Speaking at the LA Times Hero Complex Film Festival before a double bill of Iron Man films, Robert Downey Jr and Jon Favreau talked a bit about Favreau’s involvement with the third film.
Favreau directed the first two Iron Man films, but stepped aside for Shane Black to direct the third. Black directed Kiss Kiss Bang Bang with Downey Jr.
In the discussion, Favreau hinted very strongly that he would return as Tony Stark’s bodyguard Happy Hogan, saying: “I want a love scene with Pepper Potts with my shirt on and I want to transform into the Freak.”
In the comics, Happy was mutated into a giant, savage, nearly mindless, superhumanly strong humanoid known as Freak after an experiment to cure an illness went awry.
Shane Black, writer of Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout and The Long Kiss Goodnight , consulted on the scripts for the previous Iron Man films, adding some much needed pep to the dialogue, and suggesting edits.
Downey Jr said: “Well Shane, interestingly enough, there was a point when Jon and I were stuck on an idea. We were just in an exploratory phase. So I said, ‘We should talk to Shane.’”
It seems that Favreau is willing to return the favour and help out with anything Shane Black might need.
Iron Man 3 is pencilled in for 3 May 2013.
