Everyone is wondering what The King’s Speech director Tom Hooper will do next. Poised to take home the Best Director prize at next Monday’s Oscars, and responsible for one of the most loved films of the past year, Hollywood is his oyster, and we’re just as intrigued to see how he’ll crack it open and sup of its gizzards (O.K., weird metaphor).
The L.A. Times has revealed an interesting tidbit about the young British director: Marvel offered him the opportunity to direct Iron Man 3. It was only after he turned it down that Shane Black could swoop in and sign up for the role.
So, let’s ponder a parallel universe in which Tom Hooper directs the third Iron Man film. Although he may not seem like a perfect fit, Hooper’s trade is in effectively portraying male relationships – see both The King’s Speech and The Damned United (which is better than The King’s Speech, but that’s by the by). I’m the first (and one of the only people around) to jump to the defence of the much-maligned Iron Man 2, but even I’ll admit the bromance between Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and the face-lifted Jim Rhodes/War Machine (Don Cheadle) was a complete misfire. In fact, the same can be said for Stark’s relationship with everyone in that film. Still, it’s so much fun!
At this point in the trilogy however, I would prefer it if the Iron Man saga returned to its character-based roots instead of upping the action ante. Thankfully, Shane Black is no slouch in the field of bromantic relations either; he penned the original Lethal Weapon and wrote and directed Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. He’s a better fit for the role, but Hooper would have been a damn intriguing one.
But enough hypotheticals. The L.A. Times state that Hooper is toying with an offer to direct a big-budget adaptation of Les Miserables. However, he might also reteam with his King’s Speech scribe David Seidler to helm The Lady Who Went Too Far.
Or – and there is absolutely no reputable source suggesting this, but what the hell – Zombies vs. Robots?
Discuss: What would you like to see Hooper work on next?
