The pre-production process in superhero cinema generates a vast archive of discarded ideas. A fascinating example is Phil Saunders' concepts for Iron Man's Mark 50 armor in Avengers: Infinity War. Inspired by the All-New, All-Different comic suit from 2015, these designs featured a rounded helmet and a square torso, a literal adaptation that was ultimately not used. This case illustrates how concept art serves as a laboratory to explore fidelity to the original material before defining the final cinematic aesthetic.
From Sketch to VFX: the Asset Design Pipeline 🛠️
Saunders' work was not limited to 2D sketches. It is very likely that these concepts were developed as detailed 3D models, allowing evaluation of their volumetry, proportions, and integration into scenes. This phase is crucial in the VFX pipeline, where 3D design acts as a bridge between concept art and the final assets for animation. Testing different variants in 3D allows directors and designers to make informed decisions about silhouette, narrative functionality, and coherence within the character's evolution line in the MCU, which prioritized a more stylized look over a literal reinterpretation of the comic.
Discarded Art as a Seed for the Future 🌱
This unused design transcends its category of mere curiosity. In the context of the Multiverse Cinematic, concepts like this represent a valuable bank of ideas for future reinventions of the character. The specific aesthetic of the All-New, All-Different suit, already explored and modeled, could be recovered for alternative versions of Iron Man in films like Avengers: Secret Wars. Thus, concept art demonstrates its enduring value, not only as a tool for a production, but as a narrative and visual asset for the future of the franchise.
How do 3D design decisions and discarded concept art, like the initial versions of Iron Man's Mark 50, influence the visual narrative and final tone of a film like Avengers: Infinity War?
(P.S.: Previz in cinema is like the storyboard, but with more chances for the director to change their mind.)