Iron Man 3 Director Explains Marvel Movie’s Christmas Setting
In a recent behind-the-scenes book, director and writer Shane Black discussed his reasons behind setting the events of Iron Man 3 during Christmas.
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In a recent behind-the-scenes book, director and writer Shane Black discussed his reasoning behind setting the events of Iron Man 3 during Christmas. The director helmed the sequel and final film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Iron Man solo film trilogy. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, John Favreau, Don Cheadle Guy Pearce, Ben Kingsley, and Rebecca Hall, the 2013 film kicked off Marvel’s Phase 2 after 2012’s The Avengers concluded the first stage in the Infinity Saga.
In Iron Man 3, Tony’s (Downey Jr) struggle against his fears following the Battle of New York, and conflict with the supposed Ten Rings Organization and the Mandarin (Kingsley), is framed amongst the backdrop of Christmas time. Numerous references are made throughout the film, from Tony testing his latest suit to a remix of “Jingle Bells,” to the defeated hero walking through snowy, decorated Tennessee Towns alone. Though Disney+ has leaned into its seasonal setting, it remains unique among MCU entries by tying heavily into the time when the events take place, and now the director has explained his reasoning.
In Tara Bennett and Paul Terry’s The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black explained his reasoning behind Iron Man 3’s setting. Black explained the setting allowed him to encapsulate the events of the film, comparing it to disaster movies where characters are banded together by a situation, such as a volcano. By encapsulating the events and characters like this, Black explains he was able to create a common unity between the characters that drives them to work together for each other. Check out Black’s full explanation below.
“It creates its own little encapsulated event in time. In the same way you go see one of these disaster films, you set up all these people together in this town where the ‘volcano’ is about to explode. Christmas bands together and cements a story. You feel like there’s a common unity among all the people in it. It’s just something [audiences] constantly notice in the background. It represents a flavor, and there is a sense that ‘We are all in it together.'”
Being the first film following The Avengers, Iron Man 3 places Tony in a vastly different world following the Battle of New York. As well as teaching Tony to see beyond his suits, a lesson he’d later try to teach Peter Parker (Tom Holland), Iron Man 3 also sees Tony grow to reach out more to others. With New York leaving Tony shaken, sleepless, and suffering from frequent panic attacks, Tony withdraws from everyone, pulling away from Stark Industries and Pepper (Paltrow). Through his conflict with The Mandarin, Tony is made to be reliant on others, through Happy Hogan (Favreau) giving him clues, young child inventor Harley (Ty Simpkins) helping the lost Avenger take his next steps, and working alongside Rhodey (Cheadle) without his Armor.
Iron Man 3 was a departure from previous Iron Man films, which placed a larger emphasis on the conflicts his suits created and what makes them special. The third film strips away Iron Man’s technology, making him more reliant on those around him to defeat AIM. This is in contrast to Iron Man 3’s controversial Mandarin twist, where Aldrich Killian (Pearce) was focused on pushing people apart to further his goals. With the thematic detail that the holidays could offer, it is unusual that Marvel hasn’t experimented with such details in more films. Though with Hawkeye once more leaning into the season and putting the focus on Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) getting home for Christmas, audiences will see the holidays play a larger part in a Marvel project yet again.
Link Source : https://screenrant.com/iron-man-3-director-christmas-setting-explained/