Two of this summer’s more popular films—both critically and financially—were Iron Man and The Dark Knight. And when you’re raking in multiple hundreds of millions of dollars like they have, it’s easy to see why the green light for the next installments of the comic book heroes have been given. But maybe in anticipation of a same-summer showdown in 2010 or 2011, Robert Downey Jr. and Justin Theroux, the actor who’s been hired to write IM2, have been talking a little smack about The Dark Knight, calling it an overcooked ham in relation to the fun and playful Iron Man universe that they’re now inhabiting. According to Theroux…

You know, I tremulously went and watched The Dark Knight myself, but it’s a totally different movie… [w]e have a leading man who can sort of relish being a cad, and that’s a fun character to write for. We feel like we’re in the clear.

Iron Man himself, however, wasn’t so diplomatic.

“Didn’t get it,” [Downy, Jr.] said, “still can’t tell you what happened in the movie, what happened to the character and in the end they need him to be a bad guy. I’m like, ‘I get it. This is so high brow and so fucking smart, I clearly need a college education to understand this movie.’ You know what? Fuck DC comics. That’s all I have to say and that’s where I’m really coming from.”

Sure it’s a little obnoxious that Downey, Jr, who at one point very recently couldn’t get work because no one would insure him because of his drug habit, is saying that. But when you’re living the life of Iron Man, the character who resurrected your career, carrying that ethos of “F everyone and what of it?” might be the right hand to play.

Robert Downey Jr.: ‘Fuck D.C. Comics’ [Gawker]
Justin Theroux Promises ‘Iron Man 2’ Script With 100 Percent Less Batdrama [Defamer]
Image [Time]