The Mandarin’s portrayal in ‘Iron Man 3’ was one of the most controversial reveals of the year. It was quite the departure from the original version of the character in the original comics, but this definitely showed audiences that Marvel’s movies are meant to be their own thing based on the comics that spawned them rather than a rehashing decade old stories, just like what they did when they started the Ultimate Universe line of books. Regardless of if long-time fans loved it or hated it, Ben Kingsley’s performance was a hilarious surprise that no one could have seen coming. And, based on the most recent reports, it may not be the last we see of the struggling actor/drug addict Trevor Slattery.
During an interview with Belfast Telegraph to promote his upcoming film ‘Ender’s Game’, Kingsley revealed that he would be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a super secret project. Naturally, the legendary actor had to keep mum on the details, but he did say that he enjoyed being reunited with some of the crew from one of the biggest hits of the summer:
“It’s a secret Marvel project. I’m not allowed to say any more, you’re going to have to wait and see. I was with many members of the crew that were involved in ‘Iron Man 3’. It was lovely to see them again. It was great to be with this wonderful family. I think they have enormous taste as creative artists. There’s nothing lazy or gratuitous about their work. They are at the top of their game, and they’re great company to keep.”
Before people let their speculations run wild, it seems like two options emerge as the best possibilities for the return of The Mandarin. First, it’s possible that Marvel is building a One-Shot about Trevor that chronicles his life at some point before or after ‘Iron Man 3’. Those Blu-Ray extra short films allow the audience to reconnect with some of their favorite supporting characters in ways that are connected to the bigger picture, but in a much lighter way that doesn’t really affect what’s going on in films like ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ or ‘The Avengers: The Age of Ultron’.
The other option is that Kingsley is shooting something for ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ on ABC. I doubt that it would be a full episode, but I can definitely see the actor making a cameo in a post-credits scene on the show. Maybe Coulson is touring Skye around a holding facility and they come across Trevor in a cell or something like that.
No matter how it happens, I can’t wait to see Ben Kingsley step back into the robes (or the sweatpants) of the Mandarin some time in the future. But until we receive actual confirmation about the capacity in which he appears, how would you like to see him pop up? Share your theories in the comment section below.
