The Story Behind How Iron Man 2 Nearly Set A Major Battle At Disneyland And Why It Didn’t Happen

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The Story Behind How Iron Man 2 Nearly Set A Major Battle At Disneyland And Why It Didn’t Happen

As a seasoned gamer and Marvel enthusiast with a soft spot for Disneyland’s magical charm, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia when I think back to the early days of the MCU. The idea that Iron Man 2 could have had a showdown at Disneyland was tantalizingly close yet forever out of reach, thanks to the corporate boundaries that once separated these two titans of entertainment.

As a hardcore gamer, I’ve got to admit, diving into the Marvel Cinematic Universe is like leveling up to an epic boss battle. With Disney backing it, it seems invincible, conquering cinematic realms left and right. But let me tell you, this powerhouse didn’t start with a Disney takeover. In the early phases, there were dreams of collaborating with Disney, but those visions couldn’t be realized just yet.

I recently attended a panel talk at the D23 event held in Anaheim, California, which centered around the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair – an influential event in Disney history. Remarkably, the company that evolved into Walt Disney Imagineering created four attractions for this fair, some of which were later incorporated into Disneyland. Interestingly, this fair shares a connection with Marvel, as it served as a significant location for a major scene in the movie “Iron Man 2”. Additionally, Disneyland itself was another iconic location that was considered during the filming.

Kevin Feige And Jon Favreau Considered Using Disneyland For Iron Man 2’s Finale

During the D23 panel led by renowned film critic Leonard Maltin, Kevin Feige (Marvel Studios president and self-proclaimed Disneyland enthusiast) and Jon Favreau (director of the initial Iron Man films) entered the discussion. Later, Feige disclosed that when deciding on locations for the climactic battle in Iron Man 2’s production, Flushing Meadows, NY was chosen after it was determined that Disney would never grant permission to use its main theme park.

It seems we jotted down potential locations for the Iron Man 2 finale on a board, and Disneyland was one of them. At that time, Disney hadn’t yet acquired Marvel, so we were unsure if they would allow us to film there. However, the idea of the 1964 World’s Fair came up because it holds a special significance for Jon, given his personal connection to the event.

It’s highly unlikely that Disneyland, with its limited history of filming and lack of destruction within the park, would have been featured in Iron Man 2. Given the potential for damage during a superhero battle atop attractions like the Matterhorn, it seems safe to assume the park wouldn’t have fared well in such an encounter.

Instead, the Stark Expo in Iron Man 2 happens at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, where the 1964-65 World’s Fair was held. Jon Favreau lived near this park as a child, although he was born after the fair had ended.

Other Iron Man 2 Scenes Are Inspired By Walt Disney And It’s A Small World 

In Iron Man 2, although Disneyland itself wasn’t featured, it was implied that the character who created it had a connection. Jon Favreau discussed the vintage films of Howard Stark (portrayed by John Slattery) that Tony Stark watches in the movie. These films were subtly designed to echo Walt Disney’s on-screen persona, as Favreau pointed out.

While examining the influence of his deceased father’s work, as it was reflected in movies inspired by Disney’s vision for Epcot and Disneyland, we aimed to capture a piece of that inspiration.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but share an exciting detail about this movie: It features an original song penned by the late Richard Sherman, one-half of the legendary duo known as the Sherman Brothers. This dynamic pair composed numerous uplifting tunes, including “It’s A Small World” and “It’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” which are iconic hits from the 1964 World’s Fair and the Carousel of Progress attraction.

It would have been spectacular to witness a blockbuster Marvel movie finale at Disneyland, and with Disney now owning Marvel, perhaps such an event could take place someday. However, even before they merged, Disney played a significant role in Marvel’s storytelling, as evident in the numerous references to classic Disney elements found in “Iron Man 2”.

The character Iron Man might not have visited Disneyland, but Disneyland could soon become a part of Iron Man’s world. During the D23 event, it was announced that Robert Downey Jr. will once again embody Tony Stark in a new Disneyland Resort attraction called Stark’s Flight Lab. This exciting addition is planned to be integrated into the existing Avengers Campus area at Disney California Adventure Park.

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2024-08-23 00:37