According to Marvel, “Iron Man 2” is due out 2010. According to 
actor Terrence Howard, who'll be reprising his role as Jim Rhodes for the sequel, it starts filming next March.
This is news to director Jon Favreau (and star Robert Downey Jr, the filmmaker says) who has stated on his MySpace page just how unrealistic Marvel's plan to have the film in theaters within two years is.
''It’s been five weeks since the one and only phone call my reps have gotten from Marvel. I know their hands are full with the Hulk and I’m sure they will get into it shortly, as they tell me they intend to. I ran into the Marvel guys at the Hulk premiere and everyone sounded eager to get to work on IM2.
I am concerned, however, about the announced release date of April 2010. Neither Robert nor I were consulted about this and we are both concerned about how realistic the date is in light of the fact that we have no script, story or even writers hired yet. This genre of movie is best when it is done thoughtfully and with plenty of preparation. It might be better to follow the BB/DK, X/X2 three year release pattern than to scramble for a date. It is difficult because there are no Marvel 09 releases and they need product, but I also think we owe it to the fans to have a great version of IM2 and, at this point, we would have less time to make it than the first one.''
Favs answers more fan questions too, click here to read
Marvel Studios, the new powerhouse production company that has taken over the development of all of its major comic properties, is now adding Runaways to its slate of projects. The film is being developed and written by Brian K. Vaughan, the series' co-creator, and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige will operate as producer. The Runaways comic first appeared in 2002 is about a group of teenagers who find that some family secrets are bigger than others when they discover their parents are actually super-villains. They subsequently run away and "begin a journey of discovery, both of their parents' origins and of their own inherited powers, while trying to make up for the evil done by their parents." Unfortunately it sounds like this is at least four years out, but the it is official and development is currently underway.
We all saw Marvel's official line-up through 2011 when it was announced earlier this month, and Runaways was definitely not on it. However, this doesn't mean Marvel couldn't squeeze it in somewhere in the spring or winter months without bumping into the other big projects. While I'm not familiar with this comic series at all, it was critically praised for its honest portrayal of teens and their issues and won a Harvey Award in 2006 for best series. Could this be better than you're average teenage comic book movie?
Our friend Peter over at SlashFilm seems pretty jazzed about this project, namely because Brian K. Vaughan is so heavily involved with the script. He also mentions that Joss Whedon, who is a fan of the series, took over when original creators Vaughan and Adrian Alphona left at issue #24 of the second volume. Despite I've never heard of it until now, apparently this seems like something quite unique and possibly a quality teenaged superhero film. Is anyone familiar with this comic? Would it make for a good film? I'm very curious to hear what the response will be to this project.
Say it ain't so! Hot on the heels of Marvel's announcement yesterday of a Captain America movie for 2011, a scoop from Cinema Blend names Matthew McConaughey is one of the actors in the running for the lead role. Please tell me this is all just a big phoney rumor like Hayden Christensen as Superman! It would easily be the biggest travesty in all of Marvel history if McConaughey was cast as Captain America. The scoop says that although the film is still three years out from release, they're currently searching for their star and he is one of the few that is being considered. I really hate talking about rumors like this, but everyone is hungry for something to chew on after Marvel's announcement and here it is.
While Cinema Blend claims their source is reliable, this whole idea is not only a bit far fetched, but a final decision won't be made for quite some time. In case you're not familiar with Captain America, he is (typically) the altar ego of Steve Rogers, a sickly young man who was enhanced to the peak of human perfection by an experimental serum in order to aid the United States war effort. He can be identified by his American flag-like uniform and indestructible shield that can be thrown as a weapon. In the most recent comics, he has become the leader of The Avengers, which seems like the direction Marvel is going in with the movies: The First Avenger: Captain America and The Avengers both in 2011.
The real question regarding the upcoming The First Avenger: Captain America is how they're going to turn him into a character that can actually be appreciated in today's day and age. Captain America was originally created in the 1940's as patriotic government propaganda in order to help encourage even more animosity towards the Nazis. Matthew McConaughey is not only a piss poor actor to begin with, but he really doesn't seem to find the iconic Captain America that I envision. Not only does the right person need to be a very commanding actor, but the character needs to really be adapted into modern times and given the right story to succeed in a world where patriotism isn't the biggest focus anymore.
I'm pretty sure I know that everyone is on the same level of me in my distaste for McConaughey as Captain America. Instead, I'm curious to hear what people really think about the character and who might be a better choice consideration the aspects of him. Leave your thoughts below!
Marvel Entertainment released their first quarter report to its shareholders this morning to coincide with the announcement about the success this past weekend of Marvel Studios' first production Iron Man, which grossed an estimated $100.7 million domestically and over $200 million worldwide. The announcement included an update of Marvel Studios' feature film slate with the already-rumored Iron Man 2 announced for a release on April 30, 2010, followed by three more movies for the summers of '10 and '11. Matthew Vaughn's Thor is set for a release on June 4, 2010, and The First Avenger: Captain America (the working title) will kick off the summer of 2011 on May 6, followed by the highly-anticipated and foreshadowed The Avengers scheduled for July 2011. (Edgar Wright's Ant-Man is also listed as being in development with no release date set.)
