SPOILER SPECULATION: What Could IRON MAN 4 Look Like?

We've been hearing a bunch of talk from the folks involved with Iron Man 3 that more movies are on the table. The story for the next sequel really comes down to what happens in Avengers 2. If Hulk does go crazy and has be banished from Earth (rumored plot point) perhaps Stark takes on the duty to find a habitable planet for his friend Bruce. Basically having Bruce and Tony going on an intergalactic road trip together. There are rumblings that there is a connection to the Guardians in Iron Man 3, so having Stark exploring space in the new films wouldn't be much of stretch. I would kind of love to see a buddy film with Bruce and Tony. Something that had been speculated during Avengers because of the budding bromance.  If it did have elements from Planet Hulk story why not combine it into something fresh? Allowing them to use a cosmic villain that might eventually return to Earth for Avengers 3. While World War Hulk sounds awesome there are plenty of equally threatening villains to consider.

It's also possible that the film could stay earthbound and there are still a couple of angles the writers could go. A bit of conflict with the global energy crisis could see the Roxxon corporation which was been established twice already in the MCU. First with the final battle scene in Iron Man along with a Roxxon gas station in the short film A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Thor's Hammer. So the company could end up becoming a bit of a threat to Stark and his fusion projects. Instead of just using his technology for weapons,  destroying or stealing Tony's fusion technology to make themselves the largest supplier of energy on the planet. Exploiting it to their profits and eventually making them more powerful than any nation.

VILLIANS

I've come up with a couple of villains that could end up used in Iron Man 4 or even Iron Man 5 depending on what angle Marvel decides on. While it's possible a few might be adjusted to be a little more cinematic than in the comics. We've heard that Marvel is over using men in suits as villains for the Iron Man franchise. So these suggestions seem to be inline with what the studio could be looking at for future installments.

ROXXON CORPORATION: The evil energy company owned by KGB Agent Aleksander Lukin has been used in multiple comics including Spider-Man and Captain America. They have been established in the MCU (first in Iron Man) and could make an excellent contrast from Advanced Idea Mechanics and might see the two combine resources. Instead of technology and weapons the company takes major interests in energy. One aspect of their interest with Stark Industries could be Stark's fusion technology. Selling it to criminal allies like A.I.M. and HYDRA to power their weapon systems or even space exploration ships (leading to the discovery of Red Skull?).

 While Lukin is connected to the company it's very possible they might have him as the major villain in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. As he is the mastermind behind the Winter Soldier program but could be replaced with better known Captain American villains such as Baron Zemo.  Roxxon has also employed supervillains such as Coldblood 7 (James Badge Dale plays him in Iron Man 3), Ghost and Serpent Squad (led by Red Skull's daughter). It's possible that another Marvel villain could end up heading up Roxxon besides Lukin.

COUNT LUCHINO NEFARIA: The Count is an Italian aristocratic villain that pocesses superhuman powers and founder of the Nerfaria Family of The Maggia. An international crime syndicate that is the world's most powerful organization dedicated to conventional crime (as opposed to subversive activities). Originating in southern Europe, the Maggia spread throughout non-Communist Europe and the Americas. Its presence in the United States first came to public attention in the 1890s, and the Maggia's widespread bootlegging of illegal liquor during the Prohibition Era has become legendary. Today the Maggia controls most of the illegal gambling, loan-sharking, and narcotics trade in the United States, as well as many legal gambling casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey and Las Vegas, Nevada. It also has great influence within various labor unions, and controls politicians on every level of government. Especially in recent years, the Maggia has invested many of its illegal gains into legitimate businesses. However, the Maggia enforces a strict code of secrecy among its members, and does not hesitate to punish betrayals and failures with death. Often the Maggia marks one of its members for execution by having a Maggioso grasp the intended victim by the chin in the so-called "Maggia touch."

I could see Count Nefaria and The Maggia having ties or being the real people behind Roxxon. With the Count as the face of the company or at the very least pulling it's strings. Nefaria is an Avengers villain like Grim Reaper who is also involved with the Maggia.

WHITNEY FROST (MADAME MASQUE): Whitney Frost (Giulietta Nefaria) tries to gain access to Stark Industries weapons, secrets and other technology by exploiting S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Jasper Sitwell.  Maximiliano Hernández plays Jasper in Thor and Avengers so that aspect could be easily added. Like her father Count Nefaria is leader of crime syndicate The Maggia. Whitney has been mostly a conflicted Iron Man villain while wanting to contribute to her criminal organization she also has true feelings for Tony.

GHOST: On the Roxxon payroll (at times) the industrial thief is an anticapitalist saboteur who seeks to destroy various political and economic institutions he views as oppressive, apparently being most interested in those dealing with advanced technology and surveillance.

GREY GARGOYLE: French chemist Paul Pierre Duval is turned into the Grey Gargoyle after a chemical accident. It grants him the ability to turn anything he touches to stone. Duval has ties to A.I.M. and The Masters of Evil. He was apart of the villain lineup on the 90's Iron Man cartoon alongside Mandarin and Whiplash.

IRON MAN 3: Rumors And Possible Villains

With Avengers on it's way next month and Iron Man 3 starting up it's production around the same time I figured I'd go over what we should expect from the third installment. We know that Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle (War Machine), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts) and Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) are returning for the sequel but heroes like Thor, Hulk and Cap will be on the sidelines. There is also speculation from recent comments by Kevin Feige that S.H.I.E.L.D. won't have a major role in the film either. Even though Black Widow has been confirmed to be involved in someway.

"So the story that Shane is developing now on "Iron Man 3," while it does not avoid any references to "The Avengers," is very much Tony is back in his world with his players dealing with his issues and is not going to pick up the phone and call Thor or Captain America or anything like that, necessarily. It's not that won't happen down the line. It could. But particularly with "Iron Man 3," year after "The Avengers," it's more about getting Tony back into his world."

Action comedy veteran Shane Black (Lethal Weapon, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) is directing along with co-writing the script with Drew Pearce (Runaways). Black is known for large action set pieces matched with strong witty dialog so it's expected that Iron Man 3 could have more action than we've seen previously. Not to mention hopefully bringing back the humor and down to earth moments that made the original film so popular. One of the biggest flaws of the second film is that the set designs seemed to take over the story and lacked any real global threat. The film will be centered on Tony Stark as the hero in a Tom Clancy type story, think Patriot Games and The Hunt For Red Red October.

CASTING AND PLOT RUMORS: Story rumors have recently been leaked but have yet to be confirmed. Usually these type of reports are on the money or at least have some truth to them. LatinoReview revealed a couple of a plot rumors and I've also added some of the older ones as well.

-The story may revolve around nanobot technology that can turn regular men into supervillains and Tony Stark into more than just a man in a suit.


-The nanobot idea is supposed to appear in The Avengers, since there is a link between the nanobot technology and the super-soldier serum that turned Steve Rogers into Captain America.


- It was suggested that there will be multiple villains, but no word on which characters might make an appearance.


- Speculation has lead to a rumor that Namor the Sub-Mariner could either be a villain or supporting hero.


- Marvel writer Bob Layton who created War Machine and the villain Ghost would love to see the latter character included in the sequel. Stating last year he was going to speak with Shane Black about including him. 


- Michelle Monahan (MI3, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Source Code) has stated in an interview for Source Code she would love a role in Iron Man 3 and a chance to work with with director Shane Black Again. 

- British actress Emily Blunt had been reported to be wanted by Marvel for a villain role in the third film. She mentioned during an interview for Adjustment Bureau that she'd only do a Marvel film if the role was a one-off. Not interested in a multiple film contact that actors like Scarlett Johansson and Sam Jackson have signed. Blunt had originally been set for the Black Widow role before exiting to focus on another project. When Marvel was casting the role of Peggy Carter in Captain America Blunt teased but would loose the part to Hayley Atwell. It seems like a role like Madame Masque would be perfect for Blunt. 

POSSIBLE VILLAINS

THE MANDARIN: While The Mandarin has been in Jon Favreau's to-do list since Iron Man, teasing popular villain with naming the terrorist group The Ten Rings. A que to the fact Mandarin wears ten power rings as his main weapons. There have been a few statements from writer/director Shane Black crushing the idea of his involvement because of the negative trend of using Asian stereotypical villains. The Fu-Manchu villain type archetype is now considered a racist caricature so I wouldn't hold my breathe that the Mandarin makes the film. That said, if he's involved somehow with The Ten Rings it could work.

WHITNEY FROST/MADAME MASQUE: Whitney Frost has been an enemy and lover of Tony Stark in the comics, so her inclusion would be interesting and complex to say the least. One minute trying to kill him the other to kiss him. If included Frost would be the first female villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She's worked for Stark Industries, The Masters of Evil and even the Avengers so it could be fun to see a character play both sides.

GHOST: This corporate espionage thief has been a fan favorite since his addition to the Ultimate universe and joining the Thunderbolts. Ghost's co-creator Bob Layton wants to see Ghost as a villain in the film and has met with Shane Black to discuss it. If one villain is created by nanobots it's likely he's going to be one of them. Since it's his suit that gives him power move threw walls it would be interesting to see the nanobots create similar abilities.

TEN RINGS: The terrorist organization that originally kidnapped Tony Stark which wounded him leading Stark to build the Iron Man suit to escape his captors. They popped up in Russia during Iron Man 2 putting together the papers for Vanko to get his revenge on Tony in France. I feel like the Ten Rings are the most likely to be the villains when considering a Tom Clancy-like Iron Man film. That doesn't mean that they'll be the only villains involved since they likely have investors, arms suppliers (A.I.M.?) and allies.

NAMOR: He is the first mutant created in Marvel comics and far superior to DC's Aquaman. The Sub-Mariner had been rumored for Captain America as a supporting hero and was teased by Jon Faverau in Iron Man 2 in an Easter Egg. Rumblings that a large water tank being built for the film has lead to new rumors that Namor could be involved in someway. At one put he was a villain so it's possible he could end up exchanging blows with Stark. A Namor film has been in development for years and his inclusion in Iron Man 3 could grow interest in the film to be finally made.

RUMOR: Namor In Iron Man 3?

I'm going to be upfront and say this is just speculation on the part of ComicBook (via ComicBookMovie). They have dug up information that "could" point to Namor the Sub-Mariner being involved in Iron Man 3. That tidbit includes a special effects water tank. Previously there have been rumors of Madame Masque and Ghost being the villains of the third installment.

  "We’ve also been snooping around for any info on potential villains for Iron Man 3, but no one seems to have any official word yet. However, some things we have uncovered about the shooting location and the choice of production facility does lend itself to some rather interesting Iron Man 3 villain speculation." 


 "While tax credits played a role in the choice of the coastal town of Wilmington, North Carolina as a filming location for Iron Man 3, the production facilities at EUE/Screen Gems Studios were also a factor. EUE/Screen Gems Studios has a 37,500 square foot sound stage that includes a special effects water tank."



Currently the only confirmed players include Tony Stark/Iron Man (Downey), Pepper (Paltrow) and Rhodey/War Machine (Cheadle). Marvel has stated that this film won't include Avengers cameos. I'm not sure if that includes SHIELD agents but don't expect Cap, Thor and Hulk showing up. The Iron Man franchise has a history of introducing new Marvel universe characters so I wouldn't be shocked if this ends up true.

CAST EM': Iron Man 3

Production is about to start on Iron Man 3 as Robert Downey Jr. is already sporting Tony Stark facial hair during international premieres of Sherlock Holmes 2. The third installment has been talked up by Robert as possibly the best in the series. Stating the script is one of the best he's ever read. At the helm is Shane Black who could be attributed to helping Robert land the Iron Man role in the first place. As Black's film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was a career comeback for Downey and showed studios he was ready to work. Shane along with co-writer Drew Pearce have groundout a solid script according to the actor. It would make sense since Black is best known for creating the Lethal Weapon franchise, which is still considered the gem of the action genre.

While casting and character announcements haven't been made. Yet they soon will as the production date starts looming. I feel like I should give my two cents before the slew of casting rumors begin to flood in.

MY CASTING THOUGHTS

EVA GREEN AS MADAME MASQUE: We've been hearing rumors that Emily Blunt has been wanted for this role but I feel Eva is better suited. The French actress has had some success with Casino Royale and the underrated Kingdom of Heaven. It would be interesting to see her enter the fray of comic book films. She recently worked on Tim Burton's Dark Shadows and has been a regular on the series Camelot. Her latest film Perfect Sense was stunning which again shocks me why Hollywood isn't hiring this lady for bigger films. Green is able to pull off femme fatale convincingly which would be needed for the role. One thing that is seriously missing in the genre are strong female villains.

NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU AS GHOST: Ghost is one of the most interesting villains in Iron Man's very limited rogues gallery. The corporate thief has quickly become a fan favorite with his involvement with the Thunderbolts. Even the character's creator hoped he would end up in the films. If Marvel wants to ground the third film this villain would help to achieve that goal. Also, while he does use advanced technology he isn't just another carbon copy of Iron Man.

Nikolaj seems like a great actor to play the character as he's both charismatic and villainous. The Danish actor burst onto the scene last year as Jamie Lannister in HBO's Game of Thrones. He also had a great performance in the Norwegian thriller Headhunters which is expected to be released here in North America in 2012. Marvel has already proven they love Thrones by hiring Alan Taylor for Thor 2 and pursuing Brian Kirk for the same job previously.

ISABEL LUCAS AS MOCKINGBIRD: Marvel Studios has a longstanding history of introducing supporting Marvel characters in their films. In the first film we got Agent Coluson and a cameo from Nick Fury. The second installment gave us Black Widow and War Machine. While I think they should minimize new additions I think Mockingbird would be an excellent one. The SHIELD agent is a longstanding member of the West Coast Avengers and is known as the partner of Hawkeye. There have been rumblings that Sharon Carter and even Carol Danvers could be in The Avengers so a character like Mockingbird might be better suited for an Iron Man 3 intro. If they are indeed moving forward with both the SHIELD and Hawkeye spin-offs she would likely be a character that would need to be included.

Australian actress Isabel Lucas is best known for her extensive work on the Aussie soap Home And Away. The staple show has been a stomping ground for Australian actors to get noticed. Most notable cast members included Heath Ledger, Naomi Watts, Guy Pearce, Isla Fisher, Chris Hemsworth and Simon Baker. She recently played Athena in Immortals which was an action heavy role. Isabel will also get tough in the remake of Red Dawn alongside Thor himself Chris Hemsworth which comes out on November 2nd. It would be nice to see an actress hired with both an action and dramatic background behind her.

Bob Layton Wants The Ghost To Be The Villain In Iron Man 3

While talking to 411Maina Iron Man comic book writer Bob Layton was asked about Iron Man 3 villains. Which Bob replied he'd love to see Ghost be the baddie and is pushing Shane Black to use him. Black is going to have double duties on the film writing and directing.

"I'll let you know when I talk to him. The Ghost is who I want them to go with. It's the villain I want them to use. I'm looking forward to getting the chance to talk to him about it"

Ghost is a rather popular Iron Man villain who is currently a member of the Thunderbolts and has already been introduced to fans in the Iron Man Armored series. He's a cyber terrorist fitted with his "ghost-tech" that allows him to sneak into buildings and hack up a storm without ever being noticed. Along with some interesting weapons to go along with his technology. The espionage angle of the villain seems perfect for the more grounded approached the second sequel is boasting. Since the character has worked for both A.I.M. and the Roxxon Energy Corporation it seems that he could moonlight for anyone. The Roxxon building was shown during the Iron Monger and Iron Man L.A. battle in the first film.

-Previously there had been rumblings of Emily Blunt being considered for the role of Madame Masque.

-Clark Gregg has given fans via his Twitter account the impression that Agent Coulson will return for Iron Man 3.