<Li> Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.; Jackson signed a nine - film contract to play the character . On the subject of his character not seeing any action in the film, Jackson said "We still haven't moved Nick Fury into the bad - ass zone . He's still just kind of a talker ." </Li> <P> The director, Jon Favreau, reprises his role as Happy Hogan, Tony Stark's bodyguard and chauffeur, while Clark Gregg and Leslie Bibb reprise their roles as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson and reporter Christine Everhart, respectively . John Slattery appears as Tony's father Howard Stark and Garry Shandling appears as United States Senator Stern, who wants Stark to give Iron Man's armor to the government . Favreau stated that Shandling's character was named after radio personality Howard Stern . Paul Bettany again voices Stark's computer, J.A.R.V.I.S. Olivia Munn has a small role as Chess Roberts, a reporter covering the Stark expo, Kate Mara portrays a U.S. Marshal who summons Tony to the government hearing, and Stan Lee appears as himself (but is mistaken for Larry King). </P> <P> Additionally, news anchor Christiane Amanpour and political commentator Bill O'Reilly play themselves in newscasts . Adam Goldstein appears as himself and the film is dedicated to his memory . Further cameos include Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk and Oracle Corporation CEO Larry Ellison . Favreau's son Max appears as a child wearing an Iron Man mask who Stark saves from a drone . This was retroactively made the introduction of a young Peter Parker to the MCU, as confirmed in June 2017 by eventual Spider - Man actor Tom Holland, Feige and Spider - Man: Homecoming director Jon Watts . </P> <P> Jon Favreau said it was originally his intent to create a film trilogy for Iron Man, with Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) becoming Iron Monger during the sequels . After a meeting between Favreau and various comic book writers, including Mark Millar, Stane became the main villain in Iron Man . Millar argued the Mandarin, whom Favreau originally intended to fill that role, was too fantastical . Favreau concurred, deciding, "I look at Mandarin more like how in Star Wars you had the Emperor, but Darth Vader is the guy you want to see fight . Then you work your way to the time when lightning bolts are shooting out of the fingers and all that stuff could happen . But you can't have what happened in Return of the Jedi happen in A New Hope . You just can't do it ." Favreau also discussed in interviews how the films' version of Mandarin "allows us to incorporate the whole pantheon of villains". He mentioned that S.H.I.E.L.D. will continue to have a major role . </P>

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