Mouseketeer. Klingon. Iron Man. Not a lot of people get to put all those things on their resume, but actor Marc Worden can. Starting with Marvel’s Ultimate Avengers, Worden has been the man to voice Tony Stark, a two-picture job that spun off into a solo film coming out this week.
So we got a chance to talk with him via phone last week, to find out what it’s like to be the cool exec with a h eart of steel. Maybe Robert Downey, Jr. should take some tips…
Derek McCaw: How hard is it to breathe in the helmet?
Marc Worden: It’s extremely difficult, let me tell you. (laughs) Man, I wish they had props for me. In the booth, it’s all about using your imagination within a void. That would have made things a little easier. That’s a funny question, though. And each helmet is different, you know.
Derek McCaw: I haven’t seen the DVD yet. Does the character get to wear a lot of different helmets, and does that change the way you perform the role?
Marc Worden: It doesn’t change the performance, no, but there are a lot of different suits in the film.
Derek McCaw: You don’t have any props, but how vigorous does your performance get in the booth? I’ve seen “behind-the-scenes” documentaries with voice-over actors really throwing themselves into the action. Are you one of those, or are you pretty much in control of yourself?
Marc Worden: Well, I would say that I’m as control of myself as I can be. You really are on your own in a very quiet room. It’s like I said before, you’re really in a void. You only have yourself, your imagination and a great script. You just give it everything you’ve got.
Derek McCaw: You get to bring Iron Man to life in probably the highest-profile thing the character has had in years, at least until the live-action film comes out. How much pressure do you feel from fans, or did you feel, since this is the third time you’ve voiced him?
Marc Worden: Well, right up until this moment, none. But now that you’ve asked me that question, I’m shaking in my boots. I love the opportunity to bring this character to life. When I first signed on to do these projects, it was for the Avengers series. And they liked what I did, and they wanted me to voice this character for the Invincible Iron Man feature.
I’m honored to be able to bring this epic character (to life) that has been a part of comic book lore since the sixties, right? I don’t know about pressure. I certainly hope that the fans enjoy the performance and enjoy the film. I know I like the film. I got to see a screening of it and was really proud of everybody’s hard work.
Derek McCaw: Have you had any feedback from fans? Have you made any convention appearances and talked to them?
Marc Worden: I did. We went to Comic-Con last year. We did a sneak preview of Ultimate Avengers 2 in front of over 2,000 people. That was great fun, because they really know the characters inside and out. They were excited to watch the movie and follow the story and cheer along. That felt great. The energy in the room was buzzing. We did a panel discussion beforehand, and then got to screen the movie. It was great.
Derek McCaw: Were you a fan? Were you a comic book reader?
Marc Worden: I wasn’t, no. When I booked this role, I had to start doing research right away. Man, did I realize how lucky I am to be able to bring this guy to life in animation, because I never could be this in a live-action setting. It’s just not where I’m at in my career at this point in time. So it’s a real plus for me to be able to bring this guy to life using just my voice.
A good friend of mine is really into comics. He gave me the origins, the Essential Iron Man, which brings you right back to the beginning – a reprinting of the original comics. He also gave me the Ultimates series. Which was an amazing graphic novel. As an introduction to me of where comics are today, it blew my mind. Those are beautiful books.
Derek McCaw: You’ve done villains, too. You played Parasite in a Justice League episode, and Killer Moth in Teen Titans. You’ve been in both universes, but this is your first shot at a straight-up superhero. What’s been the biggest challenge for you about that?
Marc Worden: I guess it’s to come across with sincerity and honor and a strength that a superman has to possess.
Derek McCaw: How much influence do you…
Marc Worden: I don’t want to use the word “superman” – superHERO. Excuse me. (laughs) I know you’re recording.
Derek McCaw: I was going to let it go.
Marc Worden: Don’t let it go, man! You know this inside and out, you’ve got to help me.
Derek McCaw: You can say that, it’s a generic term.
Marc Worden: No, it’s not, man.
Derek McCaw: Well, Nietzche used it first – the superman.
Marc Worden: That’s DC Comics, man. I don’t know anything about that.
A superHERO has to have great strengths and morals, and that’s what I try to bring to it.
(both laugh)
Derek McCaw: If you were doing a live-action film, you’d have some kind of give and take on the role. You might change some lines of dialogue to better fit what you’re thinking. Do you have that kind of influence here?
Marc Worden: No. Because you go in and you lay down the voice-over before the animation is even done. What, as a voice-over actor, you contribute is performance. You try and breathe life into the words. Again, (we have a) great script by Greg Johnson. He wrote Ultimate Avengers 1 and 2, and he wrote this script as well. You know, for me, it’s just trying to bring it off the page without having any reference point.
Also not having any other actors to play off of. This was the first time in my animation career that I did get the chance to work with other actors during the recording sessions, which really helped me a lot. Usually you’re by yourself. For me, most especially the scenes between myself and Howard Stark, my dad, played by John McCook. That was great fun, because there’s tension there. That’s part of the story. Tony is trying to get to the root of his own demons, and confronting his father in their relationship. That’s a really powerful scene that came out great.
Derek McCaw: If I’m reading your resumé correctly, you spent your youth, or mis-spent your youth, as a Mouseketeer? Is that right?
Marc Worden: That’s true. I guess that depends on your point of view, whether it was mis-spent. I started working that show when I was twelve, and it was pulled when I was eighteen.
Derek McCaw: Are you in the group that Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears came out of?
Marc Worden: Absolutely, man, yeah. The casting director for Disney, for the series, his name is Matt Casella. Over the course of several years he toured North America looking for talented kids. It just shows how great he was at his job finding people. You’re talking about Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears…you’re talking about Keri Russell, Ryan Gosling…J.C. Chasez, Justin Timberlake. And there’s plenty of more people that are going to come into the public consciousness that had their schooling in that.
We worked together every day putting on a live show for kids. It was a variety show, like Saturday Night Live for kids, but it was every single day. We sang, we acted, we danced and tried to make a funny show for kids to watch when they got home from school.
Derek McCaw: So you’re a great song and dance man waiting to be discovered?
Marc Worden: That was a part of my life. (laughs) It’s not anymore. It’s not, no.
Derek McCaw: We’re not going to see you doing the Grease revival.
Marc Worden: Nope.
Derek McCaw: In your youth, you’ve worked for Disney, now you’re working for Marvel. These are two companies that are cornerstones for our cultural myths. Everybody knows Mickey Mouse, everybody knows Spider-Man. What’s the difference between working for those two companies?
Marc Worden: Marvel is willing to take risks.
Derek McCaw: In what way?
Marc Worden: The films that we’ve made together are for kids, but they’re really for everybody, you know what I mean? Whereas Disney programs specifically for kids. They are very careful as to their program choices. Am I being P.C. enough here?
Derek McCaw: You can speak freely here.
Marc Worden: I can speak freely here? Well, I can pontificate about what taking risks is all about as a company, but that was a part of our experience working for Disney as teen-agers. We felt confined. Comedy is all about taking risks and making fun of people, and that’s not something they would do. For us as teenagers, in our rebellious years, that was a very difficult thing for us to wrap our heads around.
Marvel has made, in my opinion, three great films here that appeal to a wide audience. But it’s not going to offend the younger viewer. Really, comic books are intended for the younger audience. But my son is two and a half, and he’s not seen any of these films, because I think they really did take a risk in the level of action and violence.
Derek McCaw: My son’s the same age. He’s not ready for it.
Marc Worden: No, he’s not. We were lucky to get a gift of Star Wars for Christmas, and we put it on and he refers to it as “Robot Movie.” Of course, we put Empire Strikes Back on first, and there’s a big battle scene, as you remember, in the snow. And I’m trying to describe it to him.
“These are two different teams, and they’re throwing light at each other.” We just turned it off, man, because it’s just too much.
My son doesn’t know that daddy is Iron Man right now. But he will someday, and that’s going to be great to sit down and watch it with him.
Derek McCaw: Does that influence your choices now? Having kids certainly changes things. Has it changed the way you look at whether or not you accept a role or pursue a certain thing?
Marc Worden: As a father, you know that taking care of your family comes first. Making those kinds of decision based on…you know…at this point, I’m happy to be working. I’m not making decisions based on whether I want my son to watch my work. That’s as honest an answer as I can give you. When the time is right, he will be able to see the films I’ve made, and that I’ve been lucky to be a part of.
Derek McCaw: You’ve done a lot of guest-shots in live-action shows, but it seems like the last couple of years have been focused on voice-over. Was that a conscious choice, do you like voice-over better, or would you like to be able to bounce back and forth between the two?
Marc Worden: You know, this business, it comes in waves, man. I’ve been blessed with a unique voice. I’ve been able to open some doors and have some great opportunities. So for me, I’m happy to work on camera or in the booth, man. I just love to work and create characters, bring my presence and my take on the character to the party.
Derek McCaw: The DVDs seem to be doing well, so we’ll assume that more will be made. A lot of voice-over guys get to move around characters – are there any others in the Marvel Universe you’d like a crack at doing?
Marc Worden: I can’t really disguise my voice. People will know, “hey, that’s Iron Man!”
When I first auditioned for these parts, I went in for Captain America. That wasn’t a good fit for me. But Craig Kyle, our executive producer, really believed in me. He kept bringing me back. I read the second time for Thor, and again, that wasn’t quite right. And then, when I was able to read for Iron Man, that was it. That was a perfect fit. I was so happy that I got to be part of the Avengers. Then getting to do a film, a solo film, about Iron Man was just icing on the cake.
Derek McCaw: Do you have a dream role, stage or anything, that you really want to do?
Marc Worden: I’d like to play a heroic villain. I don’t know how that would manifest itself, but…(laughs)
Derek McCaw: Are you going to play Iron Man as long as they’ll have you?
Marc Worden: You know, I’ve been really lucky to be this guy. As long as the fans keep enjoying the films, we’ll get to keep making them. Hopefully, they will love this film. I’m definitely proud of our work, and I know the entire team at Marvel worked really really hard to get this one out into the world.
Derek McCaw: What else do you have coming out?
Marc Worden: The next thing coming out is the Dragonlance animated feature. That’s for Paramount. I play Sturm Brightblade, who is a knight and an integral part of the tale. It’s going to be a great film, man. Kiefer Sutherland is the star, with Lucy Lawless. I think that there’s a lot of fans of the Dragonlance Chronicles. There’s over a hundred and fifty books that have been written since it started in the eighties. It’s an offshoot of Dungeons and Dragons. So I think there’s going to be some excited people out there, ready to see this movie. Their imagination from reading the books come to life in an animated feature.
Derek McCaw: Has Marvel said “stick around for a while?” Did they sign you to a multiple picture deal?
Marc Worden: Not that anybody’s told me, but I’ll let you know, man.
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