Comeback king Mickey Rourke is in talks to play a baddie in the forthcoming Iron Man sequel.
Variety magazine reports that The Wrestler star is in negotiations with Marvel Entertainment to play Crimson Dynamo in ‘Iron Man 2′.
Will Mickey Rourke play Crimson Dynamo?
Tim Robbins and Sam Rockwell are also rumoured to be in talks to star in the hotly-anticipated sequel.
Rourke would play a villain described as “Tony Stark’s Russian alter ego, a heavily tattooed bruiser who is in the arms trade and battles Iron Man in his own nuclear-powered armored suit,” states Variety.
Robert Downey Jr stars as Iron Man once again (Picture: AP/Marvel)
Kevin Feige, a producer on Iron Man 3, has revealed that the film’s hero Tony Stark will be suffering from ‘post-traumatic stress’ in the upcoming film.
The third instalment of Marvel’s superhero franchise picks up soon after the events of The Avengers.
In that movie, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) narrowly escapes death in his bid to save the world from Loki and his army.
Feige explained that teaming up with other superheros like The Incredible Hulk and Thor has made Iron Man question how powerful he really is.
He told MTV: ‘It’s almost like post-traumatic stress [disorder].
‘He has retreated after the events of The Avengers into his workshop, where he’s building advanced versions of his suits.
‘He has [designed] a version of the suit that can latch onto him in individual pieces, anytime, anywhere. He starts to realise [that] he doesn’t want to be out of the suit.’
Feige added: ‘He’s seen a lot of things in Avengers and has encountered a lot of powerful people, much more powerful than he is.’
In the new Iron Man film, due out in the UK on April 26, Stark must battle against the villainous Mandarin, played by Ben Kingsley.
And it seems that Stark will have to have his wits about him as he won’t be able to rely on his armour.
Feige said: ‘Much of the movie is Tony in the middle of the country without his tools and a fairly broken suit to help him.
‘But that’s his superpower: he wasn’t born on Asgard, he wasn’t hit by gamma rays, and he doesn’t have the super soldier serum. His power is his brain.
‘It’s fun to put Tony Stark in a corner with nothing and see how he can get out of it.’
A new teaser for forthcoming blockbuster Iron Man 3 has been released online ahead of the film’s Super Bowl trailer.
The clip lasts for just 14 seconds and gives away little more about the film, which once again sees Robert Downey Jr reprise the role of Tony Stark – but it does hint at some excitement to come in the full trailer.
Its blink-and-you’ll miss it highlights include brief glimpses of Downey Jr lying in the snow – apparently defeated by some unseen foe – as well as Stark’s home coming under fire.
Gwyneth Paltrow also shows up momentarily as Pepper Potts,. while Don Cheadle also appears briefly in his guise as the Iron Patriot.
The full version of the trailer will be seen during Sunday night’s coverage of the Super Bowl on US TV.
In recent years the adverts shown during the Super Bowl – many of which are filmed specially – have become almost as highly-anticipated as the game itself.
A new poster advertising the film shows Tony Stark plunging dramatically to Earth (Picture: Disney)
Iron Man 3 will be just one of a number of films being trailed during one of the many ad breaks – with previews of The Lone Ranger, The Fast and The Furious 6, Star Trek: Into Darkness and the Tom Cruise sci-fi thriller Oblivion also set to be shown.
The film, which sees screenwriter Shane Black take over the directorial reins from Jon Favreau, is due for cinema release in April.
Downey Jr and Paltrow are joined in the latest sequel by Rebecca Hall as scientist Maya Hansen, and Ben Kingsley as the villainous Mandarin.
A new poster for the film – showing Stark apparently plunging downwards to earth – has also been released to coincide with the new footage.
An extended version of the Super Bowl trailer for Iron Man 3 has been unveiled online, offering viewers a minute of extra footage which was not seen in the original ad.
The 30-second advert was seen during coverage of the game on US TV on Sunday, and showed a glimpse of Don Cheadle as the Iron Patriot as well as Downey Jr’s alter ego Tony Stark in apparent peril.
The longer version – which was posted on the film’s official Facebook page on Monday – offers a longer look at a sequence in which Stark has to rescue a plane load of passengers sucked into mid-air, intercut with other action sequences from the film.
However much of it is taken up with Downey Jr staring into camera against a black backdrop, before telling viewers: ‘That might have been more extensive than extended.’
The clip gives Robert Downey Jr a chance to practise his intense stare (Picture: Disney/YouTube)
Iron Man 3 – which is due for release in April – sees screenwriter Shane Black take over the directorial reins from Jon Favreau. It also stars Rebecca Hall as scientist Maya Hansen, and Ben Kingsley as the villainous Mandarin.
It was one of a number of blockbuster movies trailed during the Super Bowl on Sunday night.
Others to snag one of the game’s coveted advertising spots included The Lone Ranger, which stars Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer, the latest Star Trek film Into Darkness, and The Fast and The Furious 6.
Tony Stark is out for revenge in Iron Man 3 (Picture: Marvel/Walt Disney Pictures)
Robert Downey Jr promises ‘good, old-fashioned revenge’ in an action-packed new trailer for Iron Man 3.
The actor, who stars as filthy rich businessman Tony Stark and his superhero alter ego Iron Man, vows to go after baddie Mandarin (Ben Kingsley).
He tells a crowd of reporters: ‘No politics here. Just good, old-fashioned revenge.’
The new promo kicks off with Stark under pressure and worrying about not being able to get a good night’s rest.
Could Pepper Potts be in danger? (Picture: Marvel/Walt Disney Pictures)
He says: ‘I build neat stuff, I’ve got a great girl, and occasionally save the world. So why can’t I sleep?’
But then a series of explosions and action sequences show us that’s not all Stark has to worry about when he encounters Mandarin.
The villain asks Stark: ‘Do you want an empty life, or a meaningful death?’
Stark’s girlfriend Virginia ‘Pepper’ Potts, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, is also seen to be in danger.
Ben Kingsley plays baddie Mandarin (Picture: Marvel/Walt Disney Pictures)
The official synopsis released by Marvel for the film suggests that the third instalment of the franchise will be darker than ever.
It reads: ‘Iron Man 3 pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds.
‘When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle.’
The clip focused mainly on a scene where scientist Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall) turns up on Tony Stark’s doorstep (Robert Downey Jr).
His girlfriend Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) is home and seems keen for them to leave until Hansen points out there’s a missile heading straight for them.
Stark’s home is then destroyed in the explosive attack by baddie Mandarin.
Find out what we learnt about the forthcoming film from the footage today.
Iron Man 3 promises to be action-packed (Picture: AP)
1. Tony Stark is a very good boyfriend.
His transition from playboy womaniser to devoted boyfriend is complete. He tells Maya Hansen that he’s in a ‘fully committed relatinship’. When his mansion is attacked, Stark signals for Pepper Potts to get the Iron Man suit instead of him. Aw.
2. But he’s terrible at buying gifts.
He buys her a giant bunny. Enough said.
3. Don’t expect to see an Iron Lady anytime soon
Once in the suit, Pepper struggles to control it and ends up blasting through the glass door. Ouch.
4. Maya Hansen could shake things up between Stark and Potts
Scientist Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall) arrives on Stark’s doorstep and hints that she was an old one-night stand that he seems to have (callously) forgotten.
5. The Mandarin means business
He sends several helipcopters to destroy Tony Stark, whose apartment is sent crashing into the sea after the attack.
6. The new suit rocks
The Mark 42 suit with Nano technology is a joy to behold. Not only does it fly on to fit the wearer but the hand also detaches itself to erm, give Stark a hand, when he gets trapped underwater.
7. But it’s still a work in progress
The suit ends up flying Starks to a snowy forest miles away from Pepper and ends up conking out on him. Iron Man’s AI, Jarvis, tells Stark: ‘I think I need to sleep.’
8. Aldrich Killian has been taking fashion tips from Miami Vice
Guy Pearce’s appearance shows him rocking slicked blonde locks, a shiny suit and a T-shirt. Very 1980s.
9. The Mandarin has great facial hair
And an interesting hair-style. But he looks like he needs a good comb.
10. Tony Stark still gets the best one-liners
From complaining to Pepper that she hasn’t told him whether she likes the giant bunny to telling a young kid that he should stop being a ‘p****’ about his dad abandoning him, Stark still has a mean way with a quip.
Scientist Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall) was shown turning up on Stark’s doorstep as he was suited up as Iron Man.
‘You’re not The Mandarin, are you?’ he asks her.
Hansen hints that they were once involved and reveals to Stark’s girlfriend Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) that it was just for one night.
Could Pepper Potts be in danger? (Picture: Marvel/Walt Disney Pictures)
Pepper doesn’t seem too bothered though and seems more keen to convince Stark to leave with the couple bickering in front of Hansen.
Watching the news on TV, Hansen notices a missile coming straight to Stark’s apartment.
As the missile rips through the flat, Tony, Pepper and Maya are thrown to the ground with Stark gesturing for the Iron Man suit to cover his girlfriend instead of him.
Once Pepper and Maya are safely out of the house, Stark gets the suit back and starts taking on several helicopters that have been sent to destroy him.
The scene ends with him falling into the sea with the rest of his apartment as it crumbles to rubble.
Ben Kingsley plays baddie Mandarin (Picture: Marvel/Walt Disney Pictures)
Stark screams out ‘Help’ and the hand of his suit detaches so it can grab him out of the water.
He’s then seen crash landing in a snowy forest narrowly missing a car and a deer before telling off Iron Man’s AI, Jarvis, for sending him out this far.
The suit is running out of battery and burns out leaving Stark to drag it through the snow.
He calls Pepper to apologise for putting her in danger and says he can’t return yet because he needs to find Mandarin.
Stark then finds a garage so he can start work on fixing the suit but is interrupted by a boy.
The kid gives Stark a newspaper which shows he’s presumed dead and Tony ropes him into helping him.
Another scene shows Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) setting up what looks like a video shoot for The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley).
We don’t envy the person summoning these two to court (Picture: Alamy)
With great power comes great legal responsibility.
Being a superhero used to be easy. You would see a crime being committed on the TV news, pop your mask on, rush to the scene and then cuff a few muggers around the ear to save the day.
A civic reception at city hall would follow and criminal scum would live in fear of you, while decent citizens would look to you as their protector.
But before Batman can foil the Joker these days, he has to ask himself two vital questions: ‘Am I covered if I cause damage to public property in Gotham City?’ and ‘Am I infringing on the Clown Prince of Crime’s human rights?’
In theory, comic books should let us delve into a fantasy world where legal rights and wrongs don’t apply to costumed heroes, yet many fans like a dose of realism between the panels.
Comics have a long tradition of exploring the concept of law, from the Mutant Registration Act in X-Men and the Superhuman Registration Act in the Avengers to the Keene Act in Watchmen – legislation which attempted to make superheroes more accountable or ban their activities altogether.
In addition, there are a number of comic book heroes from the legal profession. Harvey Dent was Gotham’s district attorney before he became Two-Face in DC Comics, while Marvel’s most celebrated legal eagle is blind lawyer Matt Murdock, who fights injustice in a suit and tie in the courtroom by day and battles it in the red of Daredevil by night.
This affiliation between comic and court is at the heart of Law and the Multiverse, a blog run by two licensed attorneys in the US who also happen to love superheroes. Since it launched more than two years ago, the site has examined the planning laws which permit Tony Stark (Iron Man) to build an arc reactor and asked if superpowers should fall under the Second Amendment to the US Constitution – the right to bear arms.
James Daily, who specialises in intellectual property law, came up with the idea for the blog after a discussion about superheroes during dinner with his wife and some friends.
‘We were talking about how Superman can see through walls,’ he told Metro. ‘If on his home planet they could all see through walls, then their privacy laws would have to be a lot different.’
He discussed his idea on community weblog MetaFilter with fellow attorney Ryan Davidson, who works in insurance law, and Law and the Multiverse was born. The site receives about 4,000 visitors each week and the pair published a book, The Law of Superheroes, towards the end of last year.
While some comics don’t have to be completely bound by reality, Law and the Multiverse lets fans set some age old superhero disputes.
‘What a lot of people like is reading a comic that may or may not be particularly accurate and then just discussing it and analysing it from a variety of perspectives,’ explained Mr Daily.
‘That can be who would win in a fight between Batman or Superman, that can be about how much Bruce Wayne owes in taxes.’
‘There have certainly been cases where Batman has acted completely inappropriately and has been beating up people who are well past the point where they had been subdued,’ said Mr Daily.
‘In those cases, theoretically, they certainly could bring a tort case and the police should also be investigating Batman for crimes.’
However, Gotham’s prosecutors and police are unlikely to come down hard on the masked vigilante making their lives easier. There is another issue.
‘Good luck suing Batman because nobody knows who he is,’ added Mr Daily. Apart from every girl he’s ever dated, of course.
When they are not fighting crime, most superheroes are concerned about one thing: keeping their real identity a closely guarded secret. Just because some of them do it with only a curl in the middle of their forehead doesn’t mean they don’t care.
‘Where legal proceedings are involved, it’s going to be very difficult for a superhero who is a party to a case to keep their identity secret,’ said Mr Davidson.
‘While the courts do recognise some interest in keeping the personal details of one’s life private, I don’t think that extends to the maintenance of a second identity. I can’t really see a judge being interested in promoting that sort of behaviour.’
The lawyers at Law and the Multiverse have strayed from comics into other fiction – they recently dissected Bilbo’s contract with the dwarves in the first Hobbit movie and got zombies off the hook in the event of an apocalypse – but their richest source of material remains the sphere occupied by superheroes.
‘Comic books are fiction and as fiction strives for realism, interacting with the legal system is important,’ said Mr Davidson.
Inside the courtroom, Mr Daily prefers the work done by Daredevil, but his favourite legal character away from the judge and the jury is She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters), a lawyer and cousin of the Hulk.
He indicated that the next challenge for the blog could be to examine the comic book characters who don’t live on Earth.
‘I really want to know the legal status of various aliens,’ he said. ‘I want to know if somebody tries to beat up Superman – I mean, they’re not going to succeed because he’s Superman – but if they try, is it attempted murder or is it attempted animal abuse? Because he’s not human.’
‘Enormous planet eating creatures like Galactus just swan around the Marvel Universe eating planets because no-one can arrest them,’ he said. ‘Someone totally should.’
Mr Gillen pointed out that most superheroes started out as vigilantes – they’ve chosen to hand out justice rather than wait for the rule of law.
‘The concept of what is right and what is lawful is right at the heart of the genre,’ he said.
‘But you don’t have to play it straight to make it work. Dan Slott’s run on She-Hulk was basically Ally McBeal with superheroes, with her working in a law office which specialised in the sort of crazy legal difficulties of a place like the Marvel Universe.’
He is also a fan of the Fantastic Four’s main foe, Doctor Doom, who has set himself up in the fictional country of Latveria to avoid capture.
‘That means he’s got all kinds of diplomatic immunity,’ he explained. ‘Where other villains hide, Doom sits back in his castle and rolls his eyes at the impotent heroes.
‘In passing, I’ve always wanted to write a scene where some geographically-challenged heroes end up in Latvia.’
Legal issues have their place is comics then, but when push comes to shove, entertaining the reader will always come first.
‘The law of the land can be just like the law of physics,’ said Mr Daily. ‘Sometimes comic book writers can find it more convenient to just ignore it.’
The first full clip from Marvel’s Iron Man 3 has appeared online, seeing Tony Stark deliver a message to the Mandarin.
Iron Man’s third outing sees Stark seek vengeance after the Mandarin (Sir Ben Kingsley) attacks one of his closest friends.
In the new clip, which was teased briefly in an earlier trailer, Stark heads into a throng of press and delivers a message to his nemesis.
‘My name is Tony Stark and I’m not afraid of you,’ he says. ‘I know you’re a coward so I’ve decided that you just died, pal. I’m going to come and get the body.’
Robert Downey Jr returns as Tony Stark in Iron Man 3
Stark then insists he does not want anyone else involved in the fued and simply wants ‘good, old-fashioned revenge’.
Rebecca Hall plays Stark’s ex Maya Hansen in the Marvel film, while Guy Pearce has also joined the cast to play the mysterious Aldrich Killian.
Iron Man 3 opens in UK cinemas in both IMAX and 3D on April 26.
Robert Downey Jr will bring Iron Man 3 to London a day later than planned (Picture: AP)
The UK premiere of Iron Man 3 has been postponed by 24 hours in order to avoid a clash with Margaret Thatcher’s funeral.
The star-studded event – due to be attended by Robert Downey Jr and Gwyneth Paltrow – had originally been set to take place in Leicester Square on April 17.
However the premiere has now been put back a day, following the news that Thatcher’s funeral – which will include a procession through the centre of London followed by a service at St Paul’s Cathedral – had been scheduled for the same day.
According to reports the decision was made to avoid what Westminster Council described as a ‘logistical nightmare’ – since both events are expected to attract huge crowds of spectators to the capital.
The stars of the blockbuster movie – due for release at the end of the month – are said to have been ‘most accommodating’ over the change in date.
Around 2,000 guests are expected to attend Baroness Thatcher’s funeral (Picture: PA)
As well as current and former world leaders the guest list also includes Lord Lloyd Webber, Dame Shirley Bassey and TV personalities including Terry Wogan and Jeremy Clarkson.
Iron Man 3, which also stars Ben Kingsley, Rebecca Hall and Don Cheadle, sees Downey Jr reprise the role of Tony Stark and his metallic alter ego – this time taking on the villainous Mandarin.
The film opens in the UK on April 26, one week before its US cinema debut.
Robert Downey Jr was paid $50 million to play Iron Man in The Avengers (Picture: EPA)
Robert Downey Jr has revealed he was paid an eye-watering $50 million to star in The Avengers.
The actor, who will next be seen in Iron Man 3, confirmed the amount in an interview with GQ.
He said: ‘Yeah. Isn’t that crazy?
‘They’re so p***ed, I can’t believe it. I’m what’s known as “a strategic cost”.’
The Avengers has taken a total of $1.5 billion worldwide making it the third highest-grossing film of all time.
Downey Jr also admitted that he thought he was one of the best actors in his current generation.
He said: ‘I’m probably one of the best. …But it’s not that big a deal.
‘It’s not like this is the greatest swath or generation of actors that has ever come down the pike.’
But the star insisted he was just a normal guy and looked forward to the moment when his co-stars realised this too.
‘Nothing pleases me more than when somebody who was awe-inspired to be working with me realises I’m just another schmuck that they’re bored of hanging out with on a set.
‘I love that moment. I like it when that persistent illusion is smashed.’
Iron Man co-stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr look chummy together (Picture: Getty)
Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed she had never heard of the Iron Man comics before signing up to the first film as she joke slapped Robert Downey Jr during a press conference.
The actress, 40, admitted that she didn’t know anything about the Marvel superhero when she was first approached to play his love interest Pepper Potts.
She told a room full of journalists at the London press conference today: ‘You know I had never even heard of Iron Man until Jon Favreau [director of the 2008 film] called me.
‘I wasn’t reading comics at all. When the first Iron Man came about I’d taken a few years off and I was at home having kids and stuff, there was no script…
‘Robert and Jon talked me into doing it and it’s been a great journey playing Pepper.’
Robert Downey Jr returns as Tony Stark in the third outing for Iron Man (Picture: Marvel)
She added: ‘I never would have thought of myself as being in a comic book superhero movie.’
The actress used the press conference as an opportunity to get tough with co-star Downey Jr after he made a joke about her being a snob.
Gwyneth whacked the actor in the face after she admitted she was surprised after watching the film.
She jokingly slapped him after he cheekily chipped in: ‘Shocked – such a snob!’
Paltrow then explained: ‘I was surprised because normally I find it hard to follow the plots of these on paper… but the movie played so well and it was really fun to watch.’
Robert Downey Jr made a joke about Iron Man 4 at a press conference (Picture: PA)
Robert Downey Jr has joked he will be doing Iron Man 4 as he hinted he won’t be returning as Tony Stark again.
The actor, 48, who will be appearing in the third instalment of the Marvel franchise, quipped at a press conference for the film that he is teaming up with co-star Rebecca Hall for Iron Man 4.
He said: ‘I’m just so pleased people are seeing the movie, that they’re telling us we did this correctly enough for me to be proud to announce the next instalment where it will just be Rebecca and I.
Downey Jr joked: ‘It will be called Iron Man 4: Parade’s End.’
Rebecca Hall plays scientist Maya Hansen in Iron Man 3 (Picture: Marvel)
Hall, who plays scientist Maya Hansen in Iron Man 3, famously starred alongside Benedict Cumberbatch in BBC TV drama Parade’s End.
Downey Jr’s comments come as he hinted in another interview that he could be done with the superhero.
Talking about an ankle injury he suffered on the set, he told GQ: ‘It got me thinking about how big the message from your cosmic sponsor needs to be before you pick it up.
‘How many genre movies can I do? How many follow-ups to a successful follow-up are actually fun?’
He added: ‘I come from a family of very innovative writers and directors and actors and artists, and the circle of friends they were in were the people I heard having pun-offs playing poker at two in the morning, and it was just the most comforting aspect of my childhood.
‘So there’s this kind of legacy of souls from what I consider to be a very particular time in entertainment, and I’m sensing a return to that.’
Downey Jr recently revealed he was paid $50 million to star in The Avengers.
The long-awaited blockbuster Iron Man 3 has premiered in the UK, with a star-studded line-up of cast members taking to the red carpet.
Robert Downey Jr – who is once again playing the role of Tony Stark/Iron Man joined Rebecca Hall, Don Cheadle, Ben Kingsley – who plays the villainous Mandarin – and the film’s director Shane Black at the screening in Leicester Square.
However there was no sign of fellow co-star Gwyneth Paltrow, who was absent from the premiere due to attending another engagement in New York.
Robert Downey Jr at the London premiere of Iron Man 3 (Picture: PA)
Shane Black, the director of Iron Man 3, has revealed that he is ‘sure’ Robert Downey Jr will return for another film.
The film-maker said he was certain Downey Jr would reprise his role as Tony Stark for another Iron Man film.
He told the Evening Standard: ‘I think he’ll be back for another one. I’m sure of it.’
Downey Jr sparked speculation that he wouldn’t be back for another Iron Man in an interview with GQ.
He told the magazine his contract with Marvel Studios had expired and spoke about an ankle injury he suffered on the set.
The actor said: ‘It got me thinking about how big the message from your cosmic sponsor needs to be before you pick it up.
‘How many genre movies can I do? How many follow-ups to a successful follow-up are actually fun?’
He added: ‘I come from a family of very innovative writers and directors and actors and artists, and the circle of friends they were in were the people I heard having pun-offs playing poker at two in the morning, and it was just the most comforting aspect of my childhood.
‘So there’s this kind of legacy of souls from what I consider to be a very particular time in entertainment, and I’m sensing a return to that.’
Downey Jr recently revealed he was paid $50 million to star in The Avengers.
Don Cheadle could be in The Avengers 2 (Picture: PA)
Iron Man 3 actor Don Cheadle has revealed he has been having ‘conversations’ about War Machine starring in The Avengers 2.
The star, whose character War Machine is rebranded Iron Patriot in the upcoming film, said he has been talking to Avengers 2 writer/director Joss Whedon.
Asked by Collider if he knows if War Machine will be in the sequel, he replied: ‘No I have not, but I know that conversations have been happening, so we’ll see what happens.
‘If that’s able to happen and it makes sense for the story, I’m sure it’ll happen, and if not it’s fine. It has to work within the world and sort of the mythology of the whole Marvel universe.’
Cheadle also revealed War Machine could have a cameo in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
He explained: ‘I think I’m gonna go to the set. So maybe if I bring the suit in my trunk I’ll just walk on.’
The real McCoy: Iron Man 3 will put plenty of bums on seats…as did our three hard men. But would he get a game at left-back? (Picture: AP)
Iron Man 3 hits the big screen this week, and what better way to mark to occasion than by looking at three iron men of football? Probably lots of ways but I’m doing it anyway.
For good measure I’ve picked a tough-tackling triumvirate who played at left-back, so three iron men at No.3 (there’s some logic there, possibly).
With a respectful nod to the hard men from the days of yore, those heroes remembered in black-and-white footage – and all those hard nuts from the 1970s – I’ve gone for chaps I remember playing.
Anyway, I’d fancy this three to hold their own (and possibly the opposing winger’s) in any era.
Serious business: Pearce personified mean defence for club and country (Picture: PA)
1) Stuart Pearce
A man so hard, he once tried to run off a broken leg in his latter days at West Ham. Respected on the domestic and international scene, he earned the nickname Psycho in his early years at Nottingham Forest for his fearless tackling. Loved by England fans from the moment he unleashed the most famous scream since Munch hung up his paintbrush after slaying the demons of his World Cup semi-final penalty miss at Euro ’96. Now coach of the England Under-21s.
2) Julian Dicks
Much loved at West Ham, the fact he wound up with the nickname The Terminator (there’s even a song called Julian Dicks -The Terminator, by Flat Back Four…you can buy it on Amazon if you really want to) tells you a little of his no-nonsense tackling and never-say-die attitude.
Never afraid to go in where it hurt and no stranger to reds and yellows, it was lucky he had a short surname as it must have saved a few man-hours for refs taking his name.
Like Pearce, he struck a mean deadball but, unlike the others on our list, he had a bash at pro golf after hanging up his boots. And it seems clear he was as competitive on the links as he’d been on the football field.
‘Golf’s meant to be a gentleman’s sport but I tended to lose my rag when I fluffed a shot,’ he once told FourFourTwo. ‘I ended up smashing loads of my clubs.’
3) Mark Dennis
As a lad reading Shoot and Match magazines, I learnt to fear Mark Dennis. Every week, it seemed like there was another feature hammering home just how hard/nasty this man was.
Sent off a dozen times back in the days of short shorts, when you had to try quite hard to get an early bath, Dennis was a fearsome figure for Birmingham, QPR, Southampton and Crystal Palace.
Still popular at Saints in particular, he had been dubbed Psycho long before Pearce but I’m assuming after all this time, they’re quite happy sharing.
Tough as nails: Former Southampton and QPR player Mark Dennis (Picture: Evening Standard)
Gwyneth Paltrow plays Iron Man’s love interest Pepper Potts in Iron Man 3 (Picture: 2012 Marvel)
Before Hayley Atwell reprises her role as Agent Peggy Carter in Captain America 2, there’s a whole year’s worth of lovely ladies to get through…
Pepper Potts (Iron Man 3, out today)
Tony Stark’s missus, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), has not only bagged herself a superhero but she’s also running his multimillion dollar company. Iron Man 3 sees Pepper grabbing a serious slice of the action.
Lois Lane (Man of Steel, out June 14)
Actress Amy Adams grew up wanting to be Lois Lane – and now she’s playing her in Zack Snyder’s Superman reboot. Henry Cavill is the Man of Steel who catches the young reporter’s eye.
Mariko Yashida (The Wolverine, out July 26)
Model Tao Okamoto will be playing Wolverine’s love interest, Mariko – not bad for her first film role. But will Mariko and Logan (Hugh Jackman) go the distance? Let’s just say it’s complicated.
Jane Foster (Thor 2: The Dark World, out October 30)
Fresh from his Avengers adventures, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) needs a little help from his lady friend, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who is not only an astrophysicist but a budding action heroine, judging by the trailer.
It might have been released in cinemas – but the Iron Man 3 clips just keep on coming, with yet another one unleashed online in the wake of the film’s big screen debut.
The minute-long clip features Robert Downey Jr, as Iron Man’s human alter ego Tony Stark – confessing to girlfriend Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) the effects of his battle against Loki in New York.
He tells her: ‘Nothing’s been the same since New York’ – and admits that he has been suffering from insomnia ever since.
And it also transpires he has spent his many waking hours working on different versions of the Iron Man suit.
Iron Man 3, which was released in UK cinemas yesterday, sees Stark taking on the villainous Mandarin, played by Ben Kingsley.
The film also sees legendary action screenwriter Shane Black taking over the directorial reins from Jon Favreau, who helmed the first two films in the series.
Gwyneth Paltrow hears Robert Downey Jr’s confessions of insomnia in the Iron Man 3 clip (Picture: Paramount)
