Marvel Studios has announced that Robert Downey Jr. and Don Cheadle will suit up for the planned 2011 movie The Avengers. Iron Man director Jon Favreau will executive produce.
Downey’s involvement comes as no surprise: It was clear that Iron Man would play a role in any Avengers movie. However, the inclusion of Cheadle, who replaces Terrence Howard as James (War Machine) Rhodes in Iron Man 2, is a bit unexpected.
It’s unclear from the press release whether War Machine will be a major player in The Avengers, or simply a cameo part. What is clear, though, is that Marvel is pleased with Cheadle.
“We are very excited about working with the extraordinarily talented Don Cheadle as we expand the role of Rhodey in Iron Man 2,” says Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige. “It has already become apparent as we prep the movie for production, that the dynamic between Robert and Don will take Iron Man 2 to new heights.”
There’s also mention of “subsequent installments of the Iron Man franchise,” which suggests the studio may envision a series of movies, akin to X-Men or Spider-Man. Complete with spin-offs, perhaps?
Iron Man 2 will open on May 7, 2010.
October 28th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Good news! I have no opinion one way or the other about the Cheadle/Howard thing… Neither actor would cause me to see or not see it (Cripes, I was gonna see it anyway!). Cheadle’s certainly the better actor, but it’s just not a big deal either way. Read some of the comments on the main page, and you’d think the sky was falling or something. Terrance Howard was fine, but he was never among the reasons I went to see Iron Man.
Interesting that Ed Norton’s nowhere to be mentioned in any of this though… Will we get a new Banner, or will we just Hulk and not Banner? See, I’m not a huge Hulk fan, although I loved the movie this past summer and I enjoyed both Planet Hulk and WW Hulk. I’m at a bit of a loss though… Hulk (in the comics) talks like a regular person and doesn’t automatically change back to Banner when he mellows out. How, and when, did that change from the traditional “HULK SMASH!” approach?
October 29th, 2008 at 5:54 am
Why is it the Terrance Howard situation puts me in mind of Entourage and Aquaman 2?