The first image of Mickey Rourke as the Russian baddie Whiplash in next year’s Iron Man 2 was revealed via USA Today, and the dude kinda looks like he was born into the Mad Max universe. As you can see, Rourke’s Whiplash sports a power pack that’s similar to the one Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) wears, except the difference between the two lies in the set of whips the villain has attached to the end of his arms. Said whips will be powered by the glowing pack on his chest, and one imagines they’ll also act as his main weapon against Iron Man.
In the comics, Whiplash is a weapons designer who works for Stark competitor Justin Hammer (played in the film by Sam Rockwell), though director Jon Favreau wouldn’t let slip whether they’re sticking to that storyline or mixing it up a bit. He tells USA Today, “We like to play into and against the expectations that people might have, so we mixed it up a bit. It was very important that the villain be as compelling as can be. … Once I thought of Mickey in that role, it made me understand how to shape the story." Iron Man 2 hits theaters on May 7, 2010.
What do you think of Mickey Rourke’s new look? Is this how you envisioned the character?
