06:57am •

Lost's Daniel Dae Kim also springs to mind, even though he's a bit young looking.

• Jul 24, 2006, 07:03am •

I think John Lone (The Last Emperor) would make a great Mandarin, and I've always thought Chow Yun Fat was great, too. I like the idea of Iron Man being more of a weapons platform, like the Ultimate version. I don't think the old gold and red suit would work well on the big screen. The Ultimate Iron Man suit looks a little more believable.

• Jul 24, 2006, 07:07am •

According to the comic the Mandrin's technology is derived from an alien space craft that crashed in a remote region of China. He adapted the ships hyperdrive/weapon systems into his ten power rings.

• Jul 24, 2006, 08:30am •

Yeah, I bet you that changes.

nikodemos • Jul 24, 2006, 08:39am •

On the one hand, I'm glad they've named an actual villian, because early indications seemed like he was going to be fighting the evil Alcohol for the whole movie.

On the other hand... Mandarin? Couldn't they have found a little more imposing villian?

• Jul 24, 2006, 08:43am •

I wonder if they'll keep the same costume for Mandarin that is pictured above? ;)

dax0761 • Jul 24, 2006, 09:13am •

How about Ozzy .... Iron Man would be a foot note if not for Ozzy and Black Sabath making him a real Icon . I never heard of Iron Man until I was 13 and was handed my first Sabbath album!! I relize this casting will never happen. But Favs really needs to find a place for the song that saved Iron Man from the scrap heep!!

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