Ben Kingsley lets slip during interview...he IS the Mandarin!

[enyawd72]

I KNEW IT!

During a British interview for Ender's Game, Kingsley said he is involved with a secret project for Marvel and that we would be seeing Trevor AKA the Mandarin again!

There is one very simple reason Kingsley always was the Mandarin. He alone wore the ten rings. Simple as that.
In Marvel mythology, those rings are just as important an artifact as Thor's hammer, Cap's shield, or the Infinity Gauntlet. If they had no relevance, why include them at all? They wouldn't have been mentioned in the first Iron Man, nor featured so prominently on flags and in the Mandarin's broadcasts.

Killian wasn't wearing the ten rings. He NEVER wore them. He was NOT the Mandarin.

[Operation:Mego]

I hope you are right and they retcon this. As funny as I found Trevor to be, I was stunned by what they did to Iron Man's greatest foe.

[enyawd72]

^It's a classic double plot twist that's been used for years.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I hope it's true too. My son was so torqued off by Iron Man 3's misuse of the Mandarin. But either way I think they were far too "clever" for their own good in the twist, whether it's untwisted or not.

Chris

[clemso]

It would be cool if they did the double bluff thing and it is the only thing that would make me go and watch a Iron Man 4.

I KNEW IT!

During a British interview for Ender's Game, Kingsley said he is involved with a secret project for Marvel and that we would be seeing Trevor AKA the Mandarin again!

There is one very simple reason Kingsley always was the Mandarin. He alone wore the ten rings. Simple as that.
In Marvel mythology, those rings are just as important an artifact as Thor's hammer, Cap's shield, or the Infinity Gauntlet. If they had no relevance, why include them at all? They wouldn't have been mentioned in the first Iron Man, nor featured so prominently on flags and in the Mandarin's broadcasts.

Killian wasn't wearing the ten rings. He NEVER wore them. He was NOT the Mandarin.

[EMCE Hammer]

I hope it's true too. My son was so torqued off by Iron Man 3's misuse of the Mandarin. But either way I think they were far too "clever" for their own good in the twist, whether it's untwisted or not.

Chris

That's how I feel about it - too clever by half. I've had enough of that storyline, I'd rather see it die with all its flaws rather than come back in an attempt to save it.

[Random Axe]

You simply cannot explain or undo Trevor and the absolute lack of security at his place. Coming out of the bathroom he's a total buffoon before Stark ever presented himself, so no need to act or pretend. His surroundings are artist-like and not at all Mandarin-ish. I don't see any way to go back and wash this over. It was a poorly conceived twist in a very poorly conceived film. WAAAAAAAYYYYYYY too many plotholes and gaps in logic and judgement by all cast members.

However, Dwayne brings up an interesting point about the ten rings. They were prominantly placed in the first film and referenced a few times and yet was never really addressed. Was Killian responsible for the terrorist camp in IM 1? And where did they come up with the Mandarin name? It's freakin CHinese. Maybe there is a third actor/character that has yet to be revealed that used both trevor and Killian to remain in the shadows.

Perhaps I'm reading too much into a crap film and overthinking this.

[Hector]

Iron Man 3, one of the worst big budget big office hit movies I've ever seen, I think I'd almost rather watch the Twilight trilogy instead, notice the word "almost" though, lol.

[Operation:Mego]

This gives me hope about the "real" Mandarin theory.

http://screencrush.com/ben-kingsley-secret-marvel-mandarin/

[enyawd72]

Another reason I know Kingsley was always intended to be the real Mandarin are the toys. Both Hasbro and Hot Toys are releasing Mandarin figures of Kingsley, and neither figure was solicited until AFTER the film's release.

Toy companies are always privy to spoilers ahead of time. They have to be to develop product in time for a film's release. At this point, there's nothing to spoil. If Killian were truly the main villain, both companies would have known in advance, and we'd be seeing Killian figures coming out now instead of "Trevor" figures.

[Gorn Captain]

That movie was terrible for so many reasons.
The Mandarin, as we know him in the comics, would never have even started this whole charade. He is not a man to play this kind of game, he's just too proud and regal. He wouldn't play the clown.
To me, it ruined the character for the movies completely, so either they forget IM 3 (which they won't), or we just write off the Mandarin as "lost forever".
Honestly, I'm tired of the IM movies. Part 1 was good, part 2 was so-so (with a weak villain), and part 3 was awful.
I'm also tired of Downey clowning around as if it has become the "Robert Downey Jr Show". Stark was never the wisecracking funnyman that Spidey is. I would prefer a more serious approach, like in the comic.

[enyawd72]

You simply cannot explain or undo Trevor and the absolute lack of security at his place. Coming out of the bathroom he's a total buffoon before Stark ever presented himself, so no need to act or pretend. His surroundings are artist-like and not at all Mandarin-ish. I don't see any way to go back and wash this over. It was a poorly conceived twist in a very poorly conceived film. WAAAAAAAYYYYYYY too many plotholes and gaps in logic and judgement by all cast members.

Perhaps I'm reading too much into a crap film and overthinking this.

I thought about that too...but, we don't really know if there was a true lack of security. What if it was all merely part of the "act" of hiding in plain sight? I assume "Trevor" did indeed know Stark was approaching, and merely pretended to be caught off guard. Very sly move from a master deceiver and manipulator.

[thunderbolt]

maybe it will be an adaptation of King Size Avengers 1 with all the movie villains up to that point.

[hedrap]

I think we went through the why's and wherefores during IM3.

They changed the character to appease the Chinese film board. You have to pass their "requirements" to qualify as a state co-production which then leads to a 35% take on ticket sales in China, instead of the normal 25%.

So, IM3 = 35% return. Man of Steel = 25% return.

Favreau always intended for The Mandarin to be Stark's equivalent. The difference was the Ten Rings/Al-Qaeda was a front for Mandarin, who was actually some Hong Kong/Triad industrialist. Like a cross between Obadiah Stane and Belloch from Raiders.

Feige was made very aware of the backlash and that it did effect support. He's seen it in the tepid response to Wolverine and now SHIELD. The guy bought his own press after Avengers, but that was all set in place by Arad and Favreau.

Screw the retcon. It's a one-shot make good that's probably more about saving SHIELD from itself by reinventing AIM. RDJ is only on board for Avengers movies. They're going to reboot every role after A3. You can read it in his most recent interviews.

[Gorn Captain]

RDJ is only on board for Avengers movies. They're going to reboot every role after A3.

You mean they are already "planning" Avengers 4?
Boy, talk about a positive attitude concerning your own work. Are the producers related to James Cameron?