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Superhero fan builds his own foam Iron Man costume

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Iron Man suit, costume.
A hero: A teenager has built a custom Iron Man suit (Picture: Mafferick)

One Marvel fan wanted to be Iron Man so much he decided to build his own costume made out of Eva foam.

Unlike a lot of bespoke suits, this one turned out to be just as awesome looking as the real one.

As well as having a nearly spot-on helmet, the 17-year-old also built gloves that lit up.

Iron Man, costume
A man poses in the custom built costume (Picture: Mafferick)

A friend of the teenager, who has not given his name, put images of the costume up on Reddit.

‘So, my 17-year-old friend decided it was a good idea to build an Iron Man suit,’ Mafferick wrote.

‘Turns out, it was an amazing idea. Such a good idea in fact, he wore it to the opening night of Iron Man 3 in-front of hundreds of people.’

Iron Man, costume
The only thing the suit doesn’t do is fly and have all the fancy weaponry (Picture: Mafferick)

The superhero fan, who said it took a few weeks to build the replica suit, impressed users on the forum with how detailed his costume was.

Pickled_Taco added: ‘So cool that he even did the carbon scoring on the mask. sorry not really a question, but A+ job. I would buy it.’

Another user was so captivated he inquired as to whether he was willing to make another suit.

Goodnames679 said: ‘Would you be willing to make these custom for other people if they were willing to pay a large enough price?

‘I’m sure there’s enough people looking for a badass Iron Man suit to keep you in business with that for a long time.’



Iron Man 4 will happen if fans ‘make enough noise’, says Don Cheadle

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Don Cheadle arriving for the premiere of Iron Man 3 at the Odeon Leicester Square, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 18, 2013. See PA story SHOWBIZ IronMan. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire
Don Cheadle wants Iron Man 4 to happen (Picture: PA)

Don Cheadle has revealed that he thinks there is still a chance that another Iron Man film will be made if fans want it to.

The actor, who plays Colonel James Rhodes/War Machine in Iron Man 3, said that there could be a follow-up to the new film – but only if fans make a fuss.

He told Access Hollywood: ‘I think if people like you make enough noise about it there’ll be an Iron Man 4. I mean, hopefully. I think there’s more to mine.

‘It’s going to be determined definitely by Marvel, and if they think there’s another aspect of the story that needs to be told that wasn’t covered in the trilogy, if there’s another way in that’s interesting.’

Robert Downey Jr raised doubts that there would be an Iron Man 4 after revealing that his contract at Marvel has expired.

Gwyneth Paltrow has said she doesn’t think there will be another instalment telling Geek Nation: ‘I think we’re done with Iron Man.’

But director Shane Black was mroe optimistic claiming he was ‘sure’ that Downey Jr would return to the role of Tony Stark.


Is this Iron Man 3 parody trailer better than the original?

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Iron Man 3 may have stormed the Box Office but it’s a low-budget alternative that’s winning critical acclaim online.

The superhero sequel headed straight to number one in the UK film chart having recorded the largest opening of any film so far in 2013 following its release on April 14.

Iron Man 3 parody trailer Thailand
A low-budget Iron Man 3 trailer has become a hit online (Picture: YouTube)
Iron Man 3 trailer
A scene from the original trailer (Picture: YouTube)

Without the blockbuster’s reported $200million (£130m) budget, a group of amateur filmmakers have had to take a different approach.

Recreating the film’s trailer scene by scene, the comic book fans have had to find cheaper alternatives when it comes to special effects and the movie’s stellar cast.

Iron Man 3 parody trailer Thailand
Gwyneth Paltrow is replaced (Picture: YouTube)
Iron Man 3
The original version (Picture: YouTube)

Billionaire Tony Stark’s Iron Man costume becomes more of a cardboard suit, while actress Gwyneth Paltrow has been replaced by a man in a wig.

Toy helicopters dangling from a piece of string and toy soldiers also feature, although Robert Downey Jr’s distinctive tones remain.

Iron Man 3 parody trailer Thailand
‘Tony Stark’ makes an appearance (Picture: YouTube)
Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man 3
Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man 3 (Picture: YouTube)

Despite the visual limitations, the fan-made trailer has become a hit online racking up over 95,000 hits in less than seven days.

What do you think of the alternative trailer? Leave your comments below. 







Iron Man 3 scores second biggest US opening weekend ever

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Iron Man 3 is number one at the US box office (Picture: AP/Marvel)
Iron Man 3 is number one at the US box office (Picture: AP/Marvel)

Iron Man 3 has stormed to the top of the US box office, scoring the second biggest opening weekend of all time.

The third instalment of the Marvel superhero franchise took $175.3m (£112.5m) in ticket sales.

It failed to beat the $207.4m (£133.1m) record set by The Avengers last year but the impressive figure means it has bagged the second biggest opening weekend ever in the US.

In Iron Man 3, Tony Stark/Iron Man is still haunted by the events that took place in The Avengers but must fight against new baddie, the Mandarin.

Robert Downey Jr sparked speculation that he wouldn’t be back for another Iron Man film when he revealed that his contract with Marvel had run out.

Will Robert Downey Jr be back for another Iron Man film? (Picture: AP/Marvel)
Will Robert Downey Jr be back for another Iron Man film? (Picture: AP/Marvel)

But the studio’s president, Kevin Forge, said that Marvel wanted the star to play the superhero for ‘years to come’.

He told The Huffington Post: ‘Well, look, I don’t think Robert will be playing this character for another 30 years, and I certainly hope the character stays in movies for the next 30 years – just like James Bond.

‘I would say before George Lazenby and Roger Moore, Sean Connery was James Bond. It will take a while to fill any shoes, whether it’s filmmaker shoes or writer shoes or certainly actor shoes.

‘I think Tony Stark is an interesting enough and rich enough character that he can persevere.

‘That being said, I hope that doesn’t happen any time soon. It certainly is our plan to continue to have Robert Downey in the persona of Tony Stark for many, many years to come.’

US box office top 10:

1. Iron Man 3, $175 million
2. Pain and Gain, $7.6 million
3. 42, $6.2 million
4. Oblivion, $5.8 million
5. The Croods, $4.2 million
6. The Big Wedding, $3.9 million
7. Mud, $2.2 million
8. Oz the Great and Powerful, $1.8 million
9. Scary Movie 5, $1.4 million
10 .The Place Beyond the Pines, $1.3 million



Robert Downey Jr fighting for better pay for Avengers cast

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US actor Robert Downey Jr. poses for picture on the red carpet as he arrives for the premier of his latest film "Iron Man 3" in Leicester Square in central London in this April 18, 2013. "Iron Man 3" is expected to launch America's summer blockbuster season with a bang this weekend, having already taken global box offices by storm, industry analysts say. Robert Downey Jr returns as the metal-suited Marvel superhero, in a sequel to the last "Iron Man" movie in 2010, but also playing off the back of last year's comic-book mega hit "The Avengers," which also featured him. The film, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Kingsley as well, has already made nearly $200 million around the world in the last week, and could earn a similar sum in its first weekend in North America. AFP PHOTO/LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images
Robert Downey Jr wants better pay for his co-stars (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

Robert Downey Jr is reportedly campaigning for his Avengers co-stars to get a pay rise for the sequel.

The Iron Man 3 star, who received a staggering $50 million pay cheque for the first film, is fighting for his co-stars – who only got a paltry $200,000 – to get a cash boost, accordng to Deadline.

The Avengers cast including Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L Jackson are now demanding $5 million upfront plus back-end options but Marvel are threatening to recast.

But Downey Jr – who Marvel are keen to see return in Avengers 2 – is refusing to sign up to the sequel unless his co-stars get a better deal.

CMNMJW AVENGERS ASSEMBLE 2012 Marvel/Paramount film with Chris Hemsworth at left and Chris Evans
Negotiations have started for The Avengers 2 (Picture: Marvel/Paramount)

He recently revealed that his contract with Marvel has expired sparking speculation that he wouldn’t be back for Iron Man 4.

A source said: ‘He’s the only guy with real power in this situation. And balls of steel, too. He’s already sent a message that he’s not going to work for a place where they treat his colleagues like s***.’

Another insider added: ‘Some received only $200,000 for Avengers and Downey got paid $50m. On what planet is that OK?’

Marvel president Kevin Feige told The Huffington Post recently that they were keen for Downey Jr to continue starring as Iron Man.

‘It certainly is our plan to continue to have Robert Downey in the persona of Tony Stark for many, many years to come.’

The Avengers was a huge box office hit and has since become the third highest grossing film of all time.


Police called after Iron Man 3 cinema publicity stunt goes awry

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Capital 8 theaters Jefferson City
Capital 8 Theaters said most viewers were entertained by the promotion (Picture: ABC)

Police were called to a cinema in Jefferson City, Missouri after a man was seen wearing tactical gear and carrying a fake assault rifle, apparently as part of a publicity stunt for Iron Man 3.

The incident took place during the movie’s opening weekend and alarmed some cinemagoers given the recent shootings that took place during a Dark Knight Rises screening in Aurora, Colorado.

John Morlock, a war veteran who suffers from post traumatic stress, explained: ‘We had just finished watching Iron Man 3. We’re just getting into the car when I spotted a man in full assault gear, carrying what appeared to be a modified M-4 and 9 mm on his side.’

Morlock did not call the police, but several other customers at the theatre did.

‘We received a series of 911 calls stating that a man dressed in all black and body armor and a rifle was walking into Capital 8 Theaters,’ said police captain Doug Shoemaker.

Police then treated the matter as an active shooter investigation.

Iron Man 3 is number one at the US box office (Picture: AP/Marvel)
Iron Man 3 is number one at the US box office (Picture: AP/Marvel)

‘Everything was in place, it’s the opening night of a superhero movie, it’s somebody walking in all-dark clothes, everything pointed to bad things about to happen,’ Shoemaker added. ‘There’s really no good that can come of this.’

When asked if he took into account the Aurora shootings when planning the stunt, Capital 8 Theaters manager Bob Wilkins told ABC 17 News: ‘Absolutely. That’s my number-one priority every day. It’s the safety and security of our guests.’

He stopped short of an apology however – when asked whether he had any regrets he said: ‘No, my job is to entertain people.’

Capital 8 did later post a Facebook apology however, saying: ‘We apologize and are sympathetic to those who felt they were in harm’s way with our character promotion for Iron Man 3.’


Iron Man 3 keeps Great Gatsby from No. 1 as it heads to $1bn mark

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Iron Man 3 is still top of the US box office (Picture: Marvel)
Iron Man 3 is still top of the US box office (Picture: Marvel)

Iron Man 3 has fought off competition from The Great Gatsby to remain at number one as it is close to passing the $1 billion mark.

The superhero movie, starring Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark/Iron Man, stayed at the top of the box office for a second week running taking an extra $72.5m (£47m).

Baz Luhrmann’s new adaptation of the F Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel shot in at number two with $51m (£33m).

Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan and Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby in the long-awaited Great Gatsby (Picture: Warner Bros)
The Great Gatsby had to settle for second place (Picture: Warner Bros)

Michael Bay’s crime drama Pain and Gain is at three while Tyler Perry’s comedy Peeples debuted at four.

Baseball drama 42 rounds out the top five.

Meanwhile, Iron Man 3 is nearing the £1 billion mark with having taken $949m (£617m) worldwide and $284.9m (£185.4m) in the US after being on release for 10 days.

Paul Dergarabedian, a box office analyst for Hollywood.com told the BBC: ‘In less than three weeks, this thing is honing in on a billion dollars. It’s just a testament to the incredible popularity of this character.’

The US box office top 10 (studio estimates):

1. (1) Iron Man 3 – $72,472,000
2 (-) The Great Gatsby – $51,115,000
3. (2) Pain & Gain – $5,000,000
4. (-) Tyler Perry Presents Peeples – $4,850,000
5. (3) 42 – $4,650,000
6. (4) Oblivion – $3,864,000
7. (5) The Croods – $3,600,000
8. (6) The Big Wedding – $2,500,000
9. (7) Mud – $2,343,000
10. (8) Oz the Great and Powerful – $802,000


Chinese audience unimpressed by extra Iron Man 3 footage

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An extra four minutes of footage was added to Iron Man 3's Chinese version (Picture: AP/Marvel)
An extra four minutes of footage was added to Iron Man 3′s Chinese version (Picture: AP/Marvel)

In an attempt to wow Chinese audiences, Iron Man 3 was made four minutes longer but the extra scenes haven’t gone down well with cinema-goers.

Audiences in China are reportedly unimpressed by the additional scenes which feature two Chinese characters played by Wang Xueqi and Fan Bingbing.

In the international version of Iron Man 3, Wang’s character, Dr Wu, only appears for a few seconds in a scene where he is introduced to Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jnr).

But the Chinese version shows Dr Wu talking on the phone in his Beijing office and later performing surgery on a wounded Stark, helped by his assistant played by Bingbing.

Fan Bingbing appears in the Chinese version but not the international one (Picture: PA)
Fan Bingbing appears in the Chinese version but not the international one (Picture: PA)

In an article in The Beijing News, one cinema-goer was quoted as saying: ‘The Chinese elements were obvious attempts by some investors to make the film a [joint venture] – but the [State Administration of Radio, Film and Television] did not buy into it.’

While the People’s Daily website featured an article from Changjiang Daily in Wuhan, Hubei, with the title ‘We don’t need a special China version’, which claimed Chinese audiences preferred the original version.

Marvel also toned down the ethnicity of the lead villain, The Mandarin, reportedly to appeal to Chinese audiences.

The Chinese-born baddie becomes a character who is not actually Chinese in the third instalment and is even played by a British actor (Ben Kingsley).

Kevin Feige, Marvel’s president, told Entertainment Weekly: ‘It’s less about his specific ethnicity than the symbolism of various cultures and iconography that he perverts for his own end.

‘From his samurai hair, to his royal robe, to his bin Laden-esque beard, and the AK-47 he keeps at his side, Kingsley’s interpretation is a hodgepodge of various warrior motifs.’



Mark Ruffalo: No need to panic over Avengers 2

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Mark Ruffalo played the Incredible Hulk in The Avengers (Picture: AP)
Mark Ruffalo played the Incredible Hulk in The Avengers (Picture: AP)

Mark Ruffalo has revealed that he doesn’t think there is any reason to start panicking over the casting of The Avengers 2.

Rumours have been swirling that Marvel have threatened to recast after a pay dispute among the A-list cast but Ruffalo insisted the stars hadn’t even started negotiations yet.

The actor, who plays the Incredible Hulk in the first movie, told Moviefone: ‘I was surprised to hear it, because I don’t even think anyone’s really started negotiating yet… As far as I know [everyone is back].

‘But sometimes actors are the last people to know what’s going on.’

He added: ‘I’d be really sad if they did [recast]. I can’t imagine that. That would be bad. “That would not be good,” as Joss Whedon would say.

US actor Robert Downey Jr. poses for picture on the red carpet as he arrives for the premier of his latest film "Iron Man 3" in Leicester Square in central London in this April 18, 2013. "Iron Man 3" is expected to launch America's summer blockbuster season with a bang this weekend, having already taken global box offices by storm, industry analysts say. Robert Downey Jr returns as the metal-suited Marvel superhero, in a sequel to the last "Iron Man" movie in 2010, but also playing off the back of last year's comic-book mega hit "The Avengers," which also featured him. The film, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Kingsley as well, has already made nearly $200 million around the world in the last week, and could earn a similar sum in its first weekend in North America. AFP PHOTO/LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images
Robert Downey Jr wants better pay for his co-stars (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

‘I’d love to come back as The Hulk. I don’t foresee not coming back as The Hulk.’

Robert Downey Jr is reportedly campaigning for his Avengers co-stars to get a pay rise for the sequel.

The Iron Man 3 star, who received a staggering $50 million pay cheque for the first film, is fighting for his co-stars – who only got a paltry $200,000 – to get a cash boost, accordng to Deadline.

Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L Jackson are said to be demanding $5 million upfront plus back-end options which is why Marvel are threatening to recast.

But Downey Jr – who Marvel are keen to see return in Avengers 2 – is reportedly refusing to sign up to the sequel unless his co-stars get a better deal.


Star Trek Into Darkness fights off Iron Man 3 at box office with £8m opening bonanza

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Star Trek Into Darkness
Star Trek Into Darkness had a massive opening weekend at UK cinemas (Picture: Paramount)

The latest Star Trek film has seen off Iron Man 3′s challenge at the UK box office with a gigantic opening weekend.

According to official figures Star Trek Into Darkness, which features Benedict Cumberbatch as bad guy John Harrison, opened last Thursday and took an impressive £8.4m in its first four days of release.

And although it fell far short of the £13.7m opening weekend scored by Iron Man 3 two weeks ago, it still managed to knock the Robert Downey Jr blockbuster from the top spot.

That film fell to number two after a fortnight in pole position, but still took £3.2m to bring its total so far to £32m.

Elsewhere it was a relatively quiet week at the box office as the two early summer hits dominated – with last week’s number two, 21 And Over, falling to three with £580,981.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAEkuVgt6Aw

All Stars, with takings of £498,334, and The Croods, with £383,502, completed the top five.

The only other new entry in this week’s charts was the Matthew McConaughey drama Mud, in which he stars as a fugitive who befriends two teenage boys after they discover him living on a remote island.

The film, which opened in a fairly limited release of 71 screens, took £237,000 in its first weekend to finish in seventh place.

Next weekend will see Star Trek face competition from Baz Luhrmann’s much-hyped adaptation of The Great Gatsby, as well as action sequel Fast And Furious 6.


Gwyneth Paltrow’s £1,300 private cooking lesson sells out in less than 24 hours

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Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow’s £1,300 cooking lesson sells out in 24 hours (Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)

Gwyneth Paltrow wants to treat her fans to a private cooking lesson – but only if they have £1,300 to spare.

The Iron Man 3 actress, who recently released her second cook book, It’s All Good, launched an exclusive offer on Groupon.com on Tuesday that sold out in less than 24 hours.

Gwynnie invited 60 fans to splash the cash on an ‘epic trip’ to New York on June 14, during which she will give a private cooking lesson.

As well as tickets to the VIP event, the package also included a round-trip airfare from anywhere in the US or Canada to New York, airport transfers, two nights at a Hilton hotel, spa treatments and dinner at a upmarket French restaurant in the city.

Billed as an exclusive event for fans of her lifestyle blog goop.com, the 40-year-old’s promotional ad read: ‘You and a friend are invited to the private goop event, which begins at 6pm on Friday, June 14.

‘You can munch on appetizers and sip cocktails before goop editor-in-chief Gwyneth Paltrow gives a cooking demonstration. You’ll leave with a signed cookbook.

‘Not only will you meet Gwyneth, you’ll also dine at the Bistro La Promenade restaurant, get the star treatment at Great Jones Spa, and catch 40 winks stay at the 4-star DoubleTree by Hilton Metropolitan New York.’


Robert Downey Jr: I’d go start another Iron Man tomorrow

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Robert Downey Jr wants to start his own franchise (Picture: PA)
Robert Downey Jr wants to start his own franchise (Picture: PA)

Robert Downey Jr has revealed that he would be willing to start work on another Iron Man film ‘tomorrow’.

The actor said he was up for returning to the role of Tony Stark but then promptly poured cold water on hopes that he would actually sign on the dotted line.

He told Entertainment Weekly that the length of time between films could be a problem: ‘I’d go start another one tomorrow but it’s not tomorrow. And there are a lot of other considerations.

‘But I also don’t like the idea of leaving people hanging or leaving people in the lurch.’

Downey Jr recently revealed that his contract with Marvel had run out, casting doubt on whether there would be an Iron Man 4.

It seems the actor has other plans in the pipeline: ‘My intent is to launch another franchise independent of any that I can even imagine right now.

‘My intent is to dominate the playing field for as long as I can, with my own challenges, with myself.’

Meanwhile, Iron Man 3 has passed the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office.

It has become the 16th film in history to pass the epic milestone.


Iron Man 3 earns over $400 million at US box office

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Iron Man 3 has been a huge hit at the box office (Picture: Marvel)
Iron Man 3 has been a huge hit at the box office (Picture: Marvel)

Iron Man 3 has taken over $400 million at the US box office – the first film in 2013 to reach the figure.

According to ComicBook.com, Marvel’s latest instalment has become the 17th film in history to achieve the impressive box office figure.

Iron Man 3 has become the fifth superhero blockbuster to reach the milestone after The Avengers, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises and Spider-Man.

No other film released this year has reached the $300 million mark yet.

Iron Man 3 has been a monster hit for Marvel and has become the fifth highest-grossing film ever after earning $1,203,459,094 at the worldwide box office.

The future of Iron Man 4 is up in the air after Robert Downey Jr revealed his contract with Marvel had expired.

He is currently in talks to reprise his role as Iron Man/Tony Stark in Avengers 2 and 3.

Director Joss Whedon has recently revealed that he has ‘no intention’ of making Avengers 2 without Downey Jr.

He told Daily Beast: ‘He is Iron Man. He is Iron Man in the way that Sean Connery was James Bond.

‘I have no intention of making Avengers 2 without him, nor do I think I’ll be called upon to do that.’

Downey Jr is reportedly campaigning for his Avengers co-stars to get a pay rise for the sequel.


‘I Earn, Man’– Or how Robert Downey Jr. saved the Avengers

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Robert Downey Jr wants to start his own franchise (Picture: PA)
Robert Downey Jr IS Iron Man (Picture: PA)

That’s hyperbole, but hell, you’re reading this now aren’t you? Or maybe you really do hate superhero movies, and instead you’re staring daggers at the Metro Blog page.

Either way, the news that Robert Downey Jr. is set to reprise the Iron Man role  for two further Avengers movies is a good thing for two reasons:

1. Not only did he star in the first movie of Phase 1 of Marvel’s master movie plan: He owned the role. He is Tony Stark, and Tony Stark is he. While we’ve yet to find out if this means he’ll also be coming back for Iron Man 4, it’d be a brave Marvel Studios and an even braver actor that slips on the jet boots. His presence in future Avengers movies means an instant injection of charisma and some much needed gravitas.

The only thing casting doubt on this, well two things really if you count the seemingly closed ending to Iron Man 3, is the huge payday Downey Jr. collected for the first Avengers. Will Marvel want to do that again for both the sequels AND another set of Iron Man films? And will Downey Jr. even want to go back, now he’s rekindled his once faltering career?

2. More importantly, in many ways, is the apparent bond Downey Jr. has formed with the rest of the actors. Being Avengers Prime has given him a strong position in negotiations and this seems to have a knock-on effect for the rest of the actors.

It’s been reported that Downey Jr. won’t stand for his colleagues being treated poorly, and him returning for the sequels, surely means they too are in a strong position which should cement the future of the franchise.

It’s kind of an ugly situation when you think about it. But also a necessary evil as Hollywood is a big money industry. Whether you think of Downey Jr. as the amazing actor behind old Tin Head (I do, I do), or a money-grubbing showboater (go watch Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and shush your face), his return for more Avengers movies means the next few summer blockbuster seasons are going to be stellar.


Sir Ben Kingsley: I was welcomed into the The Iron Man gang

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Sir Ben Kingsley played The Mandarin in Iron Man 3 (Picture: Getty)
Sir Ben Kingsley played The Mandarin in Iron Man 3 (Picture: Getty)

Actor Ben Kingsley talks to Andrew Williams about superheroes and the honours system

Why did you want to do Iron Man 3? I met producer Kevin Feige and loved his description of the character’s arc and he left the previous Iron Man and Avengers films with me.

There’s a confident, elegant style to the films that would intersperse moments of tenderness, comradeship and vulnerability with the action. I found the prospect exciting even before I read the script. I joined the gang and they made me feel very welcome.

Could you identify with your character, The Mandarin? When he’s delivering his political broadcasts, I tried to give him that sense of righteousness that those people seem to have.

I based him on documentary footage I’ve seen over the years. In those political speeches, there’s a profound sense of the speaker’s utter belief that their way forward is designed by destiny and is perfect for the people they are addressing.

Is it saying anything about terrorism more generally today? It’s a hugely entertaining film but in it are things about comradeship, friendship, love, self-doubt and the threat from within and out.

The Mandarin is a clever device. The franchise chose not to make him foreign but to have a homegrown voice – that was clever because a voice that comes from Western culture is a voice they recognise, which I’d imagine is disconcerting to an audience.

You have a knighthood. Do you think the honours system perpetuates class inequality in Britain? It’s more a question of recognising an achievement than perpetuating something you may not find very life-enhancing.

In the US, people stop and chat to you about how much they’ve enjoyed your work. That doesn’t happen so much here, so they have a ritualised way of doing it. It’s part of our culture.

Your sons are actors – have you ever been tempted to use nepotism to help them out? No, they don’t need it. They’re very skilled, very well-trained from Rada and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. They’re more rooted in the classics, which is a great starting point for them. As far as nepotism goes, I don’t have to lift a finger.

Iron Man 3 is out now on DVD, Blu-ray and VoD.


Iron Man 3 beats The Hunger Games and Man of Steel to become the highest-grossing film of the year

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Iron Man 3 has made big bucks at the box office (Picture: Marvel)
Iron Man 3 has made big bucks at the box office (Picture: Marvel)

Iron Man 3 has been named the highest-grossing film of 2013.

The Robert Downey Jr flick topped the list, Yahoo reports, ahead of  Despicable Me 2, Fast and Furious 6 and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Iron Man 3 made a total of $1,215,439,994 at the box office worldwide following its release in May this year.

Fast and Furious 6 fetched $788,679,850 this year with number 2 film Despicable Me 2 making $918,573,535.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which stars Jennifer Lawrence, raked in $771,484,011.

Man of Steel, the latest Superman film, is in fourth place with Monster’s University rounding out the top 5.

****Ruckas Videograbs****  (01322) 861777 *IMPORTANT* Please credit Warner Bros. Pictures for this picture. 10/05/13 Grabs from the first teaser trailer for the film: Gravity STARRING: George Clooney and Sandra Bullock Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone--tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness. The deafening silence tells them they have lost any link to Earth...and any chance for rescue. As fear turns to panic, every gulp of air eats away at what little oxygen is left. But the only way home may be to go further out into the terrifying expanse of space. Office  (UK)  : 01322 861777 Mobile (UK)  : 07742 164 106 **IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ** The video grabs supplied by Ruckas Pictures always remain the copyright of the programme makers, we provide a service to purely capture and supply the images to the client, securing the copyright of the images will always remain the responsibility of the publisher at all times. Standard terms, conditions & minimum fees apply to our videograbs unless varied by agreement prior to publication.
Gravity is one of four original films to make the list (Picture: Warner Bros)

Gravity, Star Trek Into Darkness and Frozen also feature in the top ten, while Disney’s latest animation Frozen, World War Z and Hugh Jackman-starrer The Wolverine appear in the top 20.

A mere four of the top 20 highest-grossing films are original films and not sequels or films based on books, comics or existing intellectual property. They are: The Croods, Pacific Rim, Gravity and Now You See Me.

The top 20 highest-grossing films of 2013 are:

1. Iron Man 3 – $1,215,439,994
2. Despicable Me 2 – $918,573,535
3. Fast & Furious 6 – $788,679,850
4. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – $771,484,011
5. Monsters University – $743,559,607
6. Man of Steel – $662,845,518
7. Gravity – $652,394,288
8. Thor: The Dark World – $627,858,622
9. The Croods – $587,204,668
10. World War Z – $540,007,876
11. Oz the Great and Powerful – $493,311,825
12. Star Trek Into Darkness – $467,365,246
13. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – $426,244,000
14. The Wolverine – $414,828,246
15. Pacific Rim – $407,602,906
16. GI Joe: Retaliation – $375,740,705
17. Frozen – $363,012,773
18. Now You See Me – $351,723,989
19. The Hangover Part III – $351,000,072
20. The Great Gatsby – $348,840,419

The new Captain America is The Falcon and it’s super exciting!

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Marvel: Captain America
The All-New Captain America is Sam Wilson (Picture: Marvel)

A lot of announcements have been coming out of the Marvel camp regarding the comic universe, specifically around some of their top heroes, all falling into their new ‘Avengers Now’ initiative.

So far we have had the news that the new Thor is a woman and that Iron Man has a new suit and the addition of ‘superior’ to his title (which by the way did not work out well for Spider-Man when he got all ‘superior’, so don’t expect Iron Man to be that likeable in his upcoming run, Superior Iron Man #1).

And now we know that The Falcon (Sam Wilson) Marvel’s first African-American superhero will be taking over from Steve Rogers as Captain America in All-New Captain America #1 written by Rick Remender and drawn by Stuart Immonen .

If you are not a comic book reader you may know The Falcon from Captain America: The Winter Soldier, played by the amazing Anthony Mackie (who totally rocked the role).

Yep, Steve Rogers is hanging up his shield and passing the mantle on, mainly because (spoiler ahead if you have not read the comic) in Captain America #21, he was drained of his Super Soldier Serum by Iron Nail and ended up not only frail, but very much looking his actual age.

So pretty much in no shape to physically take down bad guys. Rogers will still be about though, but in more of an advisory role going forward.

The Falcon from Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The Falcon played by Anthony Mackie in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Picture: Marvel)

This isn’t the first time that someone else has taken up the role of Captain America. When Rogers was killed in the aftermath of the Marvel civil war event, Bucky Barnes (The Winter Soldier) took over and The Falcon won’t be the first black Captain America either, early super soldier program subject Isaiah Bradley got in there first.

When news broke that there would be a new Captain America, Sam Wilson’s Falcon taking over was the most logical answer to the question of who it would be, so I am really glad that this is the path that Marvel have pursued, especially, as it is the one that makes the most sense.

The Falcon has been Captain America’s buddy and wingman for a long, long time and understands the importance, the danger, and what it really means to be Captain America. It is a bit like (to refer to an entirely different universe) when Dick Grayson (Robin) became Batman, when Batman was thought to be dead.

MORE: Marvel’s Thor is now a woman and it’s awesome

The Falcon is a very exciting choice mainly because he is so different from Steve Rogers.

Steve Rogers at times was very stuck in his old-timey way of thinking. Mainly because he was super old and came from a whole different time in history when sensibilities and life was very different.

Sam Wilson is unencumbered with that. He is a modern man and very much understands the world and people of today. He also has a social worker background so he knows up close and personal how bad situations can shape people and has an empathy that stretches out to even the worst of society, because for the most part he understands how they got that way. He also holds similar beliefs to Steve Rogers, so there will be a continuity of sorts.

This will be a whole new Captain America, there are a few questions though. Will Sam Wilson get dosed with some Super Soldier Serum? Will the wings be too clunky with the shield? I guess we will have to wait for the first issue to find out!

MORE: 8 things we learned from The Avengers Age of Ultron footage

Guardians of the Galaxy: 6 amazing vocal performances in cinema

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I am Groot! (Credit: Fred Greaves/AP Images for The LEGO Group)

With Guardians of the Galaxy finally out at cinemas, those that have seen the film are coming out in favour of Groot and Rocket.

These two characters are voiced by actors who never actually appear on screen – but with Vin Diesel on hand to utter Groot’s infamous three words ‘I am Groot’ with numerous inflections, and Bradley Cooper bringing the fire-power to Rocket the raccoon, the pair are fast becoming two of the most entertaining and popular vocal performances in cinema.

Of course, many actors have lent their voices to characters over the years or acted as narrator and shared their dulcit tones with audiences. However, just because we don’t see their faces, it doesn’t mean we don’t remember their performances.

Here are some of our top vocal performances.

6. Ian McKellen as the narrator (Stardust)

Ian McKellen took audiences along for a spectacular journey in Stardust (Picture: Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

Ian McKellen has a magical voice, which we have gladly heard plenty of in recent years thanks to The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings films, X-Men and so much more. However, when he lent his voice to Stardust, fans could truly appreciate his voice for what it was and much like how Tristan and Yvaine fell for each other, audiences fell for McKellen’s vocal charms ‘completely’.

5. Liam Neeson as Aslan (The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)

Liam Neeson adds some regal growl to Aslan. (Picture: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

Aslan is the king of these magical, mythical stories and the lion needed a regal voice to match, which Neeson more than delivered. Superb work was put in to the design and animation of the character and Neeson’s deep voice really completed the package beautifully.

4. Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug)

Benedict Cumberbatch brought fire to the dragon Smaug (Picture: AP Photo/Gero Breloer)

The animation of Smaug the dragon was breathtaking and easily one of the most impressive parts of the Hobbit films. So when Bilbo (Martin Freeman) finally encountered the dragon, and started conversing with him, Smaug needed a voice to match the visually awe-inspiring presence of the character. It worked out well then that Benedict Cumberbatch was on hand to converse with his Sherlock co-star and the resulting scene was thoroughly enjoyable to watch.

3. Paul Bettany as Jarvis (Iron Man films)

Paul Bettany makes fans worldwide want their own talking computer (Picture: Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)

It’s hard to imagine that Paul Bettany and Robert Downey Jnr. don’t verbally spar constantly, all day every day – they’re just so good at it! Of course, Bettany simply recorded his lines and they were added in later – yet somehow the banter between computer Jarvis (Bettany) and Iron Man/Tony Stark (Downey Jnr.) feels perfectly natural and is so glorious to watch unfold it probably made a few of us really want our own talking computer (which of course had to sound like Paul Bettany!).

2. Ellen Degeneres as Dory (Finding Nemo)

Ellen Degeners just keeps swimming as Dory (Picture: Katy Winn/Invision/AP)

Dory was funny and endearing and fast became part of the family – and a firm Disney favourite – thanks to Ellen Degeneres’ adorable performance. She brought real emotion and silliness to the role and it worked beautifully opposite the very straight-laced performance of her co-star. She really does just keep swimming too, with a sequel in the works.

1. James Earl Jones as Darth Vader

James Earl Jones is one of the most popular film voices in history (Picture: Lucas Jackson/Reuters)

Though he never stepped into the actual suit, James Earl Jones’ voice ensured that Darth Vader would go down as one of the most notorious and popular characters in cinema history. His deep voice made the character unsettling and intriguing and it’s hard to imagine there’s another actor who could have delivered that infamous line with as much of a powerful impact as James Earl Jones managed.

Legendary cinema worker creates Iron Man suit with arc reactor and helmet for just £50

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Peter Bruce shows off his home-made Iron Man suit. See MASONS story MNIRON: Film nut Peter Bruce is hoping to win best costume at a geek competition after transforming himself into IRON MAN. Peter, 28, made the body of the costume with cardboard and papier mache and painted it red. He created a cavity in the chest plate and used an old jar lid he found in his kitchen and a £10 LED light for the arc reactor. The cinema worker spent three months and just £50 preparing for the CamCon event in Cambridge. He has been walking around the city in the outfit and said: "I get high fives in the street, people shaking my hand, wanting selfies."
Peter Bruce’s costume should make you hella jealous (Picture: SWNS)

Cinema worker Peter Bruce has created a work of art with just £50.

Crafted on a limited budget and using basic materials, Peter’s Iron Man suit is something to make all other cosplayers green with envy.

Over three months, the 28-year-old made the body out of cardboard and papier mache, which he painted red, and made the arc reactor with a ten quid LED light and a lid from an old jar he found in his kitchen.

He also created a helmet for the suit, which he can put on to block out the haters.

His hard work, in a bid to win best costume at the CamCon event in Cambridge, has obviously been attracting a lot of attention.

Peter Bruce shows off his home-made Iron Man suit. See MASONS story MNIRON: Film nut Peter Bruce is hoping to win best costume at a geek competition after transforming himself into IRON MAN. Peter, 28, made the body of the costume with cardboard and papier mache and painted it red. He created a cavity in the chest plate and used an old jar lid he found in his kitchen and a £10 LED light for the arc reactor. The cinema worker spent three months and just £50 preparing for the CamCon event in Cambridge. He has been walking around the city in the outfit and said: "I get high fives in the street, people shaking my hand, wanting selfies."
Peter and his incredible budget creation (Picture: SWNS)

‘I get high fives in the street, people shaking my hand, wanting selfies’ Peter said.

Peter Bruce's home-made Iron Man suit shown during it's construction. See MASONS story MNIRON: Film nut Peter Bruce is hoping to win best costume at a geek competition after transforming himself into IRON MAN. Peter, 28, made the body of the costume with cardboard and papier mache and painted it red. He created a cavity in the chest plate and used an old jar lid he found in his kitchen and a £10 LED light for the arc reactor. The cinema worker spent three months and just £50 preparing for the CamCon event in Cambridge. He has been walking around the city in the outfit and said: "I get high fives in the street, people shaking my hand, wanting selfies."
The arc reactor is made from a £10 LED light (Picture: SWNS)

Creating an Iron Man suit on a budget? Tony Stark would be impressed.

Composite image of Peter Bruce showing off his home-made Iron Man suit. See MASONS story MNIRON: Film nut Peter Bruce is hoping to win best costume at a geek competition after transforming himself into IRON MAN. Peter, 28, made the body of the costume with cardboard and papier mache and painted it red. He created a cavity in the chest plate and used an old jar lid he found in his kitchen and a £10 LED light for the arc reactor. The cinema worker spent three months and just £50 preparing for the CamCon event in Cambridge. He has been walking around the city in the outfit and said: "I get high fives in the street, people shaking my hand, wanting selfies."
Of course the suit isn’t capable of flight, but here’s what it would look like (Picture: SWNS)

This Chinese man has crafted an awesome homemade Iron Man costume, because Iron Man

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Zhang Licheng's real life Iron Man costume
Yes folks, it’s an actual Iron Man costume (*excitement*) (Picture: Reuters)

As superhero devotion goes, this particular Iron Man admirer may just have attained new heights.

Because not content with simply trotting along to the cinema to see the Robert Downey Jr franchise, Chinese fan Zhang Licheng has gone a step further and transformed himself in to the character with the help of this home made costume.

According to reports the outfit, which cost around 3000 Chinese yuan (£294) – largely for spray paint – was six months in the making with Zhang working on his creation for around four hours a day.

And why did he make it? Well, apparently, the security contractor claims, it was to ‘amuse’ his three-year-old son.

Zhang Licheng homemade iron man costume
The security contractor spent six months working on his costume (Picture: Reuters)

We have to admit – based on what we’ve seen here – that his efforts appear to have been worth it.

Zhang is, however, not the first person to ‘transform’ himself in to Iron Man, with cinema worker Peter Bruce also recently unveiling his own homemade homage to the character.

MORE: This Chinese man spent his life savings on a Tron light cycle. There’s just one problem…

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