In addition to signing on for a repeat performance as the brilliant billionaire Tony Stark in Iron Man 2, Variety reports that Robert Downey Jr. has now also agreed to star in Iron Man 3 and another Marvel comic book super hero movie The Avengers. Not to be confused with the British television crime / comedy show The Avengers starring Diana Rigg and Patrick Macnee.
In the comic book, The Avengers are a team of superheros that included Ant-Man, Wasp, Thor, Iron Man, and the Hulk, although other superheros would come and go.
After Iron Man earned US$578 million worldwide, it's not surprising that Marvel was keen to see Downey reprise his role. The second Iron Man movie will be directed by Jon Favreau and the role of Col. James Rhodes will be played by Don Cheadle instead of Terrence Howard.
Samuel L. Jackson is also rumoured to appear as a character called Nick Fury who enlists Tony Stark to fight the terrorist villian, The Mandarin. Apparently, if you stayed around after the end credits in Iron Man, Jackson makes a brief cameo.
Iron Man 2 will be released May 7, 2010, The Avengers will be out in 2011, and Iron Man 3 most likely in 2012 or 2013.
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