Paramount Pictures’ long-gestating feature adaptation of Marvel Comics’ Iron Man has finally been pinned to the calendar. This first product of Marvel’s distribution deal with Paramount is currently slated to open in theaters on May 2, 2008, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Directed by Jon Favreau (Elf, Zathrua: A Space Adventure), Iron Man is being independently produced by Marvel Ent. with its $525 million revolving film-financing facility. It’s also the first project for Avi Arad Prods., the shingle recently established by former Marvel Studios CEO Avi Arad.
A lesser-known comic book staple created by Larry Lieber, Iron Man chronicles the adventures of Tony Stark, a driven inventor and enigmatic heir to the Stark Enterprises fortune. Like most Marvel characters, he leads a double life, commanding his empire by day and at night becoming Iron Man, the living embodiment of decades of defense spending and innovation. With billions of dollars worth of state-of-the-art armor and weaponry at his disposal, Stark fights crime, terrorism and corporate espionage. Rights to the classic comic property recently reverted back to Marvel following an unsuccessful two-year development period at New Line Cinema.
While at New Line, the project saw scripts drafted by Smallville scribes Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, as well as X-Men writer David Hayter. In addition to directing, Favreau is developing a new script with the writing team of Arthur Marcum and Matt Holloway (Convoy). Tom Cruise was once attached to play the title role, but there is yet no word on who will suit up as Iron Man.
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