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 was my extreme pleasure to speak to Orlando Jones about two things that were very important to him, Star Wars, and his new web show from Machinima, Tainted Love.

To listen to the interview, you’ll need to head over to Full of Sith where Mike Pilot, Consetta Parker, and I grilled him about his latest projects as well as the influence Star Wars has had in his life.

As for Tainted Love, it’s something perfect for fans of Big Shiny Robot!

The first episode is posted below, but know that this is Orlando Jones’s attempt to bring graphic novel sensibilities to short form storytelling (and eventually long form storytelling.) The production value of transitions and comic book aesthetic of the show is second to none. You can watch the first episode below and it will take you through all six episodes of the first story arc, starring Jones himself, Eric Roberts, and others.

It was a very fun interview about a fun project and Star Wars, so how could you possibly go wrong?

Perhaps my favorite bit was when he explained to us how his mother had to talk him into seeing Star Wars for the first time. He’s a good guy and I think you’ll enjoy listening to the interview.

For more on Orlando Jones, head to his website. For more on Tainted Love, you can visit their official website as well.

This film looks a lot darker, based on this trailer, than I was guessing it would be, based on the cast. Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Andrew Dice Clay, and Louis C.K, that sounds very comedic, and this looks more on the Cassandra’s Dream/Match Point side of Woody Allen’s recent works. That’s not exactly a bad thing at all, it’s just unexpected. And Woody Allen, when he’s surprising, is usually at his best.

Did anyone else giggle when they matched the cut of Louis C.K. to the word loser?

This hits theatres sometime in 2013.

Martin Scorsese’s latest film gets a trailer and it looks like it could be as crazy and great as Goodfellas.

It could also be something else entirely, but it certainly looks like he’s got plenty of great material to work with.

“I’m going to attack Greece with my entire Navy”. Zack Snyder is bringing us something amazing next March, I hope you’re on board like I am.

Man of Steel, the first installment in a rebooted Superman film franchise, is at once a breathtaking monument to the grand scale of storytelling befitting a character like Superman, and a monument to a new age in superhero storytelling. On some levels, that combination works very, very well. On other levels, it falls very, very flat.

I found myself awed by half of Man of Steel. When it was right, it was so right, firing on all cylinders. When it was off, it seemed almost idiotic, tone deaf to what Superman is and what he represents.

The best parts of the movie were captured by the father’s of Superman, Jor-el (played by Russel Crowe) and Jonathan Kent (played by Kevin Costner). Putting aside the fact that we really didn’t need to see another origin story for the character, these two actors did all of the heavy lifting and made every one of their scenes memorable and stand up against prior iterations and the expectations of today’s audience.

The retelling of the origin story seemed to be a symptom of the David Goyer script. There seemed to be a need, beyond all reason, to emulate the script from Batman Begins, tying the origin into the present and showing the definition of the hero coming from the circumstances. It was a winning formula for Batman Begins, but I don’t think it quite worked here.

Perhaps my biggest complaints about the film, though, were about Henry Cavill and Amy Adams.

Cavill is a more than capable Superman. In fact, I think he was fantastic as Superman… But Superman isn’t the whole part. And Cavill’s Clark Kent was simply Superman in plain clothes. There was no rich dichotomy in the character and when he does, eventually, put on the glasses, there’s not a hint of Clark Kent nerdiness.

Amy Adams plays Lois Lane in this film. I love Amy Adams. I love Lois Lane. The problem is that Amy Adams and Lois Lane are like oil and vinegar. They just don’t come together. Adams as Lois falls very flat. Absent is all the spunk and strength of every single iteration of the character in recent memory, but she borders on being a helpless Mary Sue. And there’s not a single good reason she’s brought up to Zod’s ship except that she helps advance the plot and inject Jor-el into the situation. Logic flies right out the window.

That’s not the only place where logic fails… I imagine members of the military will cringe at how two military men seem to be everywhere, doing every single job there is to be done on their own. And the level of destruction in Metropolis borders on the absurd. It’s like they saw the level of destruction in New York in The Avengers and just had to top it, even though there wasn’t a single compelling reason to do so. Millions of people died in this movie, from Zod’s plan, to collateral damage caused by Superman, and it just seems out of character.

Can we also admit to how ham-fisted the Jesus moment in the film was? It felt so awkward and out of place I couldn’t believe it.

Perhaps I’m old fashioned and just prefer the dopey optimism of Superman in years past. Maybe it’s my age showing. But when that optimism was tapped into in the film, I thought it was brilliant and beautiful and true to character. When that optimism was gone and we were left with a retread of Superman II by way of Batman Begins, I was a little bored.

I understand people wanted to see Supes punch stuff after he did relatively little fighting in Superman Returns, but this was bit too over the top for my tastes.

I accept that my opinion might well be in the minority, but I think there was something about what makes Superman a great character, Lois too for that matter, that just didn’t make it up to the screen. And that’s a shame.

Did I enjoy the film? Yes. Large swaths of it. Was it fun? Not terribly. It was gritty and trite for too much of the time.

But the film will do very well, and I hope the next will give us a more well-rounded Superman, one that feels less monotone overall.

I’m literally doing the “>Chris Turk dance right now. Whether I am more excited for “The Desolation of Smaug” or “The Battle of the Five Armies” has been a long source of internal debate. I still can’t decide, but since this one’s a little closer we’ll go ahead and do the squeeing for the dragon.

I ain’t even mad about the new elf. Not even a little. I don’t really need an adaptation to mimic a book scene for scene – that’s why I want to see a movie instead of reread the book again. What say you? Which sequel are you most looking forward to, and which scene wherein?

Big Shiny Robot is pleased to offer our readers a chance to see World War Z for free and before any one else! To enter, click here and fill out the form. That’s it! If you are picked as a winner, you will receive an email with instructions and an exclusive code you can use to download your pass to see the movie at the Gateway on June 18 at 7:00 PM. Please remember that winning a pass does not guarantee entry into the movie. You will need to get their early to reserve an actual ticket. Lastly, the pass can only be redeemed at the Megaplex Cinema at the Gateway in Salt Lake City.

World War Z stars Brad Pitt as a UN agent travelling the world to stop the zombie epidemic and is based on the novel of the same name. The film opens nationwide on June 21.

Best of luck to everyone!

This trailer seems to have challenged a number of assumptions I’ve had about Superman going into this film. For 75 years he’s been one thing, and though his origin has been on slightly shifting ground, it’s been generally consistent. This movie looks like Superman II wrapped up in The Death of Superman’s cloak, with Zod filling in for Doomsday.

For those who think darkness equals a better movie, I just don’t buy it with this. I think Superman is more interesting without this level of angst. But I haven’t seen the movie yet and can’t really know how I’ll feel about the film as a whole until I see it.

Next week can’t come soon enough.

In a case of “I guess they can do that if they want to,” we’ll be getting an IMAX 3D rerelease of the classic Wizard of Oz in time for its seventy-fifth birthday.

I love this film and would love to see it re-released, but I’m not quite sure if I needed to see it in 3D and IMAX, though I will admit I’m completely curious as of to how the old black and white sequences will look in 3D, and how bizarre the wonderful three-strip Technicolor colors are going to look in that format. It’s a gorgeous film, but it seems like this might all be one step too far.

On the other hand, maybe it’s exactly what it needs to introduce the film to a whole new generation.

In either case, here’s the official press release:

Burbank, Calif. June 4, 2013 – Marking the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, Warner Bros. has produced a 3D remastered version of the film which will launch a comprehensive, cross-divisional campaign encompassing theatrical, home entertainment, consumer products and a number of promotional partnerships.

Kicking off the celebration, The Wizard of Oz 3D will be presented in the immersive IMAX® 3D format and return to the big screen for an exclusive one-week engagement in IMAX® theatres across North America beginning September 20, 2013.

“We couldn’t be happier to partner with IMAX® as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of this iconic film,” said Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures. “The Wizard of Oz IMAX® 3D Experience is an integral part of our studio-wide anniversary initiative and we are excited to give fans the rare opportunity to see this stunning version on the big screen.”

“The Wizard of Oz is one of the most beloved films of all time and we are thrilled that our longtime partners at Warner Bros. have made IMAX® a part of this exciting milestone event,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX® Entertainment. “This film revolutionized the use of color and special effects in cinema, and we’re excited to add another ‘first’ – bringing this timeless classic to moviegoers through the power of The IMAX 3D Experience® for the very first time.”

The IMAX® release The Wizard of Oz will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX 3D Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX®’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

Following the IMAX® theatrical release, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) will release a limited and numbered The Wizard of Oz 75th Anniversary Collector’s Edition on October 1, 2013, featuring the 3D version of the film and more.

“Seventy-five years later, The Wizard of Oz continues its reign as a multi-generational favorite, with nearly 100 percent awareness among adults and more than 80 percent awareness among children,” said Jeff Baker, WBHE Executive Vice President and General Manager, Theatrical Catalog. “In this new 3D version, the film is bound to make history all over again—with both past and future fans.”

The Wizard of Oz 75th Anniversary Collector’s Edition will debut as a five-disc set that will include Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD and UltraViolet versions of the film; a new documentary, The Making of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz; bonus features and premium collectibles ($105.43 SRP). Three more editions will be available separately: a two-disc 3D/Blu-ray ($35.99 SRP), a one-disc Blu-ray ($19.98 SRP) and a two-disc DVD ($16.95 SRP). All four will contain the new documentary and extra content.

SPECIAL FEATURES will include all previously released special features along with:

· ALL-NEW Documentary! The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz—This candid overview of how a troubled production overcame the odds to become an integral part of American culture features contributions from historians John Fricke and Sam Wasson, composers Stephen Schwartz and Marc Shaiman, critics Leonard Maltin and Michael Sragow, Bert Lahr’s son John as well as revealing interview clips with Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Buddy Ebsen, Margaret Hamilton and Mervyn LeRoy, among others.

· NEW! Exclusive Collectible Memorabilia —A collectible 75th Anniversary journal; Sparkle RUBY SLIPPERS™ Globe; Noble Collection 3-piece enamel pin set, a Map of Oz and a 48-page hardcover book. Collection is limited and numbered.

The 3D conversion was a long and complex project which Warner Bros. initiated with a very high resolution (8k) scanning of the original Technicolor camera negative. The restored 2D image was then transformed by creating a depth-map of each frame to construct 3D imagery and determine distances from the viewer’s vantage point. This was followed by the long process (with the use of a rotoscope) to further refine viewer distances and fully layer shapes and objects.

“People have asked for years about The Wizard of Oz 3D conversion. My answer was always, ‘We’re not doing it until it’s perfect.’ And now it is,” said Ned Price, Warner Technical Operations’ Vice President of Mastering. “As a kid, I was so enthralled by this film. Watching it, you just want to enter the frame, enter the Land of Oz. This new version will allow you to do just that.”

In support of the 75th anniversary of the film, Warner Bros. Consumer Products’ extensive licensing program of more than 80 top-tier licensees will expand with new partnerships. Leading the way is master toy partner Jazwares, along with Mattel, Rubies, Lionel, Steiff, USAopoly, Thomas Kinkade, and many more that will be taking part in the celebration. Special commemorative anniversary product will be available across a wide array of categories including apparel, jewelry, collectibles, publishing, stationery and paper goods, toys and games, slot machines and personal care.
In addition, the Warner Bros. releases will be massively supported by a far-reaching promotional campaign encompassing numerous participants. National corporate partners include (to date) promotional activities with a Major National Quick Serve Restaurant (QSR), the debut of a giant hot-air balloon and balloonhead characters in the 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®, as well as joint programs with Amtrak, Gourmet Trading Company, Langers Juice, QVC and Simon Malls®. In collaboration with the Ad Council and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, new child passenger safety Public Service Announcements (PSAs) featuring iconic elements from The Wizard of Oz film will be distributed and run in donated media nationally.

The Wizard of Oz themed competition will also be featured on an upcoming episode of Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” to be aired later this year.