Variety has confirmed that
Marvel has set a release date for the big-screen debut of
Iron Man and that day is May 2, 2008.
Director
Jon Favreau said the story will be contemporary, although it will pay homage to the character's 1960s roots.
"We're gonna have it take place in the present day, but there will be an origin story that has the old, gray Iron Man suit; eventually it will progress into more of the modern look," he revealed. "That's the fun of doing the first one."The filmmaker also said that
Iron Man will not deal with
Tony Stark's alcoholism, at least not in the first film.
"I think we're going to lay the groundwork for it, but the first one's going to explore him taking on this alter ego of Iron Man, and developing the suit, and what happens politically within the Stark Corporation."Favreau also advised fans not to expect a big-name star like
Tom Cruise to play the Armored Avenger, citing the example of casting lesser known thesps like
Tobey Maguire as
Spider-Man or
Brandon Routh as
Superman.
Two sets of screenwriters are busy working on drafts for shellhead' big-screen debut:
Matt Hollaway and
Art Markum (
Convoy), and
Mark Fergus and
Hawk Otsby (
First Snow).
One problem facing the movie is that no one has figured out yet who's paying the bill. The deal for
Marvel's much discussed $525 million warchest (for funding films to be distributed via Paramount) did not include
Iron Man or the sequel/reboot
The Incredible Hulk, which is set-up at Universal.
Marvel can attach new characters to the loan but must receive permission from
Merrill Lynch.
Marvel general counsel
John Turitzin said the company expects to start talks on
Iron Man soon and hopes to secure permission in the fall, sometime before the pic is officially greenlit and starts production late this year or early 2007.