Earlier this month THR reported Shane Black had been chatting with Marvel and was on the studio’s radar for the Iron Man 3 directing gig that Jon Favreau vacated. Now evidence is beginning to mount that Mr. Black is inching closer to securing a deal.
Last night Variety ran a story stating Black is “closing in” on the Iron Man 3 directing job. No other potential candidates were mentioned in the report – the same with THR’s earlier report – suggesting Black is the only man Marvel is after at this time.
What’s curious about Shane Black directing Iron Man 3 is like Jon Favreau when he was hired to direct Iron Man, Black has no experience directing a summer tentpole. He did direct Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang with Robert Downey Jr. back in 2005, a fun but underexposed film not many had the pleasure of watching (available here on Blu-ray at Amazon for only $10). Black also wrote or co-wrote the screenplays for the original Mel Gibson and Danny Glover Lethal Weapon, The Monster Squad and The Last Boy
Iron Man 3 has already been scheduled as the first post-Avengers film set in that universe with a May 3, 2013 release date. That may become an issue with Black’s schedule as he’s already committed to direct Warner Bros. Death Note and is attached to developing Doc Savage for Sony. There’s still plenty of time between now and when Iron Man 3 would begin production so hopefully Black and Marvel can work things out.
Source: Variety
