It’s been rumored for some time now that Mickey Rourke was in talks to join the much anticipated Iron Man 2. There was word of a certain salary (a pitiful $250,000) being offered and then negotiations to increase said price going on.
Needless to say, Rourke’s recent success on the award circuit for his role in The Wrestler helped out a bit with negotiations (Rourke won the Golden Globe and received an Academy Award nomination). Variety is reporting that the Oscar nominated actor has now officially signed and will play Russian villain Whiplash, who will be modeled somewhat after comic book baddie Crimson Dynamo. This will be Rourke’s first major studio film in quite some time. He joins Robert Downey, Jr., Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson and Don Cheadle on the cast of the movie. Production
Iron Man 2 will be directed by Jon Favreau. It is still a ways off, with a theatrical release date of May 7, 2010.
i predict that Mickey Rourke will be a friggin great villain