You only have to go back to December for another reminder of Hollywood’s continued archaic thinking when it comes women, franchises and merchandise. At the time, controversy arose when Daisy Ridley‘s Rey — the main character of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” — was left out of some toys and products for the blockbuster. “We know what sells. No boy wants to be given a product with a female character on it,” an insider was reportedly told at Lucasfilm meetings about the toy launch for ‘The Force Awakens.’ It underscores an industry trend that sees product lines developed with a male audience in mind foremost, with women and girls as potential customers perhaps not even considered. And under the Disney umbrella, another recent movie was adjusted due to such thinking.
READ MORE: Review: ‘Iron Man 3’ Is A Solid, Sometimes Surprising Start To Marvel’s Phase Two Movies
With “The Nice Guys” opening on Friday (our review), director Shane Black is doing the rounds and chatting with Uproxx, he reveals that Marvel forced him to change the gender of the villain Killian in “Iron Man 3.”
“All I’ll say is this, on the record: There was an early draft of ‘Iron Man 3’ where we had an inkling of a problem. Which is that we had a female character who was the villain in the draft. We had finished the script and we were given a no-holds-barred memo saying that cannot stand and we’ve changed our minds because, after consulting, we’ve decided that toy won’t sell as well if it’s a female,” he explained. “So, we had to change the entire script because of toy making. Now, that’s not [Kevin] Feige. That’s Marvel corporate, but now you don’t have that problem anymore.”
Oof. Not a great look for Marvel, and as Black hints, this might’ve been a decision at the level of former executive Ike Perlmutter, who is no longer involved with Marvel Studios. All this to say, Black had a somewhat rocky time making “Iron Man 3,” but through it all, has remained pals with Robert Downey Jr. And apparently, if and when “Iron Man 4” should ever happen, RDJ has a curious choice for who he’d like to direct.
READ MORE: Robert Downey Jr. Doesn’t Think There Will Be An ‘Iron Man 4’
“I think he wants Mel Gibson to direct it. And for good reason. Mel was great to him. Mel’s been really nice to a lot of people, including me,” Black explained about the “Lethal Weapon” star. “I’ll go on record saying I don’t believe anyone should be held accountable in any way for something they say while they are drunk. It’s not who they are. I know this because I’ve said horrible things to people and made them feel bad. And it wasn’t who I was, I was just drunk. Mel’s a great guy and I understand his new directing project [‘Hacksaw Ridge‘] is actually quite interesting.”
Certainly, both Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. have been there for each other when they’ve both been at career low points, so it’s understandable if they can find something to do together, they would. But I highly doubt Marvel would touch the still quite controversial Mel Gibson with a 100 foot pole, even with the clout RDJ carries in the MCU. But it’s good to think about. Hey, if “Hacksaw Ridge” really is all that, and Gibson can really show he’s rehabilitated, I suppose stranger things have happened.
Kids needed Guy Pearce action figures.
Deep down, we know Guy Pearce bought every single one for himself.
hahah
This is a problem with Disney specifically… Guardians of the Galaxy had the same problem when Saldana’s and Gillan’s characters were two of the only major characters left off of the first run of toys for that release. I had 3 nephews aged 9-14 at the time and even they recognized that as a bullshit move.
I agree with the Mel Gibson statement. I was skeptical too of him but I looked up what he was doing now. About a year ago a journalist who absolutely hated Gibson years ago got in contact with him and started talking to him over the years after the controversy. The journalist ultimately takes a huge U-turn on their view of Gibson, calling him a man of deep regret who has a lot of good heart underneath. In the interview, the journalist says Gibson takes full responsibility for his bitter statements but also admits he felt the way he did out of how, during production of “Passion of the Christ”, he was receiving death threats and hate mail from Jewish parties. He did not use this to excuse himself but to give perspective to his side, that hate works both ways. And I agree. I would love to see Gibson handle “Iron Man 4”. He would handle it in a very intelligent way, really dealing with the socio-political aspects of the character. I think we forgive everyone in that industry for doing much worse. May I remind everyone that Mike Tyson, the guy who a few years ago was biting ears off and allegedly raped his own girlfriend, has been raised on a fucking pedestal in the last few years, with even a flipping documentary made about him. If we can forgive that, than a guy who drunkenly got pissed at a girl over the phone after years of getting it from others we can give somewhat of a break I think. And ultimately, let’s be sure. His friends are, among others, Robert Downey Jr., probably one of the most popular actors out there, Jodie Foster, the most liberal feminist on the planet, and others who people in turn adore. I don’t agree with making the villain in “Iron Man 3” a male (Although I will point out Killian is originally a male in the comic book from which “Iron man 3” was partially inspired by which is the Extremis storyline), but Black is a pretty laid-back guy in an industry of extremists and that’s refreshing because anyone else would put Gibson on a pike if they had a chance which feels somewhat hypocritical. That’s my thoughts on that.
well said!
Could you provide a link to the Gibson interview you’re talking about? Sounds really interesting.
Sure. It was actually March 2014 so two years ago but the arguments presented still hold up. Very well-written and thorough article/interview. Enjoy!:
http://deadline.com/2014/03/mel-gibson-career-hollywood-deserves-chance-697084/
Thank you!
No problem! Please let me know what you think of it. I’m curious to see if I’m on point.
Mel gibson = boycott. Let that man just die into obscurity. He has hurt enough people.
Downey youre bocotted to punk.
Big man. Oh but let’s keep in Downey is the highest paid actor in Hollywood and that Gibson is returning to directing this year. So, maybe, take your anger somewhere else. Course if you want to sound better than everyone…frikkin’ spell correctly.
Generation wuss folks ^^^^^^*
And yet smarter than you and less of a jackass. Who would think it huh?! 😉
Um no one cause you be lying to yourself. Love muffin.
There is only one person lying to themselves here sweety and it’s the moron saying RDJ, the highest paid actor in Hollywood, is out. I mean how stupid can you get or how much of a mainstream hater do you have to be to be in such denial of a star’s popularity?
Youre so sad. Can i get you a tissue?
I don’t need pity from an obvious internet troll.
Says the troll
Oh you’re SO clever. Sarcastic round of applause all around!:
http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/srcstc.gif
Youre such a little wuss. Run to yo momma pu$$y ?
Oh my! The big man troll talks more shit, probably would get his ass kicked in real life. The internet was made for pathetic people like you SupportR. Encore, encore!:
http://a.disquscdn.com/get?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.reactiongifs.com%2Fr%2Fsrcstc.gif&key=GeU0gqO4maYKSwY0NIGIuQ&w=800&h=189
More!:
http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/slow_clap_citizen_kane.gif
More!!:
http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/slow_clap_citizen_kane.gif
More!!!:
http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/slow_clap_citizen_kane.gif
http://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/slow_clap_citizen_kane.gif
You’re real fucking original. “Let’s boycott bad people” without doing any research like a self-righteous prick. You would have gotten along well with the hypocrites on “Hangover Part II” who stood together to keep “evil” Gibson from joining the cast…yet kept on the rapist boxer. Selective hate huh? Prick.
Wow youre an idiot. Mel gibson has been hating gays jews and blacks since his 20/20 interview nearly 20 years ago. Stop being an idiot. Mel gibson is evil racist anti semetic and overal a bad dude who does not get another chance. RDJ is now out too.
RDJ just got paid $40 million for “Civil War”…I very much doubt he’s out. Especially because he got Disney to increase his role in “Civil War”. You call me an idiot and you don’t even know what you’re talking about. You’re on the fucking internet…use google dumbshit! Like seriously if this was before the internet you could get away with making these outrageous claims but now anyone can look up one of Gibson’s most famous co-stars is black actor Danny Glover. They did four films together and were always noted for their chemistry. Director Richard Donner specifically noted this back in 1984…over 20 years ago! The expression “hater” is usually a lame term used to disagree with someone without cause but for you it’s quite appropriate. You’re the only idiot here sir.
I’d like Mel to be able to direct IM4 if only to give his career a boost. But I’d much rather see Hacksaw Ridge be a success so Mel can finally do his Viking movie!
Isn’t the Mel Gibson thing old news? He said this a couple of years ago.
I think Shane was reiterating it though because, obviously, “Iron Man 3” left an infamous mark for a lot of reasons (I personally liked it but whatever). He said this recently during a “Nice Guys” press release or something right? Probably would help promote him and the film if he looked very pro-feminist with a strong female character that got booted. Again, silly since Killian was in fact a male in the comics but again whatever.