How To Lose Money On ‘Iron Man’
Nikki Finke of Deadline Hollywod Daily points to the most delicious piece of schadenfreude pie I’ve seen in a long while:
So fired New Line founder Bob Shaye told his close pals the following story: Years ago, as everyone knows, New Line had Iron Man in development. But then Shaye and Avi Arad, the longtime chairman and CEO of Marvel Studios, got into an argument over whether Iron Man should fly. (This is what grown men debate in the movie biz…) Bob contended that Iron Man would look goofy soaring in an iron suit. But Avi was adamant that the pic had to stay true to the comic book so the character should take to the sky. Eventually the option ran out, and Avi announced a deal with Merrill Lynch to self-finance Marvel’s future films. Now, most men would have left the argument there. Not Bob. He told his friends that he was so convinced Marvel would run into trouble on its Iron Man movie that he took out a big short on Marvel stock. But, as we all know, the pic not only made gobs of money, but Marvel shares shot skyward to an all-time high. And then the stock was recently listed on the S&P’s midcap index so it went up another 4%. Now, most men would have given up there and then. Not Bob. He told his friends he was still shorting the stock because he believed Marvel would give it back when The Incredible Hulk failed. That didn’t happen either.
Wow. And I thought Shaye keeping Peter Jackson from making The Hobbit was dumb. A shame he’s already been fired from New Line — this is almost worth hiring him back just to fire him again for good measure.
I thought that Iron Man flying was surprising, then funny, then cool then really great with Iron Monger. It wouldn't have been the same movie if he didn't fly.
The biggest irony of all, of course, is the fact that flying doesn't just provide the movie with some of its best scenes, it is ultimately a crucial plot point later on in the film. I also find it odd how anyone would find a FLYING suit of armor ridiculous, but not a suit of armor that was exactly the same, just without flight. Like Godzilla being stripped of his fire breath in the American film, it's an odd choice of limits on the imagination.
Glenn, this is hilarious. The recipie for Schadenfreued Pie is funny, mouth watering, cute and disturbing."Excellent! And now, let us have a maniacal laugh of victory, if you please: Joy at the misfortune of others — and pie! Truly, the best of all possible worlds."I'd heard of "schadenfreued" before, but I never truly grasped the concept until now. Now I have to see "Avenue Q!"