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First Look: Mickey Rourke as Whiplash

June 9th, 2009
Author David Pepose

Our very own Lan Pitts has made an Iron-ic discovery for Iron Man 2:

Take a look here with Mickey Rourke as Whiplash. Interesting enough though, they made him Russian (hence the Russian prison tattoos and the rumors about him playing Crimson Dynamo). Mr. Comeback Kid has also stated that his dialogue in the movie is more than half in Russian. Talk about dedication. We’re not quite sure what’s going on in the picture, it sort of seems like a weapons display. Him being in his prison attire maybe we are to assume he’s used as a guinea pig for the weapons. He looks pretty damn gangster.

[Link via USA Today]

 
51 Responses to “First Look: Mickey Rourke as Whiplash”
  1. Shaun Says:

    You see some real characters at those NASCAR races, apparently.

  2. Kevin Sole Says:

    Too. Damn. Old.

  3. John Says:

    Really? Gangsta? It just looks stupid to me. Would this guy be a threat to a man in an iron suit with blaster rays and other tricks? He looks like he could be taken in one minute. Not impressed.

  4. Chris Says:

    I’m closing my eyes and keeping my fingers crossed.

  5. Corey Henson Says:

    Before everyone jumps to conclusions, let’s bear in mind that this is likely NOT the final costume. I mean, really, hasn’t Favreau earned the benefit of the doubt here?

  6. Mark R Says:

    I assume this will be his first appearence and that by the time there is the big confrontation, he will be more armoured. Think of it as Whiplash Mk 1. It is farrrrrr too early to draw too many conclusions.

  7. Josh Grant Says:

    I have faith the movie will turn out well, but at the same time I have to agree with the previous posts: Rourke is too old and I don’t understand how that is supposed to be a severe threat to Iron Man (someone with motor-powered whips versus a man in full body armor that could decimate most militaries). I also don’t think that Mickey Rourke is as big of a deal as everyone is making him out to be. He basically played himself in The Wrestler (a has-been with a lot of potential in the 80′s making one last gasp for success after squandering everything).

  8. Robert Hengeveld Says:

    Maybe it’s all an elaborate ruse and he actually is going to be the Crimson Dynamo and this is an initial version of his armor.

  9. silvanthalas Says:

    “Before everyone jumps to conclusions, let’s bear in mind that this is likely NOT the final costume.”

    This is probably very true.

    But I still have a big problem with what appears to be yet another amalgamation/bastardization of characters. In this case, it looks like some kind of mashup between Whiplash and Crimson Dynamo. Why writers & directors continue to feel this is necessary when Marvel has thousands of characters available leaves me shaking my head.

    And seriously, Newsarama: these javascript/cookie errors are getting old.

  10. Yacob Says:

    Ah fanboys.

    “Rourke is too old.”

    I’d put money on him in a fight versus most of the people on this board.

    That said, he’s too old for what? Too old to act? Too old to pretend to be a Russian criminal? Too old to operate a pretend machine and fight a pretend superhero?

    1. You don’t know the context of the scene.
    2. You don’t know anything about his final suit and if you’re using common sense, you know this isn’t it.

  11. komikfan Says:

    I am willing to bet money that this movie will be absolutely fantastic. That said, I do not like this shot. I do not like that they have taken a still that is completely devoid of any story context (i.e. in what scene does this take place) and have slapped it on the internet saying ‘this is Mickey Rourke as Whiplash.’

    Of COURSE anyone with half a brain knows this isn’t the definitive version of the character. OF COURSE this is probably him breaking out of Russian gulag or something like that, complete with his prison pants and unkempt appearance. But without the context, it doesn’t LOOK all that cool. It’s nothing to write home about, unlike the first peek at the Mark I, which screamed total badass.

    I KNOW this movie will rock. I just wish they’d put their absolute best foot forward is all.

  12. Shaun Says:

    @ komikfan: They have auto races at Russian gulags? :-)

    Seriously, all Mickey needs to top it off is a beer can hat, and maybe a Dale Earnhart or Toby Keith T-shirt.

  13. Jack Says:

    I thought this was Iron Man 2 not Road Warrior 4?

  14. Spike Says:

    This is definetly a wait and see move. I’m sure it will be awesome in a story context…but just a picture of him wearing that at the Grand Prix is silly looking. Looks like my dad when he did drag. YIKES hahaha

  15. Kevin T. Brown Says:

    “Kevin Sole Says: Too. Damn. Old.”

    Really.

    He’s 3 years younger than Jeff Bridges who seemed to give damn good performance as the villain in the first movie.

  16. Ian Says:

    “But I still have a big problem with what appears to be yet another amalgamation/bastardization of characters. In this case, it looks like some kind of mashup between Whiplash and Crimson Dynamo. Why writers & directors continue to feel this is necessary when Marvel has thousands of characters available leaves me shaking my head.”

    I disagree. I don’t think either the Crimson Dynamo or Whiplash are compelling enough on their own, and tweaking them really is the best option.
    Ironman doesn’t have a lot of good (major)villains. He has lots of great B and C listers (the above, Spymaster, Living Laser, the Ghost, etc.) but few that could hold up a whole movie. I think its being handled pretty well.

  17. Ian Says:

    Oh, and as for the Russian tatoos and such… I’m guessing Favreau saw Eastern Promises.

  18. edc Says:

    the failure levels of the commenters here are quite high.
    this is the monte carlo classic gran prix, in monte carlo. as in nowhere near america.

  19. edc Says:

    actually, that should be Monte Carlo and La Condamine, in Monaco. not just in Monte Carlo.

  20. Lan Pitts Says:

    I’m glad they’re going with Whiplash.

  21. Brian K. Pittman Says:

    I love how on any day of the week, I can take time out of my day doing things that matter and come onto the internet to see a large grouping of people mocking other people. Is this really all you can do with your time? Complain about a movie you’ve never seen? Belittle a man who is just doing his job, which he actually does quite well, for things he did in the past? I weep for humanity.

  22. CreativeArtist Says:

    Interesting. It would appear that this scene is when he gets an initial @$$ kicking, as Joe Blow Nobody, before doning the “official” threads and villain makeover. I just hope he’s not going to keep the chest light in the final costume, as Iron Man’s. That would seem just too…”unoriginal.” Based on how rough Mickey looks here though, he may have been better suited as Crimson Dynamo. We’ll see. Can’t wait to see it, regardless. Bring on the AVENGERS!

  23. Dallas Bar Says:

    “Ah fanboys.

    “Rourke is too old.”

    I’d put money on him in a fight versus most of the people on this board.

    That said, he’s too old for what? Too old to act? Too old to pretend to be a Russian criminal? Too old to operate a pretend machine and fight a pretend superhero?

    1. You don’t know the context of the scene.
    2. You don’t know anything about his final suit and if you’re using common sense, you know this isn’t it.”

    +1, please quit the whining and wait for the finished product.

  24. Trunks Says:

    I hate the fact that he’s a mix of villains, why couldn’t he have been just Crimson Dynamo?

    Also he looks like a Raider from Fallout 3 with an Iron Man chest plate in that photo. Let’s hope Favreau knows what he’s doing with this one. Still kinda pissed about Cheadle replacing Howard.

  25. Bigshot Says:

    He looks so dumb, its sick, I hope some how they pull this out of the fire but I am not holding my breath. I don’t know why these hero movie think they need 3 bad guys a piece to threaten the hero. But I mean Iron Mans only real villain has always just been the bottle.

  26. Steve In San Diego Says:

    Nice pic – hope Iron Man 2 brings it.

  27. bbiii Says:

    We don’t know the whole story.

    Looks like he has a similar rigging to Iron Man. Start of an Exo-skeleton and a replacement heart.

  28. Spike Says:

    Brian K. Pittman Says:

    June 10th, 2009 at 8:19 am
    I love how on any day of the week, I can take time out of my day doing things that matter and come onto the internet to see a large grouping of people mocking other people. Is this really all you can do with your time?

    YA.. except you’re probably one of those creepy trolls that go on every message board and try to act like you just happen to stop by. Get over yourself.

  29. Shaun Says:

    @ edc: Whatever… Monaco, Monte Carlo (you yourself got it wrong at first), America. Who cares? I just thought the pic of Rourke, looking all strung out and shirtless, with some weird contraptions on him standing on what looks like a race track was hilarious. Hence the NASCAR jokes: If I didn’t know he was playing Whiplash I’d have named him the High-Tech Hick or something… Maybe his gear isn’t a weapon, but some new fangled device to keep his Coors cold. :-)

    No judgment on the movie yet, I’m really looking forward to it, I was just having fun with it all. It IS an unusual looking picture!

  30. guy_gardnercg Says:

    ………….not what I expected

  31. darrenmdr Says:

    Amazing how one very early photo can ilicit such ridiculous reponses. Well anyway here is another.

    My impression of the photo is that this is indeed a MK1 version of the Crimsonwhip costume. If I was a betting man I’d lay money on this photo being from a prison work camp escape scene, with Rourkey having aquired bits and pieces from various vehicles to build the suit to escape before pimping it up later to have a big fight with Tony.

    A sort of homage or mirror of evilness to the same scenes in the first film/movie.

  32. Stephen Says:

    Did it occur to anybody that the chest piece is used to power the suit. In order for the whips to cut through metal it will require lots of power.

    That the chest piece was the idea of Starks and now being used for evil purposes by Hammer this could lead to a “Armour War” movie.

  33. Cameron Says:

    Hmmm…I wonder if the reason Rourkes costume here resembles the MK I suit play into an Armor Wars type scenario in this movie….

  34. silvanthalas Says:

    “I don’t think either the Crimson Dynamo or Whiplash are compelling enough on their own, and tweaking them really is the best option.”

    Well, this would have been the chance for Favreau to take one of these characters and make them into something compelling.

    That, and I had really hoped that we wouldn’t see Crimson Dynamo (or a bastardization thereof) simply because I didn’t want to see another suit. It just gives it the feel of rehashing Iron Monger. But it looks like this movie is going that route with Whiplash having something akin to the first Iron Man suit.

  35. K-Mo Says:

    I think a lot of the naysayers aren’t seeing the true essence of what is being shown here. This guy is the equvilant of those Somalian pirates who have held up big cruise ships using only rinky-dink boats and stolen weapons. This Whiplash may not look traditional, but consider the conflict here! You’ve got billionare Tony Stark in a high-tec multi-million dollar suit getting his ass handed to him by a guy who looks like an extra from Mad Max. It’s perfect! I love the stolen tech/hobbled together technology. He looks like a TERRORIST and not a bad guy, which I think works better for the world the first Iron Man movie has already established.

  36. Kevin Huxford Says:

    I’m just heartened to see that there are some sane people responding with more reasonable reactions than “the sky is falling”.

    It’s an early still shot. It isn’t in any context and doesn’t sum up how well the film will be executed on countless other levels. Relax a bit.

  37. Castle GreySkull Says:

    Where have I seen this before? Oh yeah….
    “I Have The Power! He-Man!”

  38. Matt Strawbridge Says:

    Hokey. I’m not for it.

  39. Chuck Says:

    I don’t know if anybody else mentioned this, this I only skimmed the responses, but…

    No comments on what’s happening with O’Rourke’s chest? Looks like he’s a guinea pig for more than just the weapons.

  40. Ill Diablo Says:

    Holy crap! He-Man looks TERRIBLE!

  41. Brian K. Pittman Says:

    Spike Says:
    June 10th, 2009 at 9:48 am

    Brian K. Pittman Says:

    June 10th, 2009 at 8:19 am
    I love how on any day of the week, I can take time out of my day doing things that matter and come onto the internet to see a large grouping of people mocking other people. Is this really all you can do with your time?

    YA.. except you’re probably one of those creepy trolls that go on every message board and try to act like you just happen to stop by. Get over yourself.

    Really? This is rather dumbfounding considering I posted not only my actual name but a website at where I can be contacted.
    Also, I must correct you. This is the blog, not the message board. Please pay better attention next time.

  42. Uncle Jawa Says:

    I have to say, when I came to this thread, I expected a bunch of “Oh my god, it looks horrible, IRON MAN 2 is gonna suck, I knew Marvel would screw it up!” I’m actually very proud of how a lot of folks here are staying grounded and not overreacting. I’m thinking this character will be graduate from Whiplash (if they even refer to him as Whiplash in the movie) to Crimson Dynamo by the end of the movie. Hell, there may even be another classic comic villain he borrows from in the middle of all of that. Something else not mentioned here is that, according to Marvel’s website, Mickey Rourke’s character is named “Ivan Vanko”. Vanko was the last name of the original Crimson Dynamo. So, there you go.

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