Posted on 05/05/2008 7:35:28 PM PDT by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Buoyed by the blockbuster success of "Iron Man" over the weekend, Marvel Studios on Monday announced plans for a string of superhero properties, including an "Iron Man" sequel set for April 2010.
"Iron Man 2" will be followed in June 2010 by the big-screen adaptation of another of Marvel's popular comic book characters, "Thor," the mighty, hammer-wielding hero based on the Nordic god of the same name, the company said.
"Captain America" and "The Avengers" are next in line for the summer of 2011.
The nearly $99 million opening weekend of "Iron Man," Marvel's first fully self-financed production, gave Hollywood's summer movie season a solid start and set the stage for a robust earnings report from the studio's corporate parent, Marvel Entertainment Inc.
Drawing largely favorable reviews, "Iron Man" stars Robert Downey Jr. as billionaire industrialist and playboy Tony Stark, who wrestles with a mid-life crisis as he invents a high-tech suit of armor that transforms him into a superhero.
Kevin Feige, head of production for Marvel Studios, said Downey would return in the sequel as part of his three-picture deal for the franchise. Feige said the gifted actor deserved much of the credit for the film's broad appeal.
"It's great to see a sold-out audience that you know is made up of comic book fans and people who had never read an 'Iron Man' comic in their life," he said.
Marvel shares soared nearly 10 percent on Monday as the company reported first-quarter profits above market estimates and raised its 2008 financial outlook.
Costing about $150 million to make, "Iron Man" was distributed by Viacom Inc.'s Paramount Pictures studio, which footed the $75 million marketing bill for the movie and received a flat fee for its efforts.
The same arrangement will apply for "Iron Man 2" and an upcoming film based on "Captain America," the iconic crime-fighter created in 1941.
That film, now titled "The First Avenger: Captain America," is slated for release in May 2011, to be followed by "The Avengers," based on a team of Marvel heroes that has included Iron Man, Thor and Captain America, in July of that year.
'IRON MAN' PROVES BOX OFFICE METTLE
An adaptation of Marvel's "Ant-Man" character also is in development. But with the coveted summer movie release dates for 2009 already well booked by other studios, Marvel has no self-produced films scheduled to open next year.
Instead, the company said it would "focus its attention on maximizing the success of an 'Iron Man' sequel and the launch of 'Thor' in the summer of 2010."
The final Friday-through-Sunday tally for "Iron Man" came to $98.6 million, down slightly from the $100 million-plus studio estimate reported on Sunday.
But even without an additional $3.5 million grossed from Thursday "previews," the film easily exceeded the debut weekends of sequels to two other hit Marvel franchises -- "Spider-Man 2" and "X2: X-Men United" ($88.2 million and $85.6 million, respectively).
"Iron Man" also ranks as the second-biggest domestic debut ever for a non-sequel movie, a record set by the first "Spider-Man" with $114.8 million in May 2002. "Spider-Man 3" stands as the top movie opening of all time -- $151 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales its first weekend in May 2007.
"Iron Man" also proved its international mettle, grossing nearly $97 million from overseas openings in 57 foreign markets and claiming the No. 1 box office spot in most of those.
Although the studio has no movies in the works for release next year, three animated TV series are set to debut in 2008 based on Marvel's Iron Man, Hulk and X-Men titles.
The very next Marvel film slated for release is "The Incredible Hulk," headed to theaters next month as a remake based on the oversized, green brute originally brought to the big screen in a 2003 commercial dud directed by Ang Lee.
OK, OK, I’ll keep an open mind. I just hated to see them liberalize Cap. Comics ain’t politics, you know? Captain America whining about us kicking butt in the WOT is like seeing Battman stumping for tax cuts.
Tell me SHE wouldn't work as a live, big-budget action flick -- !!! ;)
You know, while we’re at it...I want a live action Justice League movie.
I just watched Batman Begins tonight, and I could watch it 800 times. Just awesome.
Didn't they already film The Incredible Shrinking Man, back in the '50s...? ;)
Ah, but who would play her?
Again, I leave the speculaton to others whose wives aren’t so swift with the frying pan.
In brightest day
In blackest night
No evil shall escape my sight
let those who worship evil’s might
beware my power, Green Lantern’s Light!
oh, sorry, I thought we were discussing REAL Comic Book Heroes..DC heroes!
In brightest day
In blackest night
No evil shall escape my sight
let those who worship evil’s might
beware my power, Green Lantern’s Light!
oh, sorry, I thought we were discussing REAL Comic Book Heroes..DC heroes!
;)
See directly below your own posting. ;)
Well... I suppose Shemp Howard is out... ;)
as I recall Kate Beckinsale looks VERY good in spandex.
8-)
FIRE IN THE HOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLE -- !!! [::dives headlong into nearest foxhole::] ;)
Green Lantern would be just outstanding. Even The Flash got a live acion series. Time for Manhunter, Aquaman and Lantern to get their due.
BTW, try this out: First Justice League movie is about the formation of the league and their fight against an early foe...like the pilot episode of the League series on Cartoon Network where they had to defeat the Martian invasion.
The sequel? Fernus. Tell me that wouldn’t be the coolest thing ever.
Kate Beckinsale as a redhead...the mind boggles. :-)
Mila Jovovich
They tried Green Lantern. It died before it made it to the box office and I am unsure if you can even get it on DVD. :(
And loose, apparently.
I don’t think Christopher Walken could pull it off, either.
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