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Marvel mines more precious metal with `Iron Man 2'

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This weekend was just the beginning of Hollywood's Iron age.

Marvel Studios announced Monday it will release "Iron Man 2" on April 30, 2010, following the success of the first in the comic-book franchise, which pulled in $104.2 million domestically since opening last Thursday and $201 million worldwide.

Four other films based on Marvel superheroes also were announced: "Thor," due out June 4, 2010; "The First Avenger: Captain America," May 6, 2011; "The Avengers," July 2011; and "Ant-Man," which is in development but has no release date.

Marvel also has "The Incredible Hulk," starring Edward Norton, coming out this June 13 from Universal Studios.

Just as Downey's character, Tony Stark, makes an appearance in next month's "The Incredible Hulk," the Hulk could turn up in "Iron Man 2," Marvel Studios Chairman David Maisel said during a conference call to discuss the company's earnings. And "The Avengers" consists of a rotating roster of Marvel heroes — including original members Iron Man, the Hulk, Ant-Man and Thor — that could see the return of virtually any of the franchise's characters.

"In controlling our destiny, we can control where the characters are and we can have our movies connect and be in the same universe," Maisel said.

"Iron Man" was the first film financed by Marvel, which previously licensed its superheroes to Hollywood studios for such hits as the "Spider-Man," "X-men" and "Fantastic Four" flicks.

Seeking more creative control and a bigger cut of the receipts, Marvel plans to make future films itself and hire studios to distribute them for a fee.

Starring Robert Downey Jr. as a billionaire weapons designer who builds himself a high-tech metal suit to fight bad guys, "Iron Man" exceeded box-office expectations, coming in second only to the first "Spider-Man" for debuts among non-sequels.

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Copyright 2008, The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP Online news report may not be published, broadcast or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.


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What comic book movies are you most looking forward to?

Comments

By tbone

May 10, 2008 3:22 PM | Link to this

If Zak Penn writes the Avengers movie it will suck. Marvel must get better screen writers and directors to make there movies.

By irongirl

May 8, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

I think these will be the coolest movies ever. Obviously they didnt make these movies until now cause they didn’t have the tech we have today. I think its awesome!!!!!!!!!

By Daredevil 2

May 6, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

I guess we’re lukcy there are no plans on making a sequel to Daredevil. That was the worst.

Wolverine, stop watching Hollywood movies then. Or movies pretending to be indy but really are just low-budgets from offshoot Hollywood studios. How about renting a movie called The Amateurs, freshly released on DVD and featuring a fine cast in Jeff Bridges, Ted Danson and Joe Pantolino, (sp?) among others?

By Wolverine

May 5, 2008 9:30 PM | Link to this

NONE! Not ONE! Hollywood has gotten SO ridiculously unimaginative that it is making movies out of boring crap from 20-40 years ago. Please!!! Someone recommend a new movie that is actually creative and not based on a comic book, TV Show, or the 4th sequel to a movie that wasn’t good in the first place.

By Glen

May 5, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

If done correctly, The Avengers could easily be the coolest. If done correctly.

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