You probably remember the dancing. Before the drones start exploding and the "Ex-Wife" missile duds out in the mud, there’s that moment in Iron Man 2 where Justin Hammer shuffles onto the Stark Expo stage to some funky music. It’s awkward. It’s desperate. It’s basically the essence of a man who wants to be Tony Stark so badly it physically hurts.
But here’s the thing most people forget: Sam Rockwell wasn't just some backup choice to play a corporate sleazebag. He was actually one of the top contenders to play Tony Stark himself back when Jon Favreau was first casting the original 2008 movie.
Imagine that for a second. In some alternate branch of the multiverse, we didn’t get the RDJ "comeback of the century." We got the twitchy, high-energy, slightly unhinged charm of Sam Rockwell in the Mark III suit. Honestly, it’s one of those "what if" scenarios that actually makes sense when you look at how he eventually played the rival.
The Villain Who Just Wanted a Hug
Justin Hammer is often ranked in the middle of the pack when people talk about MCU villains, but that’s kind of a crime. He’s not trying to wipe out half of the universe or avenge an ancient bloodline. He just wants to be liked. Specifically, he wants to be liked as much as Tony Stark.
When Sam Rockwell took the role in Iron Man 2, he didn't play him as a cardboard cutout of a businessman. He played him as a "try-hard." He’s the guy who buys the expensive suit but forgets to take the tag off the sleeve. He’s the guy who uses too much self-tanner—if you look closely at the scene in the airplane hangar with Ivan Vanko, Hammer’s palms are literally orange. That wasn't a makeup mistake; it was a character choice by Rockwell to show how fake the guy is.
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The relationship between Hammer and Tony isn't really about hero vs. villain. It’s about the "A-list" vs. the guy who’s perpetually stuck on the "B-list." Tony is a natural genius; Hammer is a salesman who has to hire genius (and usually picks the wrong people, like a Russian physicist with a bird obsession).
Why Iron Man Sam Rockwell Almost Happened
Jon Favreau has been pretty open about how much he loved Rockwell's energy early on. During the development of the first film, they were looking for someone who could capture that fast-talking, brilliant-but-flawed vibe. Rockwell has that in spades. You see it in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind or Seven Psychopaths.
He’s got this kinetic way of moving and talking that feels very "Stark-esque."
Ultimately, Downey Jr. walked into the room and the rest is history. But Favreau didn't forget Rockwell. When it came time to cast the sequel, he reportedly reached out and basically told him he wanted him for Hammer. The character in the comics is actually a much older, more dignified man—basically a senior citizen in a suit. They threw that out the window to make Hammer a dark reflection of Tony. A peer who just couldn't quite stick the landing.
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The Improv Factor
If some of the dialogue in Iron Man 2 feels a bit chaotic, that’s because it was. Much like the first movie, the script was often being written or tweaked on the day of filming. Rockwell thrives in that.
- He worked closely with screenwriter Justin Theroux.
- The "Ex-Wife" missile speech? Half of that rhythm is Rockwell finding the character's voice.
- The dancing was his idea to show Hammer’s "cool" factor (which, again, is zero).
There’s a specific scene where he’s eating a dessert while talking to Vanko. It’s such a small, weird detail, but it makes him feel like a real person rather than a plot device. He’s constantly performing, even when there's no audience.
Where Is Justin Hammer Now?
It’s 2026, and we’ve seen the MCU go through the Blip, the Multiverse, and the death of Tony Stark himself. So, where did the world's most incompetent arms dealer go?
Last we saw him in live-action, he was in Seagate Prison during the Marvel One-Shot All Hail the King. He was still complaining about Stark, still being a bit of a diva, and apparently in a relationship with a fellow inmate. He hasn't aged out of his bitterness.
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With the upcoming Armor Wars project—which is supposedly centering on James Rhodes (War Machine) dealing with Stark's tech falling into the wrong hands—it seems almost impossible not to bring Rockwell back. Who else is more qualified to steal Stark tech and then accidentally blow themselves up with it?
The "What If" Connection
We actually got a taste of his return recently in the What If...? series. In the episode where Happy Hogan saves Christmas, Rockwell returned to voice a variant of Hammer who takes over Avengers Tower. It reminded everyone why we loved the guy. He’s funny, he’s pathetic, and he’s strangely relatable in his failures.
Actionable Takeaways for MCU Fans
If you’re revisiting the Iron Man trilogy or getting ready for the next phase of Marvel movies, here’s how to spot the brilliance of the Iron Man Sam Rockwell connection:
- Watch the Hands: Next time you watch Iron Man 2, look for the self-tanner stains on Hammer's palms. It’s the ultimate "fake it 'til you make it" detail.
- The Wardrobe Parallel: Notice how Hammer’s suits are slightly too flashy compared to Tony’s. Tony wears them like a second skin; Hammer wears them like armor.
- The "Ex-Wife" Context: Fans often mock the "Ex-Wife" missile for being a dud. However, tech nerds have pointed out that it’s a kinetic kill weapon—it needs distance to build up speed. Rhodey fired it from ten feet away. It wasn't necessarily Hammer's fault; it was user error.
Sam Rockwell didn't get to be the hero, but he ended up being the most human villain in the entire franchise. He’s the guy who thinks he’s the main character in a movie where he’s really just the comic relief. And honestly? That makes him way more interesting than another CGI monster trying to blow up a city.
Keep an eye on the Armor Wars casting announcements. If Rockwell's name pops up, you know we're in for a good time.