Shane Black may co-write 'Iron Man 3'

For those who did not know, Shane Black is directing Iron Man 3, which makes many people (this writer included) very happy. All the same, we were also bummed that he was not also writing the movie.

Why? Well, because Shane Black wrote Lethal Weapon, actively defining the action genre for many people (myself included). He wrote engaging, witty characters. Tony Stark, anyone? Stark is so snarky and witty, it's a wonder that Shane Black didn't go back in time and create the character himself. Just as Robert Downey Jr. was perfectly cast as Tony Stark, Shane Black is perfectly cast to direct the character. And he's also the best choice to replace Jon Favreau, as the Iron Man movies are big action setpieces as well. Black's appointment also gave hope to many people, showing them that the studios would trust someone like Black (whose only directorial effort was Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) with a big budget threequel like Iron Man 3.

 

It was recently reported that Black is indeed co-writing Iron Man 3 with Drew Pearce. It should have been that way from the start. Black was the perfect choice for Iron Man 3 because he wrote and directed Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which also starred Robert Downey Jr. I, along with many others, loved Kiss Kiss Bang Bang for it's witty comedy and well-drawn characters. Downey's and Black's familiarity and chemistry with each other should prove to make a really fantastic movie, hopefully more story-driven than Iron Man 2, and maybe since it will be coming out AFTER The Avengers, the studio won't repeat their stupid decision to intrusively crowbar Avengers tidbits that had absolutely NOTHING to do with the plot into the movie.

It just makes me happy to see the job so to the right person.