Jon Favreau helmed the 2008 and 2010 installments of Marvel Studios’ Iron Man. The success of the movies, along with other MCU films such as The Avengers, paved the way for a new empire of comic book films. So, why did the Iron Man director severed ties with the franchise?
It came as a shock to everyone when Favreau announced he wouldn’t return to direct the third Iron Man movie and instead, he would work on Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Most fans expected to hear he had issues with the studio, but he claimed he was looking for another project that “lights a fire” in him.
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Iron Man Director Jon Favreau Was Not A Fan Of MCU Crossovers
Jon Favreau is best known for his role as Happy Hogan in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although he returned to his iconic bodyguard role, he did not come back as a director.
Speaking with MTV News, Favreau revealed he dropped out of helming Iron Man 3 after feeling quite spent creating the first two installments. Apparently, he was not thrilled with the idea of superhero crossovers and team-ups. He stated:
“In theory, Iron Man 3 is going to be a sequel or continuation of Thor, Hulk, Captain America, and Avengers. This whole world… I have no idea what it is. I don’t think they do either, from conversations I’ve had with those guys.”
During this time, Marvel Studios was still figuring out how to create a massive yet cohesive universe that would tie up all heroes from different franchises. Favreau claimed he was excited to see what the studio has in store for the third installment, though he won’t be part of it anymore.
The director also indicated that the flow of Marvel movies from start to finish made it difficult to predict what to expect in Iron Man 3. In fact, he did not know what would happen to Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark in the said film.
When Favreau left the project, Downey Jr. suggested Shane Black to take over the movie. They had a great relationship from a previous work that marked the actor’s career comeback.
Jon Favreau Had No Bitter Feelings Towards Kevin Feige After Leaving Iron Man Franchise
After Jon Favreau announced his departure from the Iron Man franchise, he revealed to the Los Angeles Times that there was no animosity between him and the studio. He shared:
“Marvel and I both came of age together. The years that we shared were a pivotal experience. Kevin has a firm grasp on the many franchises and how they all interweave, and I am happy that I had the opportunity to establish the world that these characters can now play in…”
Even though Favreau did not return to the director’s seat, he still served as a producer for a couple of MCU movies, including Iron Man 3 and The Avengers.
“Iron Man has given me tremendous opportunities, and Kevin and I are enjoying a lot of momentum in our careers thanks to the Iron Man films. I look forward to seeing what others can do playing in the same world.”
Iron Man 3 became a massive box office hit, though the film was heavily criticized because of its villain plot.
