The MCU is a mixed bag now with so much content to consume throughout movies and streaming services, and in the meantime Marvel’s video games are also arguably up and down. Games likeMarvel’s Spider-Manwere indisputably successful, for example, whilegames likeMarvel’s Avengershave been highly criticized. Marvel games have all had their own original narratives lately and are therefore not connected to the MCU, but EA Motive’s upcomingIron Mangame has a chance to right one of the MCU’s fatal flaws when it comes to an Iron Man villain.
Iron Man certainly does not have the most readily identifiable catalog of villains, at least when compared to villains as colorful and simple as Spider-Man’s. That is why it was not surprising to seethe MCU’s Whiplash introduced inIron Man 2, and why the Mandarin was teased forIron Man 3. However,Iron Man 3made a grave mistake by having its Mandarin be a fake out, followed by never having an actual Mandarin go toe-to-toe with Tony Stark. If EA Motive’sIron Manwants an easy win for its first installment, it could consider adapting the ring-bearing warlord.
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EA Motive’s Iron Man Needs to Correct the MCU’s Mandarin
The MCU’s Mandarin had all the makings of being an incredibly grounded and well-performed antagonist.Iron Man 3introduced the Mandarinas a powerful terrorist with ties to the original movie, and the acting talent of Ben Kingsley made the role seem tremendously intimidating. It was then revealed that Kingsley’s Mandarin was simply a theater actor who is oblivious to the circumstances he is in, and is used for comedic relief thereafter.
However, this comedic relief is soured by how wasteful Kingsley’s take on the Mandarin was, even ifthe MCU’s Mandarinwas already a far cry from Marvel’s warlord. Guy Pearce’s Aldrich Killian is then supposed to be the Mandarin, which further sullied the character. If that was not enough of a death sentence for the character, the MCU finally decided to reveal the true Mandarin as Xu Wenwu, Shang-Chi’s father.
This Mandarin would learn of Trevor Slattery, the man who impersonated him, and abduct him for Slattery to yet again become a source of comedy in the MCU’sShang-Chimovie. Wenwu’s Mandarin is obviously a better interpretation of the character than Slattery or Killian could have offered, but he still dies at the end ofShang-Chiand therefore the villain has never been properly established or developed to his fullest potential in the MCU.
It is not EA Motive’s sole responsibility to interpret the Mandarin in the best way possible, but it could easily take this as an opportunity to exploit the MCU’s blunder and give fans the Mandarin they want in the upcomingIron Mangame. Because the Mandarin was such a fleeting name in the MCU, it may have no effect on how fans perceive the character in anIron Mangame that is completely unrelated to the MCU.
But if fans do remember how poorly the Mandarin was adapted, they could be excited to see him finally represented to his fullest power with the Ten Rings in a legitimate and satisfying portrayal. Of course, the Mandarin would be a fairly significantvillain for a newIron Mangame, and EA Motive could want to build up to him in a sequel instead with some other underrepresented antagonists in the Marvel universe.
AnIron Mangame from EA Motive is currently in development.
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