Iron Man Sequel Planned for 2010
Director Jon Favreau Plans for Three Movies; Marvel to Adapt More
With the recent box office success of Iron Man, Marvel Studios is already planning a sequel to the film. Other Marvel comic book adaptations are in the works as well.
Iron Man was the first solely independent release of Marvel Studios, and it has certainly panned out nicely for the comic book giant. Distributed by Paramount, the film pulled in over $100 million ($102.1 million to be exact over a three-and-a-half days) in its first weekend at the box office, which was the second-best all-time opening for a non-sequel, behind only the first Spider-Man and its rake of $114.8 million.
In addition to its strong showing at the box office, the this comic book adaptation was very well received by critics, garnering praise all across the country for injecting the superhero genre with a sleek, new look. These factors, the money especially, have contributed to Marvel already planning an Iron Man sequel, with a release date set in place: April 30, 2010 – the same May weekend as its predecessor’s debut in 2008.
With the current trend in Hollywood, any measurable amount of success would lead people to believe that Iron Man 2 would most certainly be made. Director Jon Favreau has stated that he already has planned a story arc that would turn Iron Man into a trilogy, with Robert Downey, Jr. most assuredly reprising his role.
What Other Superhero Films is Marvel Planning to Adapt?
In addition to an Iron Man sequel, Marvel plans on independently producing a number of other superhero films in the next three years. After utilizing the company’s most marketable names (Spider-Man, X-Men, the Fantastic Four), Marvel is looking to adapt some of its lesser-known characters, including Thor, and the Ant-Man, which Hot Fuzz director Edgar Wright is attached to write and direct. Captain America is also set to have a movie by May 6, 2011.
One particular plan by Marvel that garners plenty of buzz in the comic book lovers' universe is the planned adaptation of The Avengers, set for July 2011. Like the X-Men, the Avengers are a team of superheroes, and it would bring together the likes of Iron Man, Captain America, the Incredibly Hulk, and Thor. Much speculation has been brought up in an attempt to determine how this figures into the plans for the Iron Man franchise, especially after the “bonus” scene that rolled after the credits in Iron Man.
In the end, nothing is certain about the state of any of these movies; that is, until they finally show up on the big screen. However, one can assume that an Iron Man sequel will immediately be put into the works, thanks in large part to its box office success. While the fear of a rushed sequel is a legitimate one, the key elements are in place to help maintain the feel of the first film, which is what moviegoers want in the first place.
