Gizmodo
It looks like Marvel wanted to test the waters before stating the obvious, but Iron Man 2 will be hitting theaters April 30, 2010. HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY WAIT TWO YEARS, you ask? Simple. Just remember what happened to The Matrix.
For those not just interested in the tech-based superheroes, Marvel also announced dates for Thor, The Avengers and a Captain America standalone. Hit the jump for the full press release.
Feature Film Slate Update:[via Maxconsole]Marvel today updated its feature film slate strategy and plans for the next three years, locking in key release windows for its character franchises. In order to focus its attention on maximizing the success of an Iron Man sequel and the launch of Thor in the summer of 2010 and because Marvel believes that the summer is the optimal time to launch a new property, the Company will not release a self produced film in 2009. Marvel plans to launch its 2010 film slate with the release of the sequel, Iron Man 2, on April 30, 2010, followed by the launch of Thor on June 4, 2010. Additionally, Marvel is planting its feature film stakes for summer 2011 with an Avengers-themed summer - a two-picture project which will debut on May 6, 2011 with The First Avenger: Captain America (working title), followed by The Avengers in July 2011.
Marvel's Chairman, Morton Handel, commented, "Adjusting for the strong year-ago contribution from the Spider-Man JV, Marvel's Q1 2008 operating results continued to demonstrate strong global demand for consumer products based on the Company's portfolio of characters. Marvel's self-produced feature film slate launched this past weekend with a performance that firmly establishes Iron Man as a major new film franchise, and the Company eagerly awaits the June premiere of The Incredible Hulk, Marvel's second self-produced film. In addition, Marvel has been investing in other important areas of growth such as the Internet where, to lead the Company's newly formed Global Digital Media Group, Marvel recently announced the hiring of Ira Rubenstein. Marvel has a strong foundation to build from, and the Company is adding infrastructure to maximize these opportunities."
Comments
Thor?
REALLY?
I shall celebrate this by priming yet another bathroom!
(in a minute)
Aw shit, THOR! Mayhaps a contender for Iron Man's new throne?
Punisher 2 where is it?
Forget Thor. Bring on Viking Quest!
damn, hoss
lemme go see it again before you announce the second
The movie was "good," but I don't think that there were enough super-heroics as in many superheroes movies. I wonder why that is. RDJr. did a pretty great job as Stark, but the script was thin in one too many places. B- I wont be holding my breath for thee next one.
I would wait 2 years for something that good...after all Downey might have to go through rehab again!
I can't wait for these characters to be on the big screen. Oh and I love how Iron Man fits into the Avengers.
I just hope it doesn't end up becoming a totally non-cohesive mess like the Matrix turned out to be. The first one stood well enough on its own, and the second and third installments were like totally different flicks altogether, with no look or feel for the first movie.
That said, Iron Man rocks, Bill Gates sucks for not being Iron Man, and Robert Downey Jr. rules as Tony Stark. The End.
Also, Nick Fury FTW. (suck it!)
@nojo: you just made my day with Viking Quest
@LindsayJoy: Good point - they may have had to release Downey back into custody for a year before they can start shooting the next one:)
When you debut the 5th largest Blockbuster of all time, you better line up a sequel.
@nojo: VICTORY!!!!!
@nojo: Victory!
@GOKOR: damn, you beat me to it!
@ibelli: I'm right there with you. Iron Man was a B-minus at best, with one too many flip jokes ("I'm on the job. I don't drink." HILARIOUS SMASH CUT TO DRUNK TERRENCE HOWARD) and a ho-hum Dude as the villain. I can wait two years. Or two hundred.
What about The Power Puff Girls live action blockbuster movie? When is that coming out?
haha, so true.
@Ken_Darrow: I'm waiting for a hong kong phooey movie myself.. how could they do lameee underdog and not hong kong phooey?!
Please just call it Captain America.
Wow! Avengers too? I seriously NEVER though Avengers would get a flick. I hope they base it on the Avengers Ultimates series.
Didn't anyone stay after the credits?
*spoiler alert*
I figured the extra scene meant there would be an Avengers movie before there would be another Iron Man movie.
We are in the throes of a very serious economical downturn, folks. The final nail is in the coffin - this year, 2008, is shaping up to be a GREAT year at the cinemas, and we'll have a PLETHORA of superhero movies to watch as well. BOTH signs associated with recessions in American history, if I'm not mistaken. Damn.
@LindsayJoy: For all we know they've already shot most of the raw footage for IM2. That seems to be getting more popular with Hollywood these days since LotR demonstrated how to do it.
[www.starstore.com]
Hey, in Itchy and Scratchy Episode 68O1, Itchy uses Scratchy's skeleton as a xylophone right. But he hits the same bone twice and it makes two completely different sounds. Heh, are we supposed to believe that this is some sort of magical skeleton? I mean, come on!
Anyone remember the Captain America television movies from the early 80s? Those were classic...
besides matrix 3 sucking... what happened to the matrix
dont understand what you mean by the whole matrix thing giz. are you saying that the timing was simply bad or they didnt spend enough time working on the film? the film sucked so i'm guessing thats what you're referring to. Still though, while i dont want them to rush anything, april 30th is just so f**king specific that it makes me think they could do it alot earlier than that if they wanted to, and are instead just letting things cool down (maybe you're saying that the matrix hype was too big to live up to?? explain giz!)
@banmojo:
hahah i know little about the association between movies and the depression...but its to my knowledge that you are at least onto something and in the next couple of years the movie industry will make a great deal of wealth which will be made primarily off the lower and middle class people.
@ParJoe: Go see Iron Man, stay until after the credits.
I admit I didn't catch the SHIELD reference 'till the little dude said it at the end... ... zooommm......
Yes, best super hero movie I've seen, hand's down.
Grabs you from the first moment and it's good the previews didn't reveal or spoil the set-up.
img src="http:/www.sutton.org/images/jamessutton_sm.jpg" alt="Picture ca 1880 of James Sutton of Worcester, MA" width="91" height="95" class="left" />
Nice. I asked if a Captain America would ever be done. That's cool.
Did they miss anyone? What about the Wonder Twins? Or even Captain Chaos? Or perhaps Captain Planet? Oh, and let's not forget The Greatest American Hero. Although that last one was my favorite show for like the first few episodes.
All joking aside, I can't wait to see what they do with Captain America. Cool!
Woot... IM2 comes out on my birthday!
Easter Egg Alert: During the scene when Stark is having the suit removed and Pepper walks in. There is a Captain America Shield on one of the work benches. This is confirmed by a relative who was one of the digital animators in the movie. Also the person in the motion capture suit during the walk away, after he blew up the tank.
The big question is, how well will they be able to translate Cap and Thor to the big screen without them being completely outlandish?
Captain America was attempted a while back, and it was so ridiculous that it was only released in a single theater in Mexico (if memory serves).
Frankly, I think in order for a guy running around with a shield and a Norse god to work well, they will need to be changed so much from their comicbook roots in order to be contemporary and even remotely believable and grounded in reality that the so-called "purists" will cry foul. On the other hand, if they stay true to the comicbooks, the movies will end up too campy.
It was done very well with Batman Begins, to a certain extent with Spider-Man (particularly by making his powers based more on DNA, almost identical to Spider-Man 2099), and very well with Iron Man. We'll just have to wait and see what they do with The Avengers, I guess.
The best part of the movie is when the bald guy notices that the cute chick stole his data so he slaps his head and goes after her.
That was silly.
@IphtashuFitz:
Somehow I doubt that being that the villain was totally made up for this movie, and they should have used one of Iron Man's arch nemesis like Mandarin, that they are just getting to writing the new script.
LOTR was easier to film all in a row because they followed the already established plot lines and characters in the books.
@LindsayJoy: They DID use The Mandarin - in a way. You may have missed it, but the Bad Guy(s) was called Ten Rings and made references to Genghis Khan - Mandarin claims to be the descendent of Genghis Khan.
@Rabid Penguin: The best part was the "Tucker: A Man and His Dream poster" that Jeff Bridges must have smuggled into the scene.
Does anyone else think that making a Captain American movie is semi-inappropriate in this day and age? Cap is too divisive, too nationalistic to do well outside of America, and also out of touch with who the U.S. is as a nation today. WWII was a LONG time ago!
I seriously thought that Captain Planet would get a big-budget, live action movie before Captain America did.
@LindsayJoy:
Actually, Downey's been clean for quite a while, since like 2001.
And Obidiah Stane/Iron Monger was not at all made up for this movie being that he made his first appearance in the comics back in the 80's.
@martini1179:
Huh?
I don't know about you, but I'm an American and I'm proud to be an American. Captain America doesn't need Nazis to kick some ass on behalf of this great country. Superman also stands for truth, justice, and the American way, and it was a little disappointing that took that last part out in the movie.
Are we ashamed to be Americans??? I'm definitely not.
Great!
After the ending credits stuff, I though they were just gonna release an Avengers movie feat Iron Man as special guest or something... good thing I'm wrong.
@Rabid Penguin:
"...and it was a little disappointing that they took that last part out in the movie."
Captain America divisive?? Sure... If you stand for something there will always be someone standing against you... Of course you wont be standing against Captain America for very long.
Captain Planet is a sissy.
@martini1179: Don't let Capitaine la France and капитан Россия steal the spotlight man!
@Rabid Penguin: Captain Planet is weakened by garbage....wtf...garbage for the love of Jeff!
Hopefully, like Spidey 2, Iron Man 2 will eclipse the original. I wish they'd give us SOMETHING in 2009, though. Even Fantastic 4 3 (I kinda like them despite myself.)
I'm counting the days.
700 Days left.
@martini1179: See, that's where I think you're wrong. Cap's always stood up for the ideals of America ("life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" and all that), not necessarily for the government thereof. Witness the whole Civil War arc, where he finds himself firmly on the side of the rebels. And a big part of Cap's appeal is his struggle to find a place in a country, and a world, that has largely passed him by, while holding onto the ideals that he holds so dear. There's nothing wrong with Captain America, just because he has "America" in his name.
Honestly, though, I think you'd need a couple of movies to do Cap properly. I'd do one that takes place in WWII, with a good old-fashioned Captain America fights the Nazis story, then have him brought into the modern day in the second, and give us a focus on the struggle I mentioned before -- while also giving Cap plenty of opportunity to show just why he is a living legend.
@Kaiser-Machead: Captain Planet can't be weakened by garbage -- he is garbage. Oooh, burn!
RD Jr.'s got mo