Iron Man 2: Some Late in the Day Images

As the UK is missing out on the Iron Man 2 world premiere thanks to that giant ash cloud, we shall endeavour to cheer ourselves up with a few images from the film everyone has probably seen already.

Iron Man 2 is one of costume designer Mary Zophres’ biggest productions to date. Although, the rumour goes, she did have a staff of twenty five assistants on Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), so is obviously used to pressure.

Working from a template established by original Iron Man’s costume designers Rebecca Bentjen and Laura Jean Shannon, she has created an already memorable looking set of principals. Disregarding the Iron Man suit for just a moment, there are several regulars and fresh additions to cover:

Here is Mickey Rourke as Iron Man’s main new antagonist Whiplash. That thing in his hands? It will soon be on his chest powering two whips of cybernetic energy ready to cause havoc and destruction. Not a nice guy.

Apparently this leather cat-suit was less than comfortable for Scarlett Johansson playing Black Widow. The boots appear quite manoeuvrable, however. The soles are like slippers sometimes worn by martial artists.

Clearly the clothes worn by billionaire industrialist Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) and his new business partner Virginia ‘Pepper’ Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) will be luxurious in the extreme. Sometimes this is what makes movies so great; a style we think we can achieve yet cannot possibly. That suggestion of attainable fantasy.

The Iron Man suit in all its glory. It seems sharper around the major vanity muscles than in the previous film.

Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer in a grey Glen check, lightweight three piece suit. Even with the unfastened bottom button of his waistcoat revealing a hint of shirt front, this is still a dapper, and we are betting evil, gent.

Squint and you will see that is a Prada polo shirt Stark is wearing. Mary Zophres knows what the camera likes – Downey Jr. has never looked better.

This is new member of the cast Don Cheadle playing Lt. Colonel Rhodes, the role Terrence Howard filled in the first movie. He needs to be straightaway familiar without distracting the narrative. It helps that Rhodes is often seen in his military dress uniform when not saving the world as Iron Man’s compatriot War Machine. This provides costume consistency across both films.

Assuming a meteor does not hit earth in the meantime; Iron Man 2 is still scheduled for general release on 29th April in the UK and 7th May in the U.S.