Decisions, decisions. : )
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.
I don’t like Kyle since the end of the Sinestro Corp War when Ron Marz had to write him to say, “You’ll be stuck in a cell reading Ann Coulter, because that’s what crazy people do.”
ARRRGH!! You spoiled it, I haven’t seen Iron Man yet!
No problem though. :-)
“B.) We already know she can do action sequences. “
If your taking about the car wash scene in Bring It On, I couldn’t agree more. Grrrrrrrrrrreat action sequence.
Ron Marz, if you’re reading this...up yours.
Oh, yeah. She can DEFINITELY bring it. ;)
“God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women”
I’m not intending to be rude or insulting by bringing this up. And I also do not wish to come across self-righteously or condescending by saying this...
But I would expect someone with your log line to be at church on Sunday morning rather than the movie theater.
I also bring this up because I really wanted to see this movie this past weekend but decided against it because, like so many Hollywood movies, it inappropriately and unnecessarily uses God’s name in vain.
I think Hollywood hates any movie being made without a few obligatory abuses of God’s name. Even the G-rated Herbie movie had to throw in an OMG.
Why does Iron Man need to misuse God’s name at least 6 times and Jesus’ name once also?
I guess since most people will just go ahead and tolerate it, and Hollywood will continue to make millions, they will do what they prefer and curse God in the ears of millions of patrons.
Like I said, I am not putting you down. I have spent more than my fair share on seeing movies that do this. But I am sad. I wish good stories, like Iron Man, could be made into quality films without the garbage that does nothing for the story.
Critics never pay attention to how so-called family movies contain this and sexual material. But they will lash out at Passion of the Christ and Narnia.
Not meaning to rant at you. I guess I am posting my comments to you rather than the general forum, because I agree with your log line.
I feel like going to the movies today is like eating at a restaurant where the food is served on filthy garbage can lids. A lot must be tolerated to enjoy modern entertainment.
I’m soo sick of movies doing this. If your going to add additional scenes, put it in the movie, or at the very end. Some of the credit rolls in these movies are 15+ minutes. Why should wee see some quick scene of it after makeup artists, wardrobe, soundtrack, and “no animals were harmed during the filming of this movie”, scrolls across the screen. Idiotic.
OK.
Now Captain America was Monday.
The Hulk Tuesday
Iron Man Wednesday
Thursday the Mighty Thor
And Friday the Submariner.
I still remember all the themes.
I used to buy comics for 15 cents for a 3 pack, they had half the cover torn off .. still , if I had kept my collection, they would have been worth a few bucks.
The Submariner was pretty cool.
“’Cross the rain-bow bridge of As-garrrd...”
““B.) We already know she can do action sequences. “
If your taking about the car wash scene in Bring It On, I couldn’t agree more. Grrrrrrrrrrreat action sequence.”
I was thinking more of the scene with her riding the bull in The New Guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQv0hh3VIEQ
We can go 7am (Spanish), 8:30am, 9:30am, 11am, 12:15, 5pm, 6:30pm (English).
We are Catholic and depending on where we are there is all kinds of availability to go to church.
Last August my wife and I were married and we went Sunday that next morning to church to start the marriage off right.
We try, but I am the first to say we and especially “I” am NOT PERFECT. :-)
I liked the old Herbie movies and as a kid worked with Dean Jones and his ex-wife Jackie Joseph in actors and others for animals, a charity to help save little critters.
In Iron Man, I wasn't looking for a Reverend Wright moment, but I don't remember any.
I know Islamic types aren't going to love it.
The story was about war, good, evil and bad guys, so some of them might not love God.
There was one suggested love scene, but they did NOT show anything.
There was lots of humor in it.
The last three movies before this one were G for me.
I tend to like to rent movies and watch them in a 14 foot wide HD theater I created at home. Better everything than at the theater IMO.
One of my favorite movies last year was "30 Days of Night", which had some language and horror in it since vampires are evil. Sometimes the context of the movies can be rough, so not all shows are family friendly. Still one of the funniest movies I like was the old Woody Allen movie, "Take the Money and Run" Anyway, God Bless America. God please bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.
Oh yeah, PS: Last years August wedding for my wife and I has a baby boy coming this September. :-)
So far on the old guys side only Jack Nicholson and Anthony Hopkins regularly seem to be employed.
In addition, another reason we were there so early on a Sunday was that it was $6.50 each instead of the normal $14.
First two shows are cheap, then the prices more than double.
Well If I was a super villian, and her superpower was riding a mechanical bull, I would be easily defeated by her. Drat her and her super powers.
I am looking forward to Will Eisner’s The Spirit-last I checked, they said it would be in theaters May 2009.
I'd go with Franka Potente (Run Lola Run). But Mila Jovovich would be a good choice.
Congratulations, and keep up your thoughtful posts. I frequently read them.
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