Marvel Studios wasted no time announcing Iron Man 2. In the wake of Robert Downey Jr.'s $104 million star turn over the weekend - - the biggest superhero opening for a non-sequel since *Spider=Man * - - the comic book powerhouse plans to release a sequel on April 30, 2010.
In a conference call Monday, Marvel Studios chairman David Maisel likened Marvel to Pixar as an entertainment "brand" and gave a shout out to "a fan base that spreads virally."
Making another Iron Man movie is a no-brainer given the film's blockbuster stats. Last summer, Transformers's $70 million opening prompted a follow-up thumbs up. In 2005, Marvel's Fantastic Four took in $56 million during its first weekend and quickly got greenlit for a sequel.
Iron Man, which also pulled in $201 million overseas, out-performed 2003's X2: X-Men United and cranked past Marvel's opening weekend average by more than 60 percent.
Number crunching aside, Iron Man's closing scene seemed custom-built to poise Iron Man / Tony Stark for more adventures when he announces to a room full of reporters: "I am Iron Man."
*Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures *
See also:
- IM Iron Man
- Captain America Finally on Marvel's Horizon
- Iron Man Soars Past $100 Million Mark
- Marvel Heroes Crisscross in Iron Man, Hulk
- Iron Man Rules MySpace With HD Trailer
- Watch Iron Man Take to the Sky
- New Trailer Reveals Simpler, Nastier Hulk
- Hulk, Iron Man Look to 'Avenge' Marvel's Movie Past
- Meet Avi Arad, the Man Who Launched the Superhero Craze
[via AP and Box Office Mojo]
