Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner are just a few actresses who’ve fallen short in superhero movies over the last few years. But now, could a million-dollar baby be in training to take on another underdog battle?
Marvel Studios mega-producer Avi Arad confirmed to us for the first time over the weekend that 2-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank filmed some top-secret moments for “Iron Man,” the highly-anticipated superhero flick due in theaters next May. The news raises eyebrows not only because it isn’t the type of film Swank normally appears in, but also because it could be assumed that her role would lay the groundwork for a future, bigger Marvel appearance. The rumor mill first began circulating Swank’s name after director Jon Favreau capitalized the “s” in “Swank” in a MySpace blog post.
“How do you know [about that]?,” a stunned Arad replied when asked about Swank. After a few beats, he admitted: “It’s a cameo.”
Following along the lines of secret “Iron Man” actors, the man behind the “Spider-Man” and “X-Men” films dodged a question about Samuel L. Jackson’s foreshadowing scenes as Nick Fury, saying “I can’t talk about that.”
Clearly a bit frustrated, Arad then amended himself. “The Sam thing was supposed to be the biggest secret of them all,” he shrugged. “It’s amazing how it got out.”
Nevertheless, the existence of Jackson’s hard-boiled superspy reveals a newfound willingness by Marvel to begin mimicking the way its comics mix different characters into each other’s storylines on a regular basis.
“It’s because now we have control over the properties,” Arad explained, citing the new era of Marvel funding such upcoming flicks as “Iron Man,” “Nick Fury” and “Captain America,” after a decade of holding hands with studios like Sony for Spider-Man or Fox for The Fantastic Four. “Now you can mix and match. It used to be different studios having different characters.”
“You try and get three major studios to sit together and cross [promote],” he laughed. It’s too tough.”
On the Spider-Man front, Arad (who is shifting gears considerably with August 3rd’s “Bratz: The Movie”) gave us this update: “We’re starting on our journey for number 4. We’re just at the beginning of the process, feeling it, and feeling where we want to go.”
Based on Arad’s comments, however, fans might find it hard to not feel a bit speculative as to why a double-Oscar winning A-list actress would make a cameo in a superhero movie. Since “Iron Man” is laying the groundwork for the “Nick Fury” movie that Marvel hopes to begin filming relatively soon, one theory is that Swank will be a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent alongside Sam the man.
But just as probable, it seems, is speculation that Swank might be setting herself up for a starring superhero flick down the line. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned from her last award-winning performance, it’s that she certainly has the physique to pull it off.
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Jennifer Walters (pre She-Hulk). Perhaps as a colleague of Tony Starks?
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:15 pm
She’s probably Black Widow (Natasha Romanova)
July 24th, 2007 at 3:00 am
What about Janet Pym. She is a scientist and a socialite.
July 24th, 2007 at 7:37 am
Sharon Carter (Agent 13) S.H.I.E.L.D Agent and Captain America’s main squeeze. They must be setting her up for the Cap movie.
July 24th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
my guess is Black Widow as well… She’d want to do an accent or some other tweak to mentally “justify” it on her Oscar laden resume…
July 24th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Carol Danvers
July 24th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
All of these are good guesses, but I’d have to say either Black Widow or Sharon Carter. It makes sense, because the Cap movie is supposed to be next after the new Hulk film. She could play either character in the Cap film, and it should be considered that her next appearance after Iron Man would be relatively soon…
July 24th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Sharon Carter is so boring. They wouldn’t bring in a big name actress in to play Sharon Carter, please. She barely gets any page time in the comics as is, you know?
I’m going to suspect with Black Widow or Ms. Marvel; both have ties to SHIELD and each are great female character in their right and both are easily played by Hilary Swank. I’m rooting for Ms. Marvel though I know that it probably won’t happen.
July 25th, 2007 at 4:07 am
I’ll put my money on two characters that Swank might play…
The Wasp
OR
Black Widow.
Sam L. Jackson to play Nick Fury? Don’t know that’s a good idea… I’d love him to play another Avengers member named Falcon.
I’d prefer if they could get George Clooney or Al Pacino to be Nick Fury.
July 25th, 2007 at 7:36 am
Four words; Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel).
July 26th, 2007 at 3:02 am
uh obviously someone didn’t or hasn’t read “The Ultimates” by Marvel.
The series is a remake and update of “The Avengers”, which the writers took 40 years of continuity and flipped it on its head, sorted them out, then refreshed a superhero team that had been stagnant and confusing for so long. With the idea of updating “The Avengers” for the 21st Century,the writers took the initiative and not only wrote a great story that retells the rebirth of Captain America but also brought in the idea that if they had wanted to see this superhero team on film, how would they like it to be viewed?
Drawn in huge, long “Michael Bay” shots and realistic backdrops, then to massive action involving “The Hulk” fighting the team in downtown New York City, but in all this, a great dialog constantly keeping things in time and entertaining. Little things that were cool such as the writers and artist’s descision to update “Nick Fury” by using Samuel Jackson’s likeness and attitude which breathes realism to a character had it been anyone else would be boring and not in relation to the story.
If anyone not in the “Know” of comic books has any questions on what they should pick up at the loca store, the first two collections of “the Ultimates ” are available at Barnes and Noble and ALL COMIC BOOK STORES.
Plus Samuel Jackson IS NICK FURY DAMMIT!!!!
July 26th, 2007 at 3:07 am
come on guys….IT IS THE BLACK WIDOW, DUH!!!
plus she is too, wayyy too short for sharon carter.
P.S I PREDICT “THE AVENGERS MOVIE” by 2013
August 27th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Swank as Black Widow sounds about right.
March 11th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
I like this girl very much, but i don´t know if she could fit with the character very well,separately, think she´d look so sexy wearing that outfit, because of her well-built and athletic body, obviously this includes her fleshy ass, and i don´t wanna mention about her breasts, hehe..greetings
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Black Widow or Sharon Carter (Capt. Am. and
S.H.I.E.L.D. tie ins would make her perfect)
Ms. Marvel is a bit out there when it comes
to powers and style, but if Marvel wants to
push that character, well..
What do you think about Capt. America though?
The good ol’ “dead” Cpt. or the “new/bucky”.?
May 5th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Looks like Swank wasn’t in Iron Man after all.
http://thebraxcave.com/2008/05/05/no-swank-accomodations-after-all/