Robert Downey Jr. Signs On For More ‘Iron Man’

Robert Downey Jr. will suit up as “Iron Man” – at least three more times.

Downey will reprise his role as billionaire Tony Stark/armored alter ego Iron Man for “Iron Man 2,” “Iron Man 3” and “The Avengers,” Variety reported on Wednesday.

Jon Favreau will also return to direct the sequel to the hugely successful summer blockbuster, which grossed nearly $580 million worldwide. He will also serve as executive producer on “The Avengers,” which will team Iron Man up with the likes of the Hulk, Captain America, Thor and potentially others from the Marvel catalog.

“Iron Man 2” is slated for a May 7, 2010 release, while “The Avengers” is scheduled to hit theaters on July 15, 2011.

Robert Downey Jr. will suit up as “Iron Man” – at least three more times.

Downey will reprise his role as billionaire Tony Stark/armored alter ego Iron Man for “Iron Man 2,” “Iron Man 3” and “The Avengers,” Variety reported on Wednesday.

Jon Favreau will also return to direct the sequel to the hugely successful summer blockbuster, which grossed nearly $580 million worldwide. He will also serve as executive producer on “The Avengers,” which will team Iron Man up with the likes of the Hulk, Captain America, Thor and potentially others from the Marvel catalog.

While Downey, Favreau and Gwyenth Paltrow will be back to bring more “Iron” to moviegoers’ diets, one person who won’t return from the original cast is Terrence Howard.

As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Don Cheadle has been tapped to replace Howard as James Rhodes – Starks’ confidant who eventually straps on the War Machine armored suit.

The role of Rhodes will be expanded for the sequel, said Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios. In the comic books, Rhodes dons Stark’s silver backup suit, which is retrofitted with heavy artillery, to become Iron Man sidekick War Machine.

“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.

Upon hearing the news he would not return for “Iron Man 2,” Howard told National Public Radio the studio’s decision came as a shock.

“It was the surprise of a lifetime,” Howard told NPR earlier this month.