Genre: Action/Comic Book Adaptation.
Studio:
20th Century Fox.
Production Company:
Unknown.
Project Phase: Development Hell.
Who's In It:
Tom Cruise (Tony Stark/Iron Man) has now shown interest in playing the character.
Who's Making It:
Jeff Vintar (Screenwriter). Based upon the Marvel Comics character
Iron Man.
Premise: Billionaire. Playboy. Alcoholic. Tony Stark is all of these things, but no one else knows his greatest secret. Underneath the cutting-edge armor of his technology, Stark faces danger and evil across the world as the Iron Man.
Release Date: Unknown.
Comments: When reporter James Furlong told us gossip about rumbled casting choices to play Iron Man (Bruce Campbell) and The Mandarin (Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa), we said we'll be there opening night. Seventh row, center seats. Don't talk or else we'll throw Goobers at you.
Then reports developed that Nicolas Cage wanted to play the superhero, and we felt that that too would be a pretty cool casting choice (but Campbell would sport a better thin moustache, we think.)
Now the latest word has it that Cage is suiting up in another set of spandex - but not just any spandex. Cage could be portraying Superman by this fall, leaving the Iron Man role up in the air.
Rumors: Unknown.
Scoop Feedback:
October 7, 1996... Scoop reporter James Furlong breaks the story about this possible project in development with Universal. Furlong's sources report that Bruce Campbell (Ash from The Evil Dead movies, in case you haven't rented a movie in the past 10 years) and Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa (Tsang Sung from Mortal Kombat) are being eyed for the starring roles in the feature - respectively, Tony Stark/Iron Man and The Mandarin. Look for the movie to sport a "techno-nineties" look along with some major CGI effects. Universal execs-in-key-positions take note: composer Graeme Revell hints that he'd be interested in scoring any film, should it come about. We'd be interested in lining up for this one, fellas. [Project annoucement and information provided by James Furlong, Mail Room Clerk, Stark Industries.]
December 6-9, 1996... Trade magazines report the rumor that actor Nicolas Cage has been offered the lead for the proposed Iron Man flick. Cage is in hot demand after his twin successes, Leaving las Vegas and The Rock. Cage's talent agency, CAA, offered no comment. With Cage interested in the property, the film could get a greenlight in short fashion. [Scoops sent in by Joe Hanna, Diane, Christian, 'Super M', 'Bsx232', 'racerxkk', 'Bam', 'Super Dave', James Furlong and anonymously; material has appeared in Variety, Hollywood Reporter, and various television entertainment programs. Jeez, it sure looks like people want to see this baby made with Cage, eh?]
December 10, 1996... The screenwriter presently attached to the proposed Iron Man project is Jeff Vintar. [Scoop sent in by 'coleo', 'Maverick' and jforeman'.]
April 29, 1997... A scooper who mailed Bruce Campbell was told by the actor the Iron Man casting rumors with Campbell are just that - rumors. Bruce hasn't been approached. [Scoop sent in by 'bkubczak'.]
June 29, 1997... With the casting of Nicolas Cage as the new Superman starting to shape up, we were left wondering what happened to this project. One of our readers sent us an email reminding us that, while Cage decides if he will or if he won't have an allergy to Kryptonite, there are items to report about this Fox project. Jeff Vintar has handed in a first draft, and is will be working on a second draft this summer, based on a story by Vintar and Stan (the man) Lee. The scooper reports that no actors are attached, though Nick Cage does have a development deal regarding the property. But if he does decide to play Superman, chances are slim he'll be in the Iron Man armor. [Sent in anonymously.]
And while on E! Online, Nicolas Cage said that he is developing the Iron Man property, and that he would play the character. [Sent in by 'dpolek'.]
August 9, 1997... Based on the strength of the second draft by Jeff Vintar (and based on a story by Vintar and Stan Lee), 20th Century Fox has re-optioned the Iron Man property. As the scooper tells us, "...a project that was once D.O.A. over there is now alive and kicking..." - which prompts us to elicit this response: yahoo! [Submitted anonymously.]
October 21, 1997... With all the attention Cage's interest in portraing Superman is receiving, fans have been asking whether or not the actor has decided to pass on portraying this Marvel superhero. Not a word was heard until the October 13 edition of Variety hit the stands. The trade reports that development continues on the project at Fox and the search for a director continues. As for Nicolas Cage, he still remains attached to the property. [Scoop submitted anonymously.]
And someone out there drops this bombshell on us anonymously - according to the scooper, the villain in the script is none other than Modok! For those of you not into the comics, Modok is a giant floating head decked out in futuristic orange and purple armor...for those of you rolling your eyes, trust us. It's a long story, but if you know anything about Kirby's style of artwork, Modok is a perfect example of the style. We'd love to get some kind of confirmation on this, so if the scooper is reading this - tell us more! [Scooped anonymously.]
And then, BOOM!, email number two arrives...but is it from the same scooper as above? "This is a very cool script in which the science-fiction aspects of the property are emphasized. The villains are Advanced Idea Mechanics, and a certain giant floating head!!! Tony Stark is portrayed as wounded and sad. Fans will love it." Maaaaaaaaaan...if someone is baiting us, we're gazing on that juicy worm with a hungry eye... [Sent anonymously.]
June 2, 1998... Michael Fleming's Variety column 'Dish' reported today that Tom Cruise is eyeing the Iron Man project as a possible starring/producing vehicle for his production company, Cruise/Wagner Productions. [We thank Joe Hanna, 'Iron Boy', Washington Irving, 'dputnam1', 'Crossville Comet', 'The Gline', Duane Rochester, 'shabu', The-Mayfair-House-Keeper, Paul, and as always, the anonymous scoopers.]
Already the Cruise report is getting twisted out of context. One scooper told us that a local program called Good Day Oregon reported this as Cruise's next project. [Thanks to Portland, Oregon resident Tony R.]