Iron Man 2

 is the planned sequel to 2008's Iron Man. Marvel formally announced the sequel on May 5, 2008, following Iron Man's successful opening weekend. The film's opening is scheduled for April 30, 2010.

Robert Downey Jr. says that he's looking forward to seeing what happens to Tony Stark in the sequel:

"If you ask me, the next one is about what do you do with the rest of your life now that you're completely changed? And you are in touch, and you have created this thing that has the power to take life. Essentially, you have been made into a god. A human being, metaphorically, who's been made into a god is not going to turn out so well. And their conscience is going to come to bear."

Director Jon Favreau is looking forward to the sequel too:

"I would love to keep directing these... Really, the sky is the limit. I think you've got to outdo yourself. I gotta think you've got to go bigger, you've got to go better. You don't have the simple sense of discovery of the first one in the sequels, but I'm told the second chapter of these franchises is always the most fun, because you can just play in the sandbox and bring more toys in."

Favreau says that he'd like to the character's development in the movie series to mirror the comic books, citing the "Demon in a Bottle" storyline as an inspiration:

"I think what needs to be explored next... is how the weight of being a public superhero is going to affect Tony Stark's personality and start to expand on the hairline fractures in his personality and his spirit. By the way, once you have the audience, you have a lot of freedom to go further tonally. But when you launch a franchise, if you notice, they always play it much closer to the vest with these superhero films until the parents and the audiences make up their minds that they like them."

As of October 15, 2008, Don Cheadle is replacing Terrence Howard as Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes/War Machine, due to financial differences. Jon Favreau is confirmed as the director.

Cast

 * Robert Downey Jr.: Tony Stark / Iron Man
 * Don Cheadle: James Rhodes / War Machine
 * Gwyneth Paltrow: Pepper Potts
 * Paul Bettany: Voice of J.A.R.V.I.S.
 * Scarlett Johansson: Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
 * Mickey Rourke: Whiplash
 * Sam Rockwell: Justin Hammer

Production
It will be shot in Raleigh Studios. Rehearsals began in March 2009. Shooting begins on 6th April, 2009.

Villains
Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) and Sam Rockwell (Frost/Nixon) are in talks to star as the villains in Marvel Studios' Iron Man 2, being directed by Jon Favreau from a script by Justin Theroux, according to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.

THR says that Rourke would play a tattooed Russian heavy named Ivan who becomes a man with deadly, technologically enhanced coils. Variety adds that Rourke would play the Crimson Dynamo. "He's considered to be an evil version of Iron Man because he battles the superhero in a nuclear-powered suit of armor," says the trade.

Rockwell would play Justin Hammer, a multibillionaire businessman and a rival of industrialist Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man, being played by a returning Robert Downey Jr.

Rourke and Rockwell would be joining a cast that also includes the returning Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle, who is replacing Terrence Howard.

Another part -- one for Stark's assistant Natasha -- is still open.