Variety reports:
In what would mark his first studio film since resurrecting his career with “The Wrestler,” Mickey Rourke is in talks to play the heavy in “Iron Man 2,” the Marvel Entertainment sequel that director Jon Favreau begins shooting this spring.
Rourke is in discussions to play a villain described as Tony Stark’s Russian alter ego, a heavily tattooed bruiser who is in the arms trade and battles Iron Man in his own nuclear-powered armored suit.
Actor Sam Rockwell is in negotiations to play another villain in the pic.
The script — which is still being written — is a guarded secret, but speculation is that villain is likely comicbook nemesis Crimson Dynamo.
Rourke goes into the Golden Globe weekend vying for best actor in a role that revived his career. Downey soared to become one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood when “Iron Man” grossed over $600 million worldwide.
Paramount Pictures will distribute the film in summer 2010.
What a day for Rourke! Expendables now this. I love both these actors + Iron Man so this is shaping up to be spectacular.