Pop! Goes the Icon

Odd, Tony Stark and Iron Man are never seen in the same place together …
(Photos by Jo Hale for Paramount Pictures International)

Iron Man had its United Kingdom premiere today at the Odeon in London’s Leicester Square. The opening was attended by the film’s stars, Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow and Terrence Howard, as well as its director, Jon Favreau.

“Jon and I were big fans of what [Christopher] Nolan was able to do with Christian Bale in the whole Batman franchise and they did this very dirty, dark complex take on the superhero,” Downey said. “And we thought they did that as good as it can be done so we tried light and simple.”

The cast and director have been on a whirlwind promotional tour that’s taken them around the world. Favreau, who said he’s not a fan of flying, has nonetheless enjoyed his travels.

“It’s great – I’ve been from Mexico City all the way to Australia, Korea and to Paris, Rome and now I’m in London,” said Favreau. “I was in Berlin, and everywhere we go, the people seem to love the stars, they seem to love Gwyneth and everything she’s wearing and are more fascinated with her footwear than the politics of the United States of America, so it’s encouraging to see that people are willing to be distracted and are ready to escape from all their problems that are going on right now and have a good time at the movies.”

U.S. audiences will get their chance to escape when Iron Man hits theatres stateside next Friday, May 2. Click here for a gallery of photos from the premiere.