Iron Man - Marvel Cinematic Universe Guide - IGN (2024)

Iron Man is the first movie set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film tells the story of Tony Stark, a billionaire weapons dealer who becomes a superhero after a life-changing encounter.

Synopsis Characters
Easter Eggs IGN Review
Deleted Scenes Movie Trailer
Iron Man
Release Date May 2, 2008 (US)
Run Time
126 min (Theatrical)
Director
Jon Favreau
Written by
Mark Fergus
Hawk Ostby
Art Marcum
Matt Holloway
Cast
Robert Downey Jr.
Terrence Howard
Jeff Bridges
Gwyneth Paltrow
Shaun Toub
Faran Tahir
Jon Favreau
Studio
Marvel Studios
Rating
PG-13

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Synopsis

Iron Man marks the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first film produced by Marvel Studios. Billionaire industrialist Tony Stark has made a living continuing his father's legacy, manufacturing weapons for the United States Government. While visiting Iraq to conduct a demonstration of his new Jericho Missile, Stark is injured in an apparent terrorist attack. The terrorists, an organization called the Ten Rings, capture Stark and imprison him.

Tony is then forced to construct a Jericho Missile using parts from his other weapons. With the help of Ho Yinsen, Tony begins construction, but not on the missile. Using palladium gathered from fuel cells of the weapons he designed, Stark builds an Arc Reactor, a device preventing the shrapnel he received in the attack from injuring his heart. But the Arc Reactor has another purpose: it serves as the power source for Tony's new Mark I armor, an offensive vehicle he uses to escape captivity and destroy the weapons stolen by the Ten Rings. Upon his rescue and return to America, he announces in a press conference that Stark Industries will no longer produce weapons and would serve the world in a less destructive manner. This change in philosophy angers his father's long-time cohort, Obadiah Stane, which accelerates Stane's plan to take control of Stark Industries and eliminate Tony Stark. Meanwhile, Tony develops more advanced versions of his armor, intending to protect those put in danger by the weapons he once created. His newfound purpose leads Tony down a path he is not familiar with: the chance to be a hero, and to become the one and only Iron Man.

Other characters introduced are Pepper Potts, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, James Rhodes, played by Terrence Howard (replaced in subsequent films by Don Cheadle), and S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson, played by Clark Gregg.

In the post-credits scene, Tony meets Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D, for the first time, played by Samuel L. Jackson. Fury reveals to Stark (and the audience) that he just entered a larger universe, and his plan called the "Avengers Initiative" was only beginning.

Characters

Click on the icons below to take you to each character's respective bio page.

The Characters of Iron Man

Tony Stark / Iron Man
(Robert Downey Jr.)
Virginia "Pepper" Potts
(Gwyneth Paltrow)

James "Rhodey" Rhodes / War Machine
(Terrence Howard)
Yinsen
(Shaun Toub)

Happy Hogan
(Jon Favreau)
Obadiah Stane / Iron Monger
(Jeff Bridges)

Raza
(Faran Tahir)
Agent Phil Coulson
(Clark Gregg)

Nick Fury
(Samuel L. Jackson)

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Easter Eggs

Iron Man includes a number of Marvel continuity Easter Eggs and hidden cameos.

Nick-fury-iron-man-cameo-aftercreds.jpg

End Credits Scene

This is the scene responsible for the enthusiastic movie goers around the world sitting through the credits sequence hoping for a glimpse of the franchise's cinematic direction. Setting the stage for The Avengers, Tony Stark finds Nick Fury inside his house and is informed that he isn't the only "superhero" in the world and that he would like to discuss something called The Avengers Initiative.

Stan Lee Cameo

Like every Marvel movie, Stan Lee appears in a cameo scene. In this scene, Lee is surrounded by girls and Tony Stark walks by and says "you look great Hef."

Ironman-stanlee-cameo-playboy.jpg

Ten Rings

In Iron Man 3, the Ten Rings is an organization headed up by the Mandarin whose goal is to destroy Tony Stark's life. It seems the groundwork for the Ten Rings was being laid as far back as the first movie, as in the video of a bound and kidnapped Tony, the Ten Rings insignia is in the background on the wall.

TenRings-tony-captured.jpg

RingTone

Tony's cellphone ringtone is the theme from the 1960's Iron Man cartoon.

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The original 1960's Iron Man cartoon song can also be heard as the backround music in the casino scene where James Rhodes gives Tony Stark the prize that Tony won.

Captain America Shield

In the scene where Pepper discovers Tony removing the damaged Iron Man armor, Captain America's shield can be seen on a workbench.

Capamericashield-ironman1.jpg

War Machine

Rhodey looks at the Mark II armor and says "Next time, baby!" hinting at War Machine, Rhodey's alter-ego. An animation of a War Machine suit, with a Gatling gun attached to a shoulder, can be seen in the closing credits. War Machine would appear in the sequel, Iron Man 2.

Nexttimebaby-ironman.jpg

Jarvis

Tony Stark's computer system is called JARVIS (standing for "Just A Rather Very Intelligent System"). This is a tribute to Edwin Jarvis, Tony Stark's butler from the comics.

Iron_Man_JARVIS-im1.jpg

Roxxon logo

During the highway battle with the Iron Monger, a building can be seen in the background with a Roxxon logo. In the comics, Roxxon is a notorious conglomerate known for illegal activities, and were responsible of the death of Stark's parents.

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Roxxon-ironman1-mongerfight.JPG

Whiplash teaser

The pilots in the F-22 jets are codenamed Whiplash '1' and '2', referring to the super villain Whiplash from the comics. Whiplash would later appear in Iron Man 2.

Ironmanjets.jpg

Fin Fang Foom poster

A billboard poster of Iron Man's nemesis, the alien dragon Fin Fang Foom, was designed by Adi Granov. This poster can be seen when Stark, while testing the Mark II armor, flies straight down a road.

Fin_Fang_Foom-ironman1-billboard.JPG

Movie Trailer

IGN Review

Read the review of Iron Man here: IGN

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Deleted Scenes

"Ambush"

"Dubai Party Pt. 1"

"Dubai Pt. 2"

"Rhodey Saves Tony"

"Alternate Fight Ending"

"Preparation for New Project"

"Prepping the Mark II"

"Rhodes Talks to General"

"Champions"

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Behind the Scenes

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