Iron Man not only marked the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe but also revolutionized the superhero film genre in an unprecedented way. As a result, it became the first film in the MCU to receive a sequel, raising the stakes significantly with the introduction of two formidable villains: Mickey Rourke’s Whiplash and Sam Rockwell’s Justin Hammer. With the MCU continuously evolving, fans are left to ponder whether any of the earlier antagonists will make a comeback. According to Sam Rockwell, he currently doesn’t envision a suitable role for Justin Hammer within the expanding universe.
Recently, Sam Rockwell was a guest on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, where he shared insights about his character’s potential growth. He revealed that he nearly had the opportunity to expand on Justin Hammer’s storyline, but those plans ultimately fell through. In Rockwell’s view, this turn of events might have been fortuitous. He remarked, “There was talk of a[n Armor Wars] series but…I think the movie thing would be exciting…Might be some juice. I don’t know what you get out of that guy. He’s essentially Lex Luthor. It’s Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor. It’s the same character, really….Yeah, it’s a comedic device, that character, mostly. Although, he was in prison so it could get weird.”
As for how Sam Rockwell secured his role in Iron Man 2, he actively reached out to writer Justin Theroux, encouraging him to include him in the sequel. This effort ultimately paid off, and Rockwell was cast as the weapons manufacturer Justin Hammer. Rockwell’s strong relationship with director Jon Favreau undoubtedly contributed to this opportunity as well. Interestingly, he was originally considered for the role of Tony Stark before it ultimately went to the iconic Robert Downey Jr.
The project Armor Wars was initially envisioned as a series on Disney+ back in 2020. However, it has since been reimagined as a feature film. Despite this shift, production has significantly slowed, leading many to speculate that the project may never come to fruition. As is often the case with many Marvel initiatives, we will have to patiently await further developments regarding this production.
If Armor Wars does progress, I would be thrilled to see Sam Rockwell reprise his role as Justin Hammer. He already showcased his talent for the character in the 2014 short film All Hail the King and in a season two episode of What If…?, proving he has much more to offer as this unique antagonist.
Would you like to see Sam Rockwell make a return as Justin Hammer in the MCU? Your thoughts on this matter could influence future decisions!
Happy Sad Confused
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