Scarlett Johansson Confirmed to Return for 'Captain America: Civil War'

Never one to go into battle without a strong lady by his side, Captain America fought alongside Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) in Captain America: The First Avenger and Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow in 'The Winter Soldier'. Now as the heroes are about to undergo a serious ideological split in Captain America: Civil War, Cap is turning to an old friend to help see him through.

While in Beijing, 'Civil War' directors Joe and Anthony Russo confirmed (via CBM) that Johansson will return for the film, along with Sebastian Stan's Winter Soldier...

Anthony Russo: “We’ve been preparing for the movie since the last one debuted last year. So, we’ve been working on it for a long time now. We’re very happy how it’s coming along. Captain America 3 is gonna be called Captain America: Civil War and it’s going to star Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson will be back, Winter Soldier [Sebastian Stan] will be back, and Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man will also be joining us in the next film.”

They'll join Chadwick Boseman who will make his Marvel debut as Wakandan king, Black Panther; Anthony Mackie is also returning as Falcon, and we can expect to see Daniel Bruhl in a role that is being kept under a tight lid. My guess is that he's playing a modern version of the Red Skull.

The question is which side will Black Widow be on? In the comics version of Civil War she sided with Tony Stark in favor of a Superhero Registration Act. Will she do the same now and stand against Captain America even as they seem to be forming a close, possibly romantic relationship?   Captain America: Civil War opens May 6th 2016. 

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Trouble Comes Around in New 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Trailer

Tonight the NCAA is televising their first true football playoff championship, and it promises to be right up there with the Super Bowl as one of the most watched sporting events of the year. And since it airs on ESPN, which is owned by Disney, it makes sense they'd want to use it as a platform to deliver a gigantic trailer for this summer's Avengers: Age of Ultron. 

Keeping a similarly dark tone as the previous teaser, this one also features a better look at the showdown between Hulk and Tony Stark's Hulkbuster armor. It looks like the team's volatile chemistry has been shaken up even further and only looks to get worse with the robotic villain Ultron (voiced by James Spader) threatening to end humanity. Can they come together as a team and save the day? With Captain America: Civil War promising a standoff between Cap and Iron Man there's a good chance the Avengers won't completely recover.

Avengers: Age of Ultron opens May 1st directed by Joss Whedon.


New Avengers Trailer Arrives - Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron Trailer 2 by Calf Love

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Rumor: 'Iron Man 4' in 2019 starring Ty Simpkins

There are rumors to be considered seriously, and then there are Moviepilot rumors which are to be shunned and generally mocked. The site has quite a whopper out there right now that is causing a stir throughout the Internet, and it's that an actor has been found to take over for Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man 4. What's more, he's someone we've already seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The source tells Moviepilot that Ty Simpkins, who played young Harley Keener in Iron Man 3, would don the armor in Iron Man 4 in 2019. You may recall Keener was the little boy who helped out Tony Stark while he was stranded in Tennessee with a malfunctioning suit. Simpkins is one of today's brightest young actors with roles in Insidious, Jurassic World, and he's currently filming The Nice Guys with Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. So if this were true he'd be about 17 years old when filming would begin, and we've seen a teenaged Tony Stark as Iron Man in the comics before.

For numerous reasons this whole thing seems highly unlikely to be true. Simpkins is a very good young actor, but hardly capable of filling Downey's shoes. We don't even know if there will be an Iron Man 4 at this point, or what Marvel's long-term plan for the character is. Kevin Feige has said in the past he thinks the character can proceed in James Bond-style with different actors in the role, but this goes beyond that idea. This removes Tony Stark, an integral piece of the Marvel puzzle, out of the equation. But it all goes back to the fact that Iron Man 4 is not a film that is on the Marvel radar as far as we can tell. Anything can happen once the two-part Avengers: Infinity War wraps up, though.

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The Party gets Crashed in New 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Image

Disney has an incredible slate of blockbuster films coming in 2015, and right at the center of it is Avengers: Age of Ultron. While showing off their lineup they've released a new image from the superhero film, and it's one that should be familiar to the millions of people who watched the trailer.

The photo shows the entire team's astonished faces as Ultron (James Spader) crashes a party at Tony Stark's swanky crib. They're about to get a verbal smackdown from the newly-sentient android about "strings" and such, just before launching an all-out assault. This'll teach Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) and Jim Rhodes (Don Cheadle) to hang out with the Avengers during off hours. It could get dangerous.

Directed by Joss Whedon and starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Paul Bettany, Samuel L. Jackson, and Elizabeth Olsen, Avengers: Age of Ultron opens May 1st 2015.

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The 12 Days of Christmas – Day 4: ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’

2008’s Iron Man undoubtedly made Robert Downey Jr. the biggest star in the world, but 2005’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is, I think at least, the movie that proved Downey was serious about being an actor again. All that charming aloofness, smart-alickiness, and smirking attractiveness were on display in director Shane Black’s film, and the two have since played nice together – just look to Iron Man 3 for proof.

But this is a series about Christmas movies, so let’s talk about Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which is set during the season. A twisty-turny neo noir adapted by Black from the original pulpy novel by Brett Halliday, the movie is a movie about making movies, about what actors do when they act, about the ins and outs of Hollywood and how crummy and deceitful and entertaining and cynical it all can get. So here are the five reasons why you should make Kiss Kiss Bang Bang part of your Christmas movie rotation – and yes, Michelle Monaghan makes an appearance. Prepare your lustful jets.

+ Reason 1: Because these opening credits are amazing. The animation! That music! The nod to the original novel! Yes, yes.

+ Reason 2: RDJ’s narration! As the protagonist, petty-criminal-turned-actor Harry, he’s so smug and meta, it’s a lovely thing. No line of dialogue is wasted, but it’s also not overwritten, which means you get gems like this: “Don't worry, I saw Lord of the Rings. I'm not going to end this 17 times.” Who can deny that level of self-awareness? And all that fourth-wall breaking? No one.

+ Reason 3: Val Kilmer. Does anyone miss Val Kilmer like I miss Val Kilmer? Sometimes I think about him in Heat, and it makes me miss his hot ‘90s days, and then I watch Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and I laugh and laugh and laugh and I wish he would have gotten more shots at being a comedic actor. His take-no-bullshit attitude, coupled with RDJ’s absurdity, make them an excellent pair. Oh, and Kilmer’s playing against type as a private detective named Gay Perry who is, you know, gay. Just watch Kilmer’s facial expressions whenever RDJ is doing something. The man redefines the depths of a smirk.

+ Reason 4: Michelle Monaghan … 

… because obviously.

+ Reason 5: The one line you should say to all your loved ones this holiday season.

I mean, I know I will be.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is available through Netflix’s disc service and can be rented through Amazon’s InstantVideo.  

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Robert Downey Jr. Circles Late Steve McQueen Project, 'Yucatan'

Here's something you may have forgotten about because I sure as heck did. A few years ago Robert Downey Jr. and his wife, producer Susan Downey, picked up the rights to Yucatan, a project developed by the late actor Steve McQueen. McQueen had developed a treatment for the treasure hunt film back in the '60s before he died, but now it looks like Downey may be taking it on as a starring vehicle for himself.

Deadline reports that Yucatan is moving forward now with a script by Pirates of the Caribbean's Terry Rossio. The project is based on the 1700 pages of notes written by McQueen, but all we really know is that it involves “a renegade salvage expert’s search for Mayan treasure in the Yucatan Peninsula.”  This sounds like just the kind of big tentpole project Downey loves, and since Warner Bros. is backing it just as they have his two Sherlock Holmes films we know it will have a ton of studio support.

Clearly, Downey is excited about this one as we tweeted this image of Team Downey piecing together the screenplay's components...

Back on the boards! #TeamDowney #Yucatan http://t.co/FClPyOqRhY pic.twitter.com/yb8FW8dIFn
— Robert Downey Jr (@RobertDowneyJr) November 20, 2014

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'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Extended Trailer Features New Footage

The trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron has been out there for awhile now, and still the Internet is buzzing over it. Part of the reason is excitement over Marvel's recent announcements of Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Civil War, and more that are expected to tie into the larger franchise.. The other reason is that it's just a damn good trailer with all of the superhero spectacle fans expect from Marvel, not to mention that haunting rendition of "I've Got No Strings". Well now there's even more reason to get pumped up with the release of an extended version of the trailer, which offers up some footage we haven't seen before, including a glimpse at Korean actress Claudia Kim as Tony Stark's colleague. Apparently she's important enough to make the big Avengers party at Stark's crib.

Avengers: Age of Ultron opens May 1st 2015.


AVENGERS 2 AGE OF ULTRON - Official Extended Trailer #2 by itsartmag

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Civil War gets Teased in 'Avengers:Age of Ultron' Clip

Leaked footage is something every studio faces, but when it happens to Marvel everybody takes notice. It happens after Comic-Con every year, but lately it's been happening with alarming frequency. The trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron was leaked early, spoiling Marvel's plans for Agents of SHIELD. And now, we're getting a look at the exclusive clip shown during Marvel's big press event, and it's quite the tease.

This scene begins to show the cracks in the friendship between Captain America and Iron Man, which will form the basis of Captain America: Civil War. In the comics, they're on opposing sides of an argument over the registration of superheroes with the government. There will be some changes for the movie version, but the point is clear that these guys are going to come to blows at some point.

Avengers: Age of Ultron opens May 1st 2015.

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The Avengers are Unworthy in New Footage from 'Avengers: Age of Ultron'

Those who attended San Diego Comic-Con last summer were treated to the first footage from Avengers: Age of Ultron, and the centerpiece of it was a scene featuring the team lounging around Tony Stark's crib. As they all tried unsuccessfully to lift Thor's hammer, it looked like Joss Whedon was keep the light-hearted tone of the first film. Well, then we got the official trailer last week and it was all doom 'n gloom, but rest assured there is plenty of fun to be had.

Since the trailer leaked before it was to debut on tonight's Agents of SHIELD, Marvel instead released an extended version which features the hammer-lifting scene. The party is quickly interrupted by that wet blanket Ultron (menacingly voiced by James Spader), who proceeds to tell them that nobody in the room is worthy. Opening May 1st 2015, Avengers: Age of Ultron stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, James Spader, Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Andy Serkis, and Samuel L. Jackson. We'll update this trailer with a better one soon, but for now enjoy this crappy bootleg version.


Avengers Age of Ultron Sneak Peek (2015) - New Avengers Movie by Allvideos HD

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Marvel Reveals the First 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Trailer and Poster!

When a prized piece of information or footage leaks early, a studio has a couple of options. They can either close ranks and pretend it didn't happen, or they can do what Marvel has done and that's roll with the punches. Earlier today the trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron leaked one week before it was due to premiere on Agents of SHIELD. And so Marvel took to Twitter, jokingly blamed the evil organization HYDRA, and released the official trailer themselves.

And let's be honest here, you don't need to be told to watch it. Nor do you need to be told that it looks incredibly huge, with Joss Whedon ditching any sense of humor and going straight for a heavy, ominous vibe throughout. That may be a drag to those who liked how The Avengers was able to be both funny and serious, but clearly this footage is aiming to strike a specific chord. It keeps in much of what was shown at Comic-Con, but adds in more of Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Scarlet Witch ( Elizabeth Olsen), and gives the best look at James Spader's evil android Ultron than we've seen yet. Plus we get a look at the showdown between Tony Stark's Hulkbuster armor and the Hulk that fans have been waiting for.

Avengers: Age of Ultron opens May 1st 2015, only seven months away!


Marvel's "Avengers: Age of Ultron" - Teaser Trailer (OFFICIAL) [HD] by MovieTrailerz

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What I want to See from Marvel's 'Civil War' Storyline

I couldn't sleep at all last night, and no it's not my usual restlessness. Just before hitting the sack word came down that Robert Downey Jr. was joining Marvel's Captain America 3, which is a big deal but not half as big as the rest of the story. The storyline would apparently be the kick off to Civil War, based on the controversial 2006-2007 miniseries by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. So why was it so polarizing? Well, pretty much everything Millar does turns out that way, but in this case it was justified.

Civil War begins with a team that has not been seen in the cinematic universe yet: the New Warriors. One of my favorite teams from the '90s, they're basically made up of B-list characters like Speedball, Night Thrasher, Justice, and Nova...yes, the Nova everyone wanted in Guardians of the Galaxy. An incident during one of their missions ends with the villain Nitro blowing up an entire city, killing millions. The government decided to institute the Superhero Registration Act, which demands superheroes to register with the government, reveal their civilian identities to the public, and become deputized agents if they want to stay in action. Captain America gathered up a group of like-minded heroes to fight against the Act, while Tony Stark fights to enforce it. They came to blows, a war erupts, and basically Stark becomes the most hated man amongst the superhero community. Yes, Stark is portrayed as the "bad" guy, although there are points to be made on both sides of the argument.

It's a huge story, one that would require Marvel make some severe changes bringing it to the big screen simply because there aren't enough characters available. The X-men played a key role, so did Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four. So assuming Captain America 3 will indeed begin the Civil War, here are a few things I'm hoping to see play out. And keep in mind, this would have to unfold over the course of multiple movies, that's how big Civil War is.

1. The Return of Spider-Man
Okay, this one's a long shot and more of a personal hope than anything else, but recent rumors have suggested Marvel and Sony could work out a deal allowing Spider-Man to be part of the shared universe. Peter Parker had an integral role in Civil War; in fact he was something like the moral compass at the center of it. He began on the side of Iron Man and the Registration Act, but as the government's tactics became more brutal he would switch to Cap's side.  It's possible we could see another character step in to fill that role but it would be more effective with Spider-Man, who everybody knows and respects.

2. The Death of Captain America
We've been saying it for awhile and others have noticed it, too, but the Captain America movies are conveniently populated by all the characters who have a role in The Death of Captain America storyline. That story was the tragic finale to the Civil War, with Cap assassinated and the Winter Soldier taking over the mantle. It's a crucial piece to the puzzle, and when I think about recent stories suggesting Captain America may not be factoring much into future films, it leads me to think his demise is right around the corner. This would be the time to do it.

3. Ragnarok
Tony Stark did some truly loathsome sh*t during Civil War, and one of those involved cloning his missing buddy, Thor.  Stark used Thor's DNA to create an all-powerful clone named Ragnarok, and he proceeded to tear apart Cap's team, even going so far as to kill the superhero Goliath, a former Avenger and friend of Hank Pym aka Ant-Man. If Raganarok appears in the films it would likely be in a similar way. We could see Chris Hemsworth's Thor too busy on Asgard to join up with his Avengers pals, and Stark comes up with Ragnarok as a solution. Whatever the case, the presence of Ragnarok is a good way to show just how twisted Stark's idea of right and wrong has become.

4. The Introduction of Blade, Ghost Rider, and Punisher
One thing about Civil War is that it includes a ton of characters, practically the entire Marvel Universe is involved. There simply aren't enough characters right now for Marvel to make this look like a huge "war", and one way to help fill out the ranks is bringing in popular characters like Blade, Ghost Rider, and the Punisher. Marvel recently gained their film rights back and this would be an easy way to work them in, possibly leading to future solo movies in the process. This one actually leads directly to my next hope.

5. Iron Man and Captain America Lead Separate Avengers Teams

With Cap and Iron Man on opposing sides of the Registration Act, both men began leading their own teams of Avengers. Cap's "New Avengers" (which included Luke Cage and Hawkeye) mostly worked underground and in secret to avoid confrontation with Iron Man's government-sanctioned "Mighty Avengers". With Doctor Strange and Ant-Man being introduced in the next couple of years, it stands to reason they'll be joining some Avengers team, probably one led by Iron Man. This may also be a good way to bring the Netflix TV series characters: Luke Cage, Daredevil, Iron Fist, and Jessica Jones.

6.  Tony Stark: Director of SHIELD
One of the strongest repercussions of Civil War had Tony Stark taking over as the director of SHIELD. With the spy organization in shambles and Nick Fury presumed dead (we know better), now would be the perfect time for a move like this. It would also allow for Downey Jr. to make limited appearances in the films, and whether he appears on the show or not it may have a ratings impact on Agents of SHIELD. We saw the boost it got from being tied in to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and the same could happen again.

So those are just a few things I'm hoping for, and some of them seem feasible. If I thought harder about it I'd probably include more wishful things, like movies for the Thunderbolts and New Warriors, the introduction of Moon Knight (he needs a film now!), and more. I'm genuinely excited to see where Marvel goes with this, and given their track record I have every reason to believe they can pull off Civil War in the epic fashion it deserves.

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Civil War Breaks Out as Robert Downey Jr. Joins 'Captain America 3'; Russo Brothers may Direct 'Avengers 3 & 4'

So all last week Robert Downey Jr. was giving fans the runaround about Iron Man 4. One day he said it was happening, only to come back that same day and say it wasn't, but that he and Marvel were negotiating SOMETHING. Well, now we know what those talks were about and it is huge. Variety is now reporting that Downey will join Chris Evans in the untitled Captain America 3, but the even bigger news is what the storyline will be.

The next Captain America film, which is officially set for May 6th 2016, will use elements of Marvel's mega-crossover Civil War. The highly-controversial storyline saw the superhero universe fractured over the Superhero Registration Act, which forces everyone with powers to become registered with the government and reveal their civilian identities to the public. One team of heroes, led by Captain America, fought against this idea. Tony Stark led the other faction that believed in the registration act. That led to a massive "civil war" that split up the Avengers and caused the entire hero community to distrust one another. It also was a key step that led to Captain America's eventual "death".

This is a pretty big deal for a few reasons, but primarily it keeps Downey under the Marvel umbrella for awhile longer. He wasn't signed on for any appearances after The Avengers 3, and apparently negotiations were tense with Marvel nearly ending them altogether. But there's even more, as Variety's piece states “The fallout from the government and Stark’s actions would factor into a new 'Avengers 4' film and beyond that will assemble new characters being introduced like Ant-Man and Doctor Strange, among others, in their own movies.” This seems to fit with recent rumors of a major lineup change for Avengers 3 that would see most of the original cast left out.

Finally, this means Captain America 3 will be a bigger part of the Marvel cinematic universe as a whole rather than a standalone film. To that effect, Badass Digest says Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America 3 directors the Russo Brothers are in talks to helm Avengers 3 & 4.

So this is a lot to take in but the point is that Marvel is flipping the script once again and taking the superhero genre to a different level.

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Review: 'The Judge' starring Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall

It's a shame we don't get to see more of Robert Downey Jr.'s swaggering ways outside of playing Iron Man or Sherlock Holmes, because boy is he fun to watch. He's so good that even movies like The Judge which are totally predictable, a little overwrought, and frankly a little bit outdated, are a genuine pleasure to watch. And when matched up with the great Robert Duvall, snarling at one another like a couple of combative bulls, The Judge more often than not exceeds its conventional trappings into purely enjoyable popcorn fare.

With Downey there's always going to be a little bit of Tony Stark in every performance, and right away we see the brash arrogance that undoubtedly hides a heart of gold within big city lawyer, Hank Palmer. After a troubled childhood Hank escaped his small town roots and made something of himself as a high-priced defense attorney. "Innocent people can't afford me", he tells the schlub of a prosecutor (David Krumholtz) who has probably lost to him on more than one occasion. But a sudden phone call with a tragic message sends Hank racing back to Carlinville, Indiana for his mother's funeral and an unwanted reunion with his father, tough-as-nails Judge Joseph Palmer (Duvall).  With a script by the writers of Clint Eastwood's curmudgeonly turn in Gran Torino, it's no wonder Joseph is so darn ornery. He's the kind of guy who believes in old school, All-American values. Joseph is tough but fair in the courtroom, but not so much to his own son who he deems as a troublemaker and failure. So when they are reunited there aren't a lot of hugs. Or no hugs at all, actually. If there's a compliment from Joseph it's of the back-handed sort.

Those old values were never Hank's thing, and he can't wait to leave town and the bad memories behind until Joseph is suddenly charged with a murder. He can't remember what happened; can't remember much lately it seems, and Hank decides to stick around and defend his old man who is either very ill, a murderer and liar, or has fallen of the wagon. Or perhaps all three. Directed by David Dobkin, who also had a hand in developing the story, The Judgehas a hard time getting out of its own way thematically. A big problem is the sheer number of subplots, each of wildly ranging tones that crush a fairly simple story under their weight. Hank pities his pathetic older brother Glen (Vincent D'Onofrio), a former baseball prospect now just an average working stiff; and his autistic younger bro Dale (Jeremy Strong), the "Fredo" of the family. Hank has a young daughter back home and is about to get a divorce from his cheating wife, but that's okay because an old flame resurfaces in Samantha (Vera Farmiga), owner of the town's most popular restaurant. Oh, and she has a daughter (Leighton Meester) who may be Hank's, although that situation is awkward in more ways than one.  You could probably get two or three movies out of all that, but The Judge tries to fit them all into a package just over two hours long, and it's a tough gig to pull off.

Dobkin is best known for directing comedies like Wedding Crashers andFred Claus, and he's clearly more comfortable when handling the many humorous beats. He's less steady when expressing the dramatic themes, and oversells them to make sure we "get" it. A massive thunderstorm erupts just as family tension reaches a boiling point; Hank and Joseph argue angrily and stomp away in opposite directions with the camera practically screaming "Look at the gulf between them!!” These are problems caused by inexperience handling issues of actual weight, and Dobkin isn't served well by a soundtrack that is begging you to tear up. Photographed beautifully by Janusz Kaminski (Schindler's List), the film strikes a perfectly homey image of America through the lens of Norman Rockwell.

Tonal issues aside, The Judge is saved by the performances of Downey and Duvall, two great actors with more in common than one would think. There's a certain level of showmanship in both men, each getting their chances to either chew scenery or strum at a heart string. Duvall really shines as the film goes along and we learn more of Hank's predicament, while Downey is consistently motor-mouthed throughout. They're difficult roles to play because neither Hank nor Joseph is immediately sympathetic. It takes time for the actors to earn that from us, but they eventually do. The courtroom scenes, on the other hand, are no different than anything you'd find on an episode of Law & Order, with the exception of Billy Bob Thornton as a mustache-twirling prosecutor played by Billy Bob Thornton. Why not just stamp "bad guy" on his forehead?

The Judge is too busy for its own good and tries too hard to play with our emotions, but as solidly entertaining family drama it's guilty as charged.

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Robert Downey Jr. Flip-Flops, Now says there are No 'Iron Man 4' Plans

Robert Downey Jr. continues to confound his fans over Iron Man 4, and yesterday he messed with their emotions in impressive fashion. Mere hours after appearing on Ellen and seeming to confirm Marvel's plans for a fourth Iron Man film, he appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman and contradicted himself.

RDJ: "There's no plans for an Iron Man 4. There's no script for Iron Man 4, but they do have a plan and I think they're gonna announce it. You know, [Marvel's] very secretive about it."

After yesterday's story I noted how Downey never specifically said anything about playing Iron Man, just that Marvel has plans for a movie. Later on in the broadcast with Letterman, Downey seems to hint further that Iron Man 4 could happen with another character in the suit while Tony Stark goes off and does other things.When the subject came up again he responded with this....

RDJ: ..."just between us, no, but I'm gonna do other stuff with Marvel. I'm still going to be involved with Marvel and there's gonna be plenty of fun stuff to happen."

As it stands right now we're going to see him return as Tony Stark for next year's Avengers: Age of Ultron, followed by Avengers 3 which may or may not be split into two movies. After that it's all up in the air but it sounds like Downey will be sticking with Marvel for awhile, just in a different kind of way. Perhaps he'll join the Guardians of the Galaxy like Stark did in the comics?

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Robert Downey Jr. Confirms 'Iron Man 4' in the Works

So what changed between last week and today? Robert Downey Jr. has been incredibly flaky about a possible fourth Iron Man film, sometimes seeming interested and other times not so much. There's a good chance it was all part of his negotiating ploy, something he's gotten quite good at, because today during his appearance on Ellen he answered a question about Iron Man 4 by confirming it was happening. Check out the video yourself...



Uh, and no, it won't be directed by Mel Gibson like Downey said a couple of days ago. As expected, he was just giving an off-hand remark that he didn't expect to be taken so seriously. Or at least that's what he said during a recent Reddit AMA when asked about it.

RDJ: "It was an offhanded remark to a journalist and friend. I have other projects in mind for Mel and I – sooner than later the Marvel Roster will be made public and all questions will be answered."

It's that last part that's especially interesting. A fourth Iron Man film throws a monkeywrench into what a lot of people were expecting from Marvel's next phase. With rumors of Avengers 3 being split into two movies or springboarding into something new and different, this is a new wrinkle to consider. Of course, it all boils down to the contract talks, and it's worth noting that he didn't say it would be him starring as Iron Man. Marvel could, and has previously suggested, that the franchise could go on with someone else in the suit.

You'll want to check out the AMA for more of Downey's thoughts on Agents of SHIELD, Sherlock Holmes 3, and a potential Perry Mason project. 

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Rumor: Some Major Avengers may not Appear in 'The Avengers 3'

As Marvel's second phase comes to a close with Avengers: Age of Ultron, they will be coming to a crossroads with the third phase. Many of their biggest franchises will be wrapping up their trilogies, and their biggest stars have only one or two contractual obligations left. That means we could be nearing our last opportunities to see Chris Hemsworth's Thor, Chris Evans' Captain America, and yes, even Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man. Last week a rumor surfaced that The Avengers 3 could be split into two movies as a means of keeping them around a bit longer, but now comes a new story that fleshes the idea out a bit more.

So according to Badass Digest, the plan to split The Avengers 3 isn't quite right, but Marvel will be using the single film to springboard into something new and much bigger. We've pretty much expected that new heroes like Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, and Guardians of the Galaxy would replace the old guard, but according to the site that change will begin with The Avengers 3. And as part of that we may not see characters like Thor and Captain America at all, in order to hold them over for one huge blowout.

Downey Jr.'s contract stipulates that he be in The Avengers 3, and Badass Digest speculates we'll see Iron Man teaming up with the Guardians of the Galaxy and the other new heroes, before the original crew comes back for a gigantic brouhaha of a crossover.

So there's a lot of guesswork in there but it's certainly plausible, and Marvel isn't likely to break the bank renegotiating contract extensions when they've proven so good at creating new stars. Keep this under your hat as a distinct possibility.

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Robert Downey Jr. will do 'Iron Man 4', but Only if Mel Gibson Directs

There's a pretty good chance we won't see any more Iron Man movies. The Marvel plan seems to be fashioning trilogies then moving on to something new, and besides, Robert Downey Jr. has been a little flaky about his desire to do another one. More often than not he's been disinterested, but occasionally he's open to the idea. But if Marvel really wants to lock Downey in for Iron Man 4, all they need to do is make sure Mel Gibson directs it.

In a fascinating extensive interview with Deadline, Downey spoke about his friendship with Gibson. There was a time when Hollywood wasn't all that keen on hiring Downey due to his personal demons, and Gibson was one of the few who gave him a shot in The Singing Detective. And now as Gibson is something of a pariah nowadays, Downey wants to return the favor.

DEADLINE: Marvel badly wants Iron Man 4 and you’ve said you aren’t doing it. How about the idea you’ll do that movie if Mel directs it? 
DOWNEY: Correct. 
DEADLINE: Is that our headline? 
 DOWNEY: Why not? That movie would be bananas.

Leaving aside whatever issues Gibson had (Downey insists Gibson has changed, and I believe him), he has quite a bit of experience directing large-scale movies. Braveheart and Apocalypto spring to mind immediately, but also The Passion of the Christ was a major production, so it's not as if Gibson would be out of his depth. And let's be honest that it would be a much easier way to regain fan favor than playing villains in Machete and Expendables movies.

It's unlikely Marvel would go this route, anyway, and Downey has other reasons for being hesitant.

DOWNEY: To me, it comes down to what’s the half-life of people enjoying a character? It’s different on TV, where you expect the longevity over seasons while movies get a two or three year break. Marvel keeps stepping up its game, and I appreciate the way Kevin Feige and all the creatives there think. They are as in the creative wheelhouse as any great studio has been at any point. So it becomes a matter of, at what point do I cease to be an asset to what they’re doing, and at what point do I feel I am spending so much time either shooting or promoting these films that I’m not actually able to get off the beachhead and do the kind of other stuff that is good for all of us. Each one of those movies is spread over two years and some people fit other things in. But I’m not 42, I’m turning 50 and now I’ll have two small kids instead of one grown one, and eight Team Downey projects with people who are imagining I’m not just spending Warner Bros’ money out of vanity, but that I’m taking it seriously. It all has become this thing that has to be figured out. It has come to a head, right now, where the points of departure will be.

For now, Downey appears to be content showing up for Avengers: Age of Ultron and starring in smaller films like The Judge, which opens Oct. 10th.

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New Trailer for 'The Judge' Starring Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall

Robert Downey Jr.'s The Judge isn't getting the marketing push that he's used to getting with Iron Man or The Avengers (which really don't need it), but Warner Bros. is definitely trying to get the word out. A pair of trailers for the courtroom dramedy were released just days ago, and now another, more serious look is here. Also starring Robert Duvall, Vera Farmiga, Vincent D'Onofrio, Billy Bob Thornton, and Leighton Meester, The Judge centers on a hotshot defense attorney who returns to defend his estranged father, the town judge, who has been accused of murder. There will be Downey acting like a pompous ass, because that's what he's good at, but also plenty of family reconnection and male bonding.

The Judge is directed by David Dobkin and hits theaters October 10th.

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Marvel Reveals the Official 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' Synopsis

How powerful has Marvel been this year? They've got the two highest-grossing movies of 2014 in Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and chances are they'll do it again in 2015 with Avengers: Age of Ultron. The superhero team-up will kick off the summer in explosive style, and now Marvel is giving us just a tiny look at what to expect with the official plot synopsis. Check it out below:

“Marvel Studios presents ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron,’ the epic follow-up to the biggest Super Hero movie of all time. When Tony Stark tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.

“Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ stars Robert Downey Jr., who returns as Iron Man, along with Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk. Together with Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and with the additional support of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill, the team must reassemble to defeat James Spader as Ultron, a terrifying technological villain hell-bent on human extinction. Along the way, they confront two mysterious and powerful newcomers, Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and Pietro Maximoff, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and meet an old friend in a new form when Paul Bettany becomes Vision.”

This basically confirms what we already knew, which is that Tony Stark will be the catalyst for this story when his peace-keeping program gains sentience and becomes Ultron. But what we don't know about are these "uneasy alliances" the team must form to defeat him. Is that a reference to Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver? Or possibly the Vision, who it's hinted at is created from Stark's old A.I. system, JARVIS. 

Avengers: Age of Ultron opens May 1st 2015. 

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Two Trailers for 'The Judge' Starring Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall

It's been a long time since a leading role by Robert Downey Jr. has been met with the silence faced by The Judge. Days after the courtroom dramedy premiered at TIFF the buzz has been quiet and the reviews middling, but with a release date right around the corner two new trailers will attempt to put the film on a few radars.

Downey stars as Hank Palmer, a big time defense attorney, specializing in getting the rich and guilty of trouble. The great Robert Duvall plays Hank's father, a stern local judge who has been accused of his wife's death. It's up to Hank to defend him while learning some hard truths along the way. If Duvall's curmudgeonly demeanor seems familiar then blame screenwriters Nick Schenk and Bill Dubuque who wrote Clint Eastwood's angry old-timer in Gran Torino.

Directed by David Dobkin, The Judge opens October 10th.

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