'The Avengers' 2 & 3 Will Feature Iron Man: Robert Downey Jr. Signs Deal with Marvel for 2 More Sequels as Tony Stark
Robert Downey Jr.'s multi-film contract with Marvel Studios ended with this year's Iron Man 3 and speculation around the character's return in more Avengers films has been heating up ever since. In recent interviews, the charismatic actor said that he would play the character up until his 50th birthday, which would have been 2015. But today Marvel Studios announced that Downey and Iron Man would be returning for two more Avengers films, most likely concluding in 2018. This two-film contract does not include a fourth Iron Man movie and also might hint at the future of the Marvel film universe. Should we expect an Iron Man death in 2018?
Here is Marvel Studio's press release from earlier today:
"I am Iron Man."
Tony Stark's famous closing line to the very first Iron Man film takes on new life today as Marvel is pleased to announce the signing of Robert Downey, Jr. to reprise the role of the "billionaire, genius, playboy, philanthropist."
Under the two-picture agreement, Downey will star as Tony Stark/Iron Man in "Marvel's The Avengers 2" and "Marvel's The Avengers 3." Downey is represented at CAA by Bryan Lourd, Jim Toth and Matt Leaf and by his attorneys Tom Hansen and Stewart Brookman of the firm Hansen Jacobson.
Downey, Jr.'s last two Marvel films, 2012's "Marvel's The Avengers" and this year's "Iron Man 3," rank as two of the top five grossing films of all time, collectively earning over $2.7 billion worldwide to date.
"Marvel's The Avengers 2" is being written and directed by Joss Whedon. Featuring favorites from the first Avengers film and new Marvel characters never before seen on the big screen, "Marvel's The Avengers 2" is slated to begin production in March 2014 and open in theaters May 1, 2015.
Do you think that this news means that Iron Man will die in The Avengers 4? It is obviously too early to tell now, but it is always fun to speculate!