Here’s a thought. So, if everything goes as the wags speculate, tonight Mickey Rourke will win a Best Actor Oscar for his electrifying, heartbreaking turn in “The Wrestler.” Hopefully he’ll provide another wondrous acceptance speech, like at yesterday’s Indie Spirit’s. He’ll probably reign it it, but all the awards in the world won’t fill up the Chihuahua-sized hole in his heart.
But where does this leave “Iron Man 2,” in which Rourke is in talks to portray the chief villain (either armor-clad Soviet the Crimson Dynamo or psychotic Stark technician Whiplash, or some other baddie, according to various trade reports)?
Word is that Marvel is only offering Rourke $250, 000 for the performance. Now, not too long ago, when Rourke was covering himself in prosthetics and shooting movies in Robert Rodriguez’s garage, this probably would have been acceptable. But if he wins tonight then his asking price will undoubtedly skyrocket and Marvel will be out of luck.
Their options: pay him a little more (begrudgingly, no doub) now and secure him for “Iron Man 2.” Or wait until tomorrow when his price rises astronomically and be completely shit out of luck. The clock is ticking.
Keep in mind that Marvel’s notorious cheapness has already led to the replacement of Terrence Howard with Don Cheadle and may cancel plans for Samuel L. Jackson’s S.H.I.E.L.D. squad leader Nick Fury to return for the sequel. Time will tell as Marvel wrestles with paying “The Wrestler.” – Drew Taylor
