Marvel announced today that Robert Downey, Jr. has signed on for Avengers 2 and 3, though word was mum on any further Iron Man films.

Either that will come with a second deal, or RDJ is done with the solo films altogether.

Either way, securing the continuity for at least the next two team films is good news for all of us fans.

Here’s Marvel’s official statement:

“I am Iron Man.”
Tony Stark’s famous closing line to the very first Iron Man film takes on new life today as Marvel is pleased to announce the signing of Robert Downey, Jr. to reprise the role of the “billionaire, genius, playboy, philanthropist.”
Under the two-picture agreement, Downey will star as Tony Stark/Iron Man in “Marvel’s The Avengers 2” and “Marvel’s The Avengers 3.” Downey is represented at CAA by Bryan Lourd, Jim Toth and Matt Leaf and by his attorneys Tom Hansen and Stewart Brookman of the firm Hansen Jacobson.
Downey, Jr.’s last two Marvel films, 2012’s “Marvel’s The Avengers” and this year’s “Iron Man 3,” rank as two of the top five grossing films of all time, collectively earning over $2.7 billion worldwide to date.
“Marvel’s The Avengers 2” is being written and directed by Joss Whedon. Featuring favorites from the first Avengers film and new Marvel characters never before seen on the big screen, “Marvel’s The Avengers 2” is slated to begin production in March 2014 and open in theaters May 1, 2015.
Thrilled by this mega announcement, Marvelites? Well, be sure you stay glued to Marvel.com because in the coming days and weeks and months, Marvel.com will be FIRST in the world to reveal additional casting updates, new characters coming to Marvel movies and so much more — directly from the most secret meetings at Marvel! You wouldn’t want to miss out on that now, would you?!

They mention new characters, and I wonder how soon it will be before there’s a Dr. Strange announcement, especially with El Mayimbe from Latino Review teasing a scoop on that very subject.

We’ll see! Check back for more updates.

It’s been a busy few weeks for Guardians of the Galaxy. Not only did Glenn Close agree to be the leader of Nova Corps, John C Reilly will also be our new somewhat Agent Coulson, and another huge announcement was made just today.

Doctor Who alum, Karen Gillan, has signed on to costar in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy. While there is no word yet as to the actual character she will be playing, it has been revealed that she will be the lead female villain alongside already announced Michael Rooker and Lee Pace. Speculation is running rampant online as to what character she will portray, and while many think it would be great to see her as Death, it doesn’t seem likely that the motivation for Thanos’ actions would make an appearance so early, or that she would be sharing the limelight with other, lesser, bad guys.

What do you think; who will Karen Gillan be in Guardians of the Galaxy? Let us know in the comments below!

VGQH has been on an unscheduled hiatus recently, but not due to a lack of news. There’s a lot I’ve missed for the last couple of weeks, but I’ll do my best to round up the highlights:

The biggest story, of course, was Microsoft’s reveal last week of XBox One. Much like Sony’s PS4 announcement, we didn’t get nearly as much as we wanted, but there was some cool information. The always on Kinect 2 has raised a lot of questions, and the almost always on internet connectivity is definitely furrowing some brows. I’ll leave off most of my commentary until E3 when we get more details on both consoles, but I will note that I’ve personally seen a lot of 360 owners considering a switch to Sony next generation, but no one going the other way. Part of that is the avenues of my exposure to those comments, but not all of it. Some die hard XBox users have expressed very legitimate concerns to me.

Then again, Don Mattrick of Microsoft says they are investing over one billion dollars in exclusive titles. That argument in itself won’t sell the console, but the results of the investment might. Add a retail listing on Amazon Italy, since removed, for Mirror’s Edge 2 exclusive to the XBox One and you now have a compelling a sales pitch. It also appeared briefly on EA’s Help Center website. Cleaning up consumer trepidation about the hardware, with exclusives like this, and Microsoft could be all set for a real winner.

Also announced last week were the two special editions of Grand Theft Auto V. The Special Edition will include the game, a collectible steelbook, a blueprint map, extra single player flying missions, a special ability boost fore ach character, bonus character customizing options, and additional weapons. This looks like your basic preorder content with the exception of the map and steelbook.

The Collector’s Edition is a little more expansive. That one comes with all of the Special Edition perks, plus a locking security deposit bag, snapback cap, custom characters for online play, and unique in-game vehicles in a special garage.

All versions will be available September 17, 2013 and all preorders will get access to the in-game Atomic Blimp vehicle. I believe this is the first time a dirigible will be a playable vehicle in the series.

TT Games announced two characters for LEGO Marvel Super Heroes at last weekend’s MCM Expo. The Human Torch and Venom minifigures are joining the cast for what be the largest Marvel roster in a single video game ever. Venom has his lovers and haters, and I can’t argue with any of them. But my question comes with the Torch. It’s safe to assume that the entire (standard) Fantastic Four cast will be included, but could we also be getting the original Human Torch that teamed with Captain America and Namor in World Ward II? I guess we’ll know for sure when this one launches later this year.

Ever since Rayman Legends was delayed on the WiiU to spread to other consoles there have been rumors of it coming to PS Vita as well. That has now been confirmed. This handheld version will feature five extra levels, controlling Murphy the green bottle fly using the rear touch pad. It will also come with two extra costumes: Sam Fisher for Globox and Prince of Persia for Rayman. Every version of the title is now planned for release August 27, 2013.

Naughty Dog has revealed plans for DLC on the The Last of US, including how it will tie to the Season Pass. The first DLC content will be for the single player, while the next two will focus on multiplayer. The Season Pass will be $19.99 and reportedly saves buyers about 30% over buying individually. A little basic math tells me the individual pieces will average out to about $10. Other benefits of the Season Pass include some in game bonuses (faster crafting, healing, 9mm reload speed, and increased capacity in the rifle clip) and a 90 minute “making of” documentary.

That seems to be it for now.

As a nerdy father, I, too, would be proud of my kid for having this sort of command of the Marvel Universe. And at four years old?

It’s nothing short of impressive.

And adorable.

I’m glad the next generation is being well taken care of. They know things like the material makeup of Captain America’s shield and where those materials come from. And The Thing’s catchphrase, which is important.

Seriously, I dare you not to smile while watching this video.

[Source: io9]

So after a couple of days of tiny teases we finally get a full blown trailer for Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.! With that comes a much better look at what the show will be about. Such as Coulson being alive only being known to those that have security level 7. There is also a hooded man that appears to be indestructible. I’m guessing Luke Cage? Could this mean that we could have Jessica Jones in this show since “AKA Jessica Jones” never came to be? If this show gives us the street level characters that would be considered too small for movies then I’m completely on board! Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will air this fall on Tuesdays at 8pm.

Earlier today we brought you a whopping 6 second trailer that Disney released for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Now we have a longer trailer that shows a little more. Now we get a trailer that is 5 times as long. Granted it’s only 30 seconds, it gives us a better idea of what kinds of things to expect in the show.

Just remember, “Don’t touch Lola!”

With the release of this trailer Disney has also launched a viral website to promote the show called “We Are The Rising Tide.” (wearetherisingtide.com)The only things here at the moment are the trailer, and a bunch of videos that look like a group of people, presumably called the Rising Tide, have S.H.I.E.L.D. and various super human events under surveillance. Keep checking back on their website, they will be posting more videos.  It seems as though this group is looking to expose S.H.I.E.L.D. based on the tagline at the top of their website.

“Who is S.H.I.E.L.D.? What are they hiding? Super-Powers are real. Aliens exist. What else is out there. We will uncover the truth. We will not remain silent any longer.”

Also the more you use the hashtag #CoulsonLives on twitter the closer we’ll get to unlocking a full length trailer for the show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8H11PaLUGc&feature=player_embedded

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Bf_Gg0vgFI&feature=player_embedded

After news that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. officially got picked up this week, we now get a very brief first look at the show. There isn’t really much here for me to form an opinion on, except that I’m excited!

Marvel and Gazillion Entertainment just announced that the new Marvel Heroes game will be in Open Beta this weekend! Just in case you haven’t heard of Marvel Heroes yet, here’s the official game overview:

Marvel Heroes is a FREE-TO-PLAY action-packed massively multiplayer online game created by David Brevik, the visionary behind Diablo and Diablo 2. Set in the iconic Marvel Universe, Marvel Heroes combines the core game-play style of Action RPGs and MMOs with the expansive library of heroes from the Marvel Universe. In the game, players can collect and play as their favorite Marvel Superheroes (including Iron Man, Thor, Wolverine, Hulk, Spider Man, Captain America and many others). Team up with friends and try to stop Doctor Doom from devastating the world with the power of the Cosmic Cube in a story written by Marvel comic super-scribe Brian Michael Bendis.

Starting heroes are pretty limited, but we have been promised full access to the entire stable of available heroes. You can, of course, spend some cash to unlock your favorite Marvel characters early. The Marvel Heroes Open Beta runs from 5:00pm PT Friday, May 10th through 10:00am PT Monday, May 13th. Currently, the game client is only available for PC (sucks to be Sithbot), but full Mac integration will be available after launch.

If you’re interested in checking out this awesome looking game, head over to the game client DL page here! I’ll see you in-game!

Jason Aaron could write a vacuum cleaner repair manual, and I would read it. Every week. For the rest of my life. He’s that damned good. Thor: God of Thunder has been my must-read title since my good friend Jeff Vice plunked issue one in front of me so many months ago. Point: if not for this comic, I wouldn’t have found the other Marvel NOW titles that have pulled me back into the fold. Point: Science Fiction and Fantasy has never been this good. I’m serious. There is magic here, real quantifiable magic that smacks you across the face like a star-shark. Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic have created a comic for the ages; something to stare at, jaw agape, wondering how it could possibly get any better, knowing full well that it simply will.

Thor from the Viking Age, Thor the Avenger, and Thor, King of Asgard, all in one title, bound together by one foe, in three time-lines. Now, with issue 8, we get all three versions of the God of Thunder together, to take on Gorr the God Butcher. Gorr has enslaved a horde of gods from all times throughout the universe. He has them mining stars to build a bomb that will destroy every god that ever was. Let’s just leave it at that. Go read the damned book!

The Good: Everything in this book is perfect. The dialogue jumps off the page. The art is painterly and inspiring. Thor, as drawn by Ribic, is beyond heroic; this is what a god should look like.

The Rad: King Thor’s contempt for his younger selves: “Hela’s pale bosom, boy! Go polish thine hammer or practice growing a beard before I cast thy ass overboard”; “Yes, lucky me. Another one”. Thor and his yet to be born grand-daughters. Starsharks. Gorr’s son explaining why Gorr wants a universe without gods. Young Thor summoning lightning. King Thor and Avenger Thor’s bickering. “We’ve no more Ale”. King Thor’s ship. Every single panel of art.

The Fugly: My only complaint with this book? That it ends. Waiting another month is more than my mere mortal mind can fathom.

Thor: the God of Thunder is available now at your local comic shop. And just in case you didn’t catch it, it’s highly, gushingly recommended.

A few weeks back we learned that the film rights to Daredevil have reverted back to Marvel/Disney, meaning he could now possibly be folded into the proper Marvel cinematic universe at some point and in some way. This is great news for fans, and now a handful of other characters have come home to Marvel as well!

The rights to Ghost Rider, The Punisher, Blade, and Power Man (Luke Cage) have all been re-acquired by Marvel Studios, news that should make fans very happy!

As I noted in the post about Daredevil, the likelihood that any of these characters’ could see a reboot of their franchises any time soon is probably pretty slim as Marvel has their movie slate pretty packed through 2015 – but the mere fact that Marvel now owns the rights to these characters and they could eventually receive their own titles again is pretty exciting, and these titles would reside in a world with Iron Man, Captain America, and the rest of the Avengers. Perhaps the blind lawyer Matt Murdock pops up in a future Marvel film? Maybe Luke Cage and Iron Fist lends a hand to Ant Man? The possibilities are out there, and it will be interesting to see how and when these characters get utilized.

One idea that was brought up on our Facebook page was for Daredevil to make appearances on the upcoming S.H.I.E.L.D. television series – which I think is a genius idea. I realize this show will mostly focus on the agents, but what better way to fold things into the fantastical world of Marvel superheroes while introducing some of these “lower-tier” characters at the same time than have some interactions with the likes of Daredevil, Luke Cage and Iron Fist? Frankly, to me this makes sense as these heroes are less “big threat” guys and more “crime fighters” out on the front lines taking down muggers, mobsters and thugs. The possibilities are pretty exciting.

[Sources: THR, Comic Book Movie]

How would you like to see these newly acquired characters utilized and folded in to the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Sound off in the comments below!