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Downey Jr., Favreau & Cheadle Suit Up for The Avengers!

Source:Marvel Entertainment

October 28, 2008

Marvel Studios has sent out the following two-part production update for Iron Man 2 and The Avengers!

ROBERT DOWNEY JR. AND JON FAVREAU SUIT UP FOR MARVEL STUDIOS' THE AVENGERS AND IRON MAN 2

As part of his four picture deal with Marvel Studios, Robert Downey Jr. is appearing as Tony Stark in THE AVENGERS motion picture, as well as reprising his starring role as the larger-than-life leading character in IRON MAN 2. Jon Favreau will return to direct the sequel to the blockbuster IRON MAN, which to date has grossed over $578 million worldwide, as well as executive produce THE AVENGERS.

Academy Award® nominee Downey was most recently seen in the summer comedy blockbuster TROPIC THUNDER starring opposite Ben Stiller and Jack Black. Before Iron Man, he was best known for his film roles in KISS KISS BANG BANG, WONDER BOYS and CHAPLIN, the film for which he was nominated for an Oscar®.

In addition to directing the first IRON MAN, Favreau has previously directed ELF, ZATHURA: A SPACE ADVENTURE and MADE. He is also well known for writing and starring in SWINGERS. He will next be seen acting in FOUR CHRISTMASES, I LOVE YOU MAN and COUPLES RETREAT.

DON CHEADLE WILL STAR AS RHODEY IN IRON MAN 2

Marvel Studios is pleased today to confirm that an agreement has been finalized with award-winning actor Don Cheadle to take on the role of Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes in Marvel's IRON MAN 2 due in theaters on May 7, 2010. In casting Cheadle, Marvel replaces Terrence Howard who appeared in the role of Rhodey in IRON MAN.

Cheadle is also signed on to perform the same role in THE AVENGERS and subsequent installments of the IRON MAN franchise.

"We are very excited about working with the extraordinarily talented Don Cheadle as we expand the role of Rhodey in Iron Man 2. 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," said Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios.

Cheadle is best known for his Oscar® nominated lead performance in HOTEL RWANDA as well as his role as Basher Tarr in the OCEAN'S franchise, CRASH and SWORDFISH.

Based on Marvel's iconic Super Hero, IRON MAN 2 continues the story of this summer's box office blockbuster IRON MAN, the first feature film produced independently by Marvel Studios. IRON MAN 2 will be produced by Marvel Studios' President, Kevin Feige, and executive produced by Louis D'Esposito, Jon Favreau, Stan Lee, David Maisel and Denis Stewart.

In a movie event, THE AVENGERS will bring together the super hero team of Marvel Comics characters for the first time ever, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk and more, as they are forced to band together to battle the biggest foe they've ever faced.

The highly anticipated sequel to IRON MAN will be released in theatres on May 7, 2010 and THE AVENGERS will be released July 15, 2011. Both films will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Cheadle is represented by UTA. Downey and Favreau are represented by CAA.

COMMENTS (87)

Posted by:

the moscowitz leprauchan

October 28, 2008

i'm pretty sure if i heard correctly, edward norton just signed on for the incredible hulk sequel. This would lead me to believe because the two events were in such close quarters with eachother, that they put in some sort of condition about the avengers movie. i can only assume and only hope.

Posted by:

theshibbmeister

October 29, 2008

First off, I like the move of "upgrading" to Don Cheadle. Hasn't anyone noticed that superhero movies are finally getting good? And its because they are actually casting actors who can act! Christian Bale, RDJ, Edward Norton, Heath Ledger?! Some of the best talent out there today! Don Cheadle is certainly a better actor than Howard, although Howard isnt bad. But Howard's performance to me wasnt all that great anyway, he was bland. I think Marvel saw this and they realized that the character would need to be deeper for the story to progress correctly.

As for Edward Norton, he is signed on for a Hulk sequel, and NOT the Avengers. They have discussed not needing an actor to play the Hulk and having him in his Hulk form for the whole movie (recasting the Hulk would be an example of horrible recasting period.) And even though Norton is signed on to another Hulk, nothing has been confirmed. I do find it unlikely for Norton to sign onto the Avengers as he was displeased with how Marvel cut the Hulk.

Posted by:

Bellatrix LeStrange

October 29, 2008

OMG people have a cow! I had to deal with a recast in the Harry Potter films-the man who played the first Dumbledore died,and so Michael Gambon had to step in for Richard Harris. Another is Hannibal the sequel to The Silence of the Lambs. Jodie Foster didnt want to do it so Julianne Moore had to step in for her- yes it sucks but what can you do?

Posted by:

Bellatrix LeStrange

October 29, 2008

Oh and I look forward to both these movies I love all the marvel movies- and yes that does mean all of them.

Posted by:

Someguy

October 29, 2008

Wow... Everyone is an expert critic, it seems. I think everyone is overreacting a bit over Terrance Howard. Yes he was good. Yes it sucks that he won't be reprising his role as Rhodey, but life goes on. He's got other movies he will do, and he'll be fine. How can you say a movie is going to be bad, or a franchise, or even MARVEL is crap, because they replaced ONE person. If it's going to bother you that much, don't go seem the ****ing movie. I'm just happy there is going to BE a sequel. I suppose everyone here hates Bond movies too, cuz they change the guy who plays Bond every so many movies.

Posted by:

James

October 29, 2008

all of this is all well and good, but all i want to know is WHY they replaced Howard for Cheadle!

Posted by:

Williams411

October 29, 2008

I honestly don't get the outrage with the rhodey character being re-cast. I mean, I definetly think terrence howard got screwed over by marvel...but I don't see how its gonna ruin the franchise. They've only made one iron man movie so far...one...how could it mess up future iron man movies if they changed actors right now? Its not like they've made 6 iron man movies and then suddenly changed the actor in the 7th one, I could understand some outrage then.

Posted by:

theshibbmeister

October 29, 2008

Bellatrix,

The recasting of Dumbledore (although neccasary) sucked. Gambon is a great actor, but is nothing compared to Richard Harris' interpretation of Dumbledore. And the loss of Jodie Foster doomed Hannibal from the start. So those two examples arent to reassuring haha.

As far as the Bond films go, its a little different. Until the most recent films, there was absolutely no continuity within the films, so it was a little easier to accept. Yes recasting can be annoying and backfire, but I'll give you one example of recasting that saved a franchise...

Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan. I think this move made Patriot Games and CAPD enjoyable. In my humble opinion, I think the upgrade of acting quality from Howard to Cheadle is comparable to the upgrade from Baldwin to Ford. And its not like they are recasting RDJ. Iron Man would never have been as good without RBJ, but each of the other cast members gave subpar performances that could easily have been accomplished by many other actors/actresses.

Posted by:

KaiJu Alex

October 29, 2008

Biggest vilian ever...do they mean...Ultron?!?

Posted by:

Angel

October 29, 2008

Eva Longoria will be the Wasp....it was confirmed that she had meetings with Marvel Studios execs, and a picture was taken of her leaving their offices with a stack of Avengers comics on her hands. I say she will fit the role of the Wasp just fine.

What I want to hear is some casting news or rumors at least.