Robert Downey Jr. is committed to being billionaire genius Tony Stark and his iron-clad alter-ego for years to come. Daily Variety reports that the Oscar-nominated actor will not only return for Iron Man 2, but has also signed on Marvel Studio’s The Avengers and a third Iron Man installment.
The trade also reports that, in addition to directing Iron Man 2, filmmaker Jon Favreau will exec produce The Avengers. A superhero mash-up featuring Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk and other Marvel comic-book staples, The Avengers is slated for release on July 15, 2011.
Pegged for May 7, 2010, Iron Man 2 will see Gwyneth Paltrow reprise the role of Stark’s assistant and love interest, Pepper Potts. However, Terrence Howard has been replaced by Don Cheadle in the role of Jim Rhodes, a character that will play a bigger role in the sequel. Howard recently told NPR that he was blindsided by the news and denied that he clashed with Marvel Studios over money.
Marvel is financing and producing both Iron Man sequels and The Avengers, which will all be distributed by Paramount. Iron Man opened over the summer and raked in roughly $578 million worldwide, strengthening Marvel’s resolve to bring its comic properties to the screen in a big way.
