The Contester Blog

Mickey Rourkes part in Iron Man 2 didnt just involve donning a costume, he also had to learn some Russian.

The actor – who made a comeback thanks to movie The Wrestler – plays villain Ivan Vanko also known as Whiplash.

The star admits he got help from 24-year-old Russian model Elena Kuletskaya to learn the language.

He said “I had a lot of fun making that movie, and I think it will be better than Iron Man 1″.

The sequel starring Robert Downey Jr. as Anthony Stark, the man in the superhero suit, is expected to be released in spring 2010.

Flags may soon be flying at half-mast at Forbidden Planet comic-book stores. The announcement yesterday that Marvel – and the rights to its huge stable of fetchingly attired, furrow-browed superheroes – has been bought by Disney for $4bn has caused outrage among comic-hero fans. The Iron Man Marvel series has led to a new cartoon series and an an anime cartoon.

While it’s true that the Marvel/Disney union is one of those hybrids that demands a momentary pause, like Julia Roberts marrying Lyle Lovett or Liza Minnelli marrying anyone, it does raise some unusual possibilities. The idea of movie mash-ups between the two brands may be anathema to some, but let’s give them a little thought. A Little Mermaid/Silver Surfer romcom has a certain logic, while the tender side of the Incredible Hulk could be coaxed out were he to star in a knockabout comedy with Timon and Pumbaa from The Lion King. Hulkuna Matata, anyone?