Corona | Coming Attractions

Marvel Studios sent out a press release today that confirmed what all of us knew was going to happen: Robert Downey Jr. will play Iron Man in the big-screen Avengers movie. As part of his four-picture deal with Marvel Studios, Downey will reprise the superhero in the sequel as well as Avengers in 2010 and '11, respectively. Iron Man director Jon Favreau was also announced as being an executive producer on Avengers, and the recent recast Iron Man role of Col. James Rhodes (now played by Don Cheadle) will also appear in the superhero team movie.

Embedded in the release was a brief summary of what storyline is being developed for The Avengers, but key to note is the direct mention of four Avengers as being in the film: "In a movie event, The Avengers will bring together the super hero team of Marvel Comics characters for the first time ever, including Irom Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk and more, as they are forced to band together to battle the biggest foe they've ever faced."

Two gentlemen not mentioned as being a part of the Avengers cast (yet) are Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury) and Edward Norton (Bruce Banner/The Hulk). With the reveal that the Hulk will indeed be a part of the group, as well as the near certainty that Jackson will also be in the film, we're assuming that Marvel hasn't yet concluded contract negotiations with these two but that every effort is being made to get them involved with the picture. It's also a virtual certainty that whoever is signed to play Thor and Captain America in those two characters' stand-alone movies will have to also play them in the Avengers flick.