It's no secret that Iron Man 2 was a tough movie for Marvel Studios to make. With a series of crazy demands from star Mickey Rourke, pressure to deliver the sequel just two years after Iron Man, and a script that was in constant flux, it's no wonder the finished product was a disappointment.
One real sticking point for fans was how the ball was dropped on the "Demon in a Bottle" story arc.
While Tony Stark's love of a stiff drink certainly played into the sequel, it was really only given a passing glance, and the hero's alcoholism proved to be a non-factor after this 2010 blockbuster. That's a far cry from the comic books where the Armoured Avenger continues to struggle with his drinking problem, but a new profile from Vulture sheds some light on why Marvel Studios ultimately shifted its focus.
"That storyline remained intact long enough for production designer Michael Riva to design a toilet for Iron Man to puke in," the site explains in a lengthy piece about how Iron Man 2 was made, "but it was ultimately scuttled before principal photography by studio suits concerned an alcoholic Iron Man would derail overseas marketing and depress sales of toys and merch."
"Susan Downey pushed back against the plot line too out of concern for her husband’s health."
Remember, Robert Downey Jr. has battled his own demons in the past, so having him play an Iron Man struggling with alcohol abuse might not have been the most appropriate idea for this movie.
It's a shame "Demon in a Bottle" never saw the light of day, but it could always happen down the line. For now, Marvel Studios has moved on from telling Tony Stark's story, with the focus instead set to shift to Riri Williams/Ironheart in the wake of Iron Man's death in Avengers: Endgame.
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