Related Sections: Interviews Movies News
Iron Man's 'Raza' looks ahead to a bigger role in future installments
Faran Tahir, who played the terrorist leader Raza in the first Iron Man movie, told SCI FI Wire that he doesn't have a role in the upcoming sequel, but that his character may appear in a later installment.
"We're still talking about it," Tahir said in an exclusive phone interview on Thursday. "It hasn't been finalized yet, so we'll see. The character didn't die in the first one, and it is part of a larger story. Iron Man's biggest nemesis is Mandarin, and my character is the only reference to Mandarin. So we're still trying to figure out how it's going to fit. The things to consider, I think, are that if it is a bigger story, how much of it is exposed [and] when."
Raza was the leader of a group that is part of the larger Ten Rings organization, which in the Marvel Comics is run by the Mandarin. Or is Raza more than he appears?
"Is he the conduit to Mandarin?" Tahir said. "Does he become Mandarin? Is it just another leader of the Ten Rings, you know, thing? All the allusions [in] my first speech was all about Genghis Khan and all that, which is Mandarin's thing, you know? So I think they have created the character and the storyline very wisely. To leave it as open as possible so whatever they need to, you know, pull from, they will."
For his part, Tahir would love it if he turns out to be the ultimate bad guy in the Iron Man universe. "Of course I would," he said. "Yeah, yeah, we'll see. We'll see." Iron Man 2 is currently shooting in Los Angeles.
By DK at 3:31 PM ON 04/14/09
YES!!
He would be perfect. Of course, the storyline would not match exactly with what is in a lot of the Marvel universe, but then Nick from SHIELD was never black. (Not that their is anything wrong with that.) Anyway, he would be great and I think it would tie the films together even better. Especially after that whole recast of Rhodes. (Don is great, but damn you YOU!!! YOU KNOW WHO ''YOU'' ARE!!! ASKING FOR MORE MONEY. DAMN YOU!!!!!!!!)
By shh at 5:36 PM ON 04/14/09
YES NICK FURY was black. . There are 2 versions of him
By wacko3205 at 5:54 PM ON 04/14/09
I love the idea of this. I think that'd be some smooth writing & a pretty nice way to wrap up the whole Mandarin deal. I like the notion of him being a bit more realistic & this is certainly the way to go. As far as Nick Fury being black...he was a white CIA agent that first appeared in Fantastic Four #21 (I think...back in 1963) & took some wacky formula similar to the same one that Cap America took...but it did something funky to his aging process. He was never black...not until this "Marvel Ultimate Line" crap got started up. Not that there's anything wrong with him being black...whatever floats your boat I guess.
Better to have him portrayed by Sam Jackson than David Hasselhoff...I guess.
Heh heh heh.
By RomeoRomance at 8:27 PM ON 04/14/09
No! Gary Oldman should be him.. this actor (no offense) much better back up baddie.....
By Dr Impossible at 10:43 PM ON 04/14/09
OK... I'm trying to not fly off the handle here, but the Ultimae tes version of Nick Fury is indeed African-American. And he wasn't a CIA agent... he might have worked for the OSS during WWII (and possibly beyond), but he became director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
What are they teaching kids in schools these days, holy ****.
By jam4him at 8:54 PM ON 04/23/09
"NICK FURY and The Howling Commandos" was the name of the original Marvel Comic, I believe
Visit mobile.syfy.com/wire on your mobile device.
jam4him:
"NICK FURY and The Howling Commandos" was the name of the original Marvel Comic, I believe...More »