In Jon Favreau’s upcoming sequel to Iron Man, Mickey Rourke will be going head to head with Robert Downey Jr. as Whiplash aka Ivan Vanko. The Russian “has constructed his own version of a suit,” says Favreau. It’s unclear whether or not Whiplash will be the same character as he is in the comics (Justin Hammer’s weapons designer), but Favreau likes to mix things up to “play into and against expectations.” So what does Rourke have to say about his whip wielding character in ‘Iron Man 2′; Whiplash “is going to light them up.”

First look: Mickey Rourke suits up as Whiplash for ‘Iron Man 2′ [USA Today]