Drones, Fin Fang Foom in ‘Iron Man 2′

Published by Jeff Leins on: January 21st, 2010

Two years ago, around the time the original Iron Man was release, rumors emerged that the sequel would continue the story of “The Ten Rings,” the terrorist organization that imprisons Tony Stark in the cave.

“The Ten Rings” is also a reference to the powerful magical fingerware used by comic book archenemy Mandarin.  At the time, speculation was Mandarin would also summon Fin Fang Foom, an ancient dragon that helped take over the world in the comics.  Of course, magic rings and massive dragons don’t really fit the realism of the Marvel movie universe, so that villain concept disappeared.

In an interview with Super Robot Mayhem (via Screenrant), concept artist Adi Granov confirmed Fin Fang Foom will make an appearance in Iron Man 2 this May.  Well, more of a brief cameo.

“This image in particular [included to the right, click to enlarge] was done for [“Iron Man 2”] and used as a billboard in one of the scenes where Iron Man flies past it. It’s very quick, but Jon [Favreau] wanted to have a kind of a cool easter egg in there.” Very cool.

Meanwhile, Favreau also spoke with the LA Times’ Hero Complex this week and talked a little about how Stark’s public identity as Iron Man creates a new range of problems for the character.  He told the site they were able to draw on Robert Downey Jr. and his own experiences with being thrust into the spotlight as celebrities.  ”Usually the hero is forced to live an even more bifurcated existence between the esteemed persona of the superhero version of himself and the humble or disguised existences of his secret-identity self… There are only so many stories there. We’re flying in a different direction,” Favreau said.

Finally, you may remember at the end of the theatrical trailer Tony Stark (RDJ) and James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) flip their helmets down and unleash bullets on a set of advancing armored robots.  Not much was known about the encroaching threat… until now.

According to Diamond Select Toys, Iron Man and War Machine will square off against an entire squad of those drones at some point in the sequel.  The website even has images of their Minimate toys, which reveal various types that will cover the land, sea, and air, as well as a tactical drone and a “Hammer Drone,” presumably controlled by Stark’s corporate rival Justin Hammer (played by Sam Rockwell).

Take a look at the squad in the picture below.  Justin Hammer and the Drones.  It sounds like a rock band.  Or maybe… heavy metal.  I’m a dork.