Iron Man Movie

Guide Note: Iron Man was adapted to film from the Marvel comic book written by Stan Lee in 1963. Robert Downey Jr. stars as the wealthy scientist, Tony Stark. The film opens on May 2, 2008.

Plot:

Tony Stark is taken hostage in Afghanistan and ordered to create terrorist weapons. While held captive, Stark instead uses the materials to create a suit of armor, allowing him to escape and return to the United States. Back home, Stark continues to improve the armor, creating the Iron Man superhero.

Production:

The film was started as a low-budget film by Universal Studios, in 1990. The project passed through several studios over the next decade. After Universal, Iron Man was picked up by 20th Century Fox. Unable to secure contracts with it's preferred actors and directors, they sold the film to New Line Cinema, who eventually sold it back to Marvel.

Promotion:

The Iron Man promotional trailer first appeared before the highly successful Transformers live action film in 2007. Paramount Pictures also showed the trailer during Super Bowl XLII.

Trilogy?

Director Jon Favreau has commented that this is just the first of the Iron Man films he has in the works. It has been reported that several of the actors, including Downey, are signed on for at least one more film. In the second film, Favreau hopes to explore more of a dark side to the superhero, including a battle with alcoholism. Fast Facts

1. Distributor: Paramount Pictures
2. Directed by Jon Favreau
3. Release Date: May 2, 2008
4. Running time: 126 minutes
5. Budget: $186 million
6. Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges
7. Rumored cameo by Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
8. Rumored cameo by Hilary Swank
9. Iron Man character based on real life billionaire Howard Hughes