EXCLUSIVE: The ever secretive Marvel Studios is in final negotiations with Shane Black to direct Iron Man 3 set to be released on May 3, 2013. As you know , IM1 and IM2 director Jon Favreau begged off to helm Magic Kingdom at Disney so his relationship with the franchise ran its course. Shane is first and foremost a writer but it’s not clear whether he’ll be penning the IM3 script as well. “That’s not figured out,” our source says. Of course, everyone in and around Marvel is keeping mum. But Black has a long relationship with Robert Downey Jr since Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. Not only did Shane make his directing debut on the 2005 cult favorite he co-wrote, but it helped re-launch Downey Jr’s career.
When news leaked out that Marvel was meeting with several directors including Shane, fanboys approved. So they should exult now that negotiations are wrapping up with Black’s agency WME and manager David Greenblatt’s GreenLit Creative. We recall the days way back when that unknown Black submitted a spec script over the transom to Greenblatt who was then a young ICM lit agent. Greenblatt in those days read scripts by wannabes and the two became an inseparable team that continues to this day. (For the uninitiated, Greenblatt was one of the founders of Endeavor, which is now WME.) Black was the screenwriter behind Lethal Weapon 1 and 2 and The Last Boy Scout, and, in the 1980s and 1990s one of the highest paid writers in the action genre. He then decided to go have a life and segue into directing as well. Shane is back and busy now. He’s working on Doc Savage, Sony’s action project based on the classic pulp hero, and Warner Bros Warner Bros recently hired him to direct a live action adaptation of the Japanese manga series Death Note and oversee a script that’s being written by Anthony Bagarozzi and Charles Mondry, his accomplices on Doc Savage. So let this be a lesson to all you agents who get so arrogant about out-of-the-blue submissions: read every wannabe’s screenplay you can get your hands on.
Kick ass! Great choice. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang was a lot of smart fun.
Finally, The Iron Man franchise in capable hands…
Come on.
That wasn’t nice.
Favreau managed was such a great job with Iron Man 1.
iron man 2 was way better than the first Iron man
What was the spec he sent to Greenblatt?
I believe it was Lethal Weapon.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang hardly translates to directing a franchise. VERY odd choice. We’ll have to wait and see.
and favreau wasn’t an odd choice to direct the first ironman?
No, he had a massive hit with Elf.
I’m on board with Mr. B, if the direcor’s film made money he must be a great director and have relevant experience to do whatever film he wants regardless of genre or actual artistic capacity. In fact that’s why I’m lobbying for Micheal Bay to do a Big Lebowski sequel. *sighs*.
The ball hits the pins, CUT TO: GIANT EXPLOSION (works every time)
Either was Insomnia (Nolan) or Zathura (Fav), but they managed. Well execpt for Jon Favs. Only if he had more control for Iron Man 2, a film that I didn’t particularly care for.
Also, Shane Black has worked with some of the biggest action directors in Hollywood. Plus he invented the 80s action genre so he’ll do fine.
Marvel’s other directorial choices were all odd too… Favreau, Leterrier, Wright, Branagh, Johnston, Sollett and now Black.
(… even though we’re still waiting on Wright and Sollett’s films to move forward…)
Not odd at all – smart. This way they don’t have to pay bloated salaries for the so called top directors.
Bingo. If anyone’s been paying attention to Marvel headlines on Deadline at all, they’ll realize Marvel will sacrifice Kevin Feige’s first born child to save a buck.
I dunno. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was pretty much Robert Downey Jr’s comeback film. He’s huge now. And when asked who he wouldn’t mind working with, I don’t think Shane Black is that much of a stretch.
The guy writes some of the biggest blockbusters ever. And KKBB was very under appreciated. (Great use of Val Kilmer too).
I resent the implication that screenwriters do not have “lives.” My life is very fulfilling. Why just today I spilled coffee on my laptop and got thrown out of Starbucks for cursing.
Although I think IM1 + 2 are great, SB is a much needed jolt to the IM franchise. Good choice!
Love Shane, he’s a great choice. Perfect opportunity to explore Stark’s “demons” and take IM to a deeper level character-wise.
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang stands as one of the most underrated and overlooked pictures of the last decade. Hopefully this gives him the clout to pen a sequel.
Favreau didn’t have a franchise worthy showreel either but still made 2 decent films.
Really… two decent films?
Which two?
People thought Jon Favreau was an odd choice for Iron Man, except Zathura showcased he could direct sci-fi/action. As soon as RDJ was announced for Iron Man, I immediately rented the fantastic Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, and I knew he was a great choice for Stark/IM. And I think Shane will knock this out of the park!
Heath
This makes me happy
Cool choice, Marvel, and quite unexpected. The way you handled Favreau sucked big time. Now look at that mess called “Iron Man 2″. Learn your lesson or prepare to lose the masses. Let Black do his thing. Cool action, great dialogue, maybe a hint of message. And don’t get into the creator’s way. That way suckage lies.
One prior directing job (on a low budget flick), lands him a 150 mill. budget to direct. Completely insane – only in Hollywood. Who are the executives? College kids? Gimme a break!!!!
Pretty sure this was the star’s request. Happens all the time.
True. He did bring RDJ back from the grave. Glad RDJ can return the favor – Shane hasn’t gotten a writing or directing job in 6 years.
How did Shane Black bring RDJ back from the dead????? A movie that made one sixth the gross of Wonder Boys a few years before, where RDJ was better and got better reviews and it made better money and it had better publicity and it didn’t suck and…
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, that tripe POS, had nothing to do with RDJ’s “comeback.” He was already working with Clooney and Fincher before it came out, even before it shot, gimme a break.
Granted, Shane Black is not a hack. Shane Black is better than KKBB. Perfectly willing to give him a shot. But, seriously, he was not a “principal creative force as a writer” in a bunch of blockbusters (see post below) — he wrote Lethal Weapon, and not the sequels, and that’s the only hit he wrote!!
So, if anybody reading this is only hoping for one blockbuster (or blockbuster franchise — again, see post below), well then you are hoping for exactly as much as Mr. Black is responsible for. Granted (again), that’s a lot. But let’s not pretend he’s something he’s not. Like a director.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang came out in ’05. Zodiac ’07. KKBB made people remember how great and charming RDJ is and that we missed him. Despite it’s BO, the film got a lot of press and is a bona-fide cult classic.
I think Black is perfect for the job. The Tony Stark character is a perfect match for Black’s sensibilities.
It’s so funny, and sad, how short memories here are. Shane Black was a principal creative force, as a writer, in more blockbusters than almost anyone reading this could possibly hope for. He’s not an old man by any stretch either.
KKBB was a great directing job. Good choice, Marvel. Now, stay out of the way and let Black deliver.
Awesome! Hopefully, he can get Iron Man back on track after the slightly disappointing Iron Man 2, which, instead of expanding on the first movie and taking it to greater heights, was a bit more of the same. It certainly wasn’t no The Dark Knight.
Shane HACK??
Thanks, but no thanks. Wake me up when you find a real, capable director.
Have you written and directed anything as entertaining as KIss Kiss Bang Bang? Didn’t think so.
You should write headlines for the NY Post with the eloquent zingers you dish out.
Glad to know you’re above watching an action film directed by the man who defined the action genre in 80′s. Oh that’s right, he was but a writer then so what could he possibly know about directing, besides the fact Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was a terrific film.
May I suggest a little something for you, Dave. Have you read INFINITE JEST by David Foster Wallace? You must, you really must. But I digress. Shane Black is no hack. On the contrary.
Why dont you direct it
Considering Iron Man 2 is unwatchable they could hire pretty much anyone to get this franchise back on track. Black is good a choice as anyone… it’s not like he’s directing Godfather 4.
If he is using Godfather 3 as a guide, he does not have to aim very high…
Interesting choice indeed. Dunno if it will work out but I will reserve my judgment until I’ve seen Thor and Captain America to know if Marvel can choose directors wisely.
I am feeling an unbelievably strong tingle in my special place. Oh, i have just had an accident. please make him also write the words tony stark says.
I like shane, he is always super nice!
Does “Black Swan” translate to directing “Wolverine”? Did “The Usual Suspects” translate to “X-Men” or “X2″?
How about “Memento,” “Insomnia” or “The Prestige” to the “Batman” franchise? Or, closer to this, “Iron Man,” from the director of “Zathura” and “Elf”?
Odd logic, man.
This is a fantastic decision. Shane knows story first and foremost. The second “Iron Man” was a turd. Get rid of Justin Theroux and you’ll have a good start.
Congratulations Shane! Happy for you!!! X
I think it is a pretty inspired choice. Hoping he’ll still do Death Note too.
How can anyone hate on someone who brought us the original “Lethal Weapon?” “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang” was also a very good movie. This is an excellent choice for the “Iron Man” franchise.
People need to stop hating so much on this site. It’s getting really obnoxious.
Shane Black will run away with IM3. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang was brilliant. he’s the perfect guy for the job. no one writes action comedy like Mr. Black.
hmmmm.
A core of the IM franchise is sharp dialogue exchanges. Even if Shane Black fulfills the prophecy only nolan,jackson, and coppola have escaped, he might ruin the franchise in style lol.
Yes! Love him! He’s a great guy and a great writer/director. Inspired choice.