Hi friends and fellow internet junkies, I am beginning yet another feature on the stage entitled, “Pitcher’s Mound”, wherein I will give a quick pitch for what I would like to see in a new film or sequel…If you’re reading this and work at a studio, please contact me so that some day I might be able to get a house with a pool.

Today from the Pitcher’s Mound comes a fastball in the form of Iron Man 2, which Marvel Studios has set for release in April of 2010. Before I get into my idea for the film (which is currently being brainstormed by the production team), let me direct you to two Entertainment Weekly interviews with Direcotr Jon Favreau and star Robert Downey Jr., wherein they briefly discuss the sequel. After perusing them, come back and check out what I think would work, in my pitch for Iron Man 2

The movie opens with the same friendly tone that the previous Iron Man film carried. Tony Stark is very pleased with his accomplishments, and Stark industries has been incredibly successful despite minimizing its weapons divisions (by limiting their contracting to S.H.I.E.L.D, exclusively) and investing in less profitable but more humanitarian pursuits. The life of Stark could not be better, and while his latest suit of armor is damaged beyond repair in the film’s opening action sequence, he is a beloved hero to most. Things change, however, when Pepper Potts is inadvertently killed by a villain known as “The Mandarin”, a criminal underlord with powerful “Combat rings” (one for each finger, wit a different power/weapon) that contain technology stolen from the suit destroyed in the film’s first big action sequence.

Due to the event, Tony Stark begins to drink heavily and becomes a bit of a menace. He is failing in personal and professional circles, as well as in his efforts as Iron Man. In fact, during a large sequence in which he is called to subdue a monster named “The Hulk”, Tony’s actions to defeat the monsters results in the injuries of a number of citizens, and Nick Fury is forced to use S.H.I.E.L.D in order to confiscate Stark’s tech and suits. Meanwhile, the Mandarin continues to consolidate underworld power; and Jim Rhodes, Tony’s friend, has been given the prototype War Machine Armor Tony was developing for S.H.I.E.L.D to fill in the void left by the drunken and now unsuited Stark.

Disheveled and alone, Stark decides to take revenge on the Mandarin in a suicide mission and hacks into S.H.I.E.L.D’s computer for intel. There he discovers that they have found the Mandarin but have chosen to wait on moving in, in order to find his connection to other unidentified sources of evil (namely Hydra, A.I.M, Project MODOK, and the Kingpin). At this point, Tony builds a new set of armor to attack the Mandarin’s lair. After spedning nearly two days sleepless finishing the proejct, Stark, in the new armor, goes after the Mandarin–but not before being accosted by Rhodes as the War Machine. The two duke it out and Stark prevails and goes after the Mandarin alone; his sparing of Rhodes, however, allows Tony’s friend to call Fury and warn him. Upon Iron Man’s arrival at the Mandarin’s lair, however, the Mandarin defeats him during a duel, and S.H.I.E.L.D, along with a damaged but still useful War Machine, must come to Iron Man’s rescue.

The movie ends with Stark surrendering to the authorities and informing Fury that he needs help. Stark is remanded into custody and put into alcoholic rehabilitation. War Machine continues to fill the void of Iron Man’s absence and Fury at Shield decides that more checks and balances are needed in the U.S., which leads him to advance the Avenger’s Initiative further–by contacting Black Panther, The Pyms (Giant man and the Wasp), Thor, and Black Widow (this final step by Fury is simply alluded to, however, not shown)

A few other thoughts.

First, I realize this second film takes a decidedly darker turn than the first; but in its darkness, it could still have comedic elements like Downey’s wit, drunken stupidity, and visual gags. The level of darkness or depth I’d reach for would be to liken this second Iron Man to the first Iron Man as Spider-man 2 was to Spider-man.

Second, we all loved Paltrow as Pepper Potts in this first Iron Man, and killing her off in the first act of the second one would be painful for not only us but Tony Stark’s character, so I think it could be an event worthy of inclusion, though very sad.

Third, I have included The Mandarin in a very different light than the comics, but I have tried to make him fit into the movie’s mythos, and I think in this way, he works–plus the hinting at the existence of Hydra, and A.I.M. would be pretty cool.

Fourth, We’d still have several major action set pieces, including Iron Man vs. War Machine, Iron Man vs. Hulk, Iron Man vs. The Mandarin’s army. In fact, the first battle I eluded to could happen against some B-list Iron Man villain from the comics.

Fifth, it allows the character to move into a third film in which (a) he unites with War Machine and they tear it up as a power duo or (b) he could get released by S.H.I.E.L.D in order to join the Avengers. Imagine if they followed that path, and in the scene wherein Fury is introducing everyone on the team, have Stark and Banner (i.e. the Hulk) both say “we’ve met” (given their fight in IM 2).

Sixth, we’d get Iron Man in the Hulkbuster Armor–Awesome! Plus, we’d get a crossover, also Awesome.

Seventh, this also opens the door for a War Machine Spin-off 9even if only a straight-to-DVD animated one), in which we follow Jim Rhodes on his quests during Tony’s rehab. Tying that film back into the Avengers somehow could also be excellent.

What do you guys think?