The Monaco Grand Prix has historically been one of the most influential and prestigious race weekends on the F1 calendar for decades. The circuit’s high-end corners and cinematic tunnel have fuelled eventful races in the past. Even after F1’s global expansions, Monaco still remains the crown jewel of the sport.
That being said, the Monaco Grand Prix has always been a starry affair owing to its widespread appeal. And to capitalize on that, Marvel Studios planned an action sequence for file ‘Ironman 2’ featuring Robert Downey Jr. before the grand stunt was stalled at the last minute by notorious F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone.
Bernie Ecclestone Disallowed Marvel Studios From Filming Ironman In Monaco
Robert Downey Jr., renowned for his role as Tony Stark in the Marvel Universe, is no stranger to high-octane action scenes and elaborate stunts. However, one of his ambitious plans for a “million-dollar stunt” during the Monaco Grand Prix, which involved the destruction of two Rolls-Royces, was ultimately blocked by Formula 1 authorities. Back in 2009, Marvel Studios received permits from the Monegasque government to shoot a stunt sequence live on the racing circuit of Monaco. The stunt involved Robert, who was playing Tony Star, racing on the track when a villain attacked him mid-race. For the sequence, the filming team needed two identical Rolls Royce to destroy, and the car manufacturing company ended up building those from scratch for Marvel Studios.
However, just when the stunt’s shoot planning reached its final stages, F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone foiled Marvel Studios’ plan at the last minute. Bernie, who had been in office for 40 years before Liberty Media’s takeover, was very protective of how F1 was being portrayed in the movie. After careful contemplation, he rejected Marvel’s bid and refrained from using Monaco’s racing circuit to film Ironman’s movie sequence. Later, the production team was forced to build an identical circuit back in Southern California. Marvel Studies tried their best to emulate the risky chicanes and erected grandstands to give the set a real race circuit effect, and Robert Downey Jr. ended up shooting the stunt on the recreated set. “We did end up flying one of the Rolls-Royces over there, and we filmed it driving down the course,” said John Armstrong, stunts and special effects personnel for the movie.
Lewis Hamilton Excited To Drive In The ‘Pearl Of The F1 Sport’
On the media day of the iconic Monaco Grand Prix, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton opened up on why racing in Monaco is special for him. Lewis recalled his first trip on the circuit when he was just 13. He was awestruck to see the the grid and deemed it a crazy experince.
Furthermore, Lewis Hamilton shared how he raced in Monaco for the first time when he was 19 in Formula 3 and that memory is still etched in his memories. The seven time world champion added that Monaco is a second smallest country in the world yet a special place and has always been the pearl of F1.
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