Lucasfilm Ltd.’s Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) announced today that it has signed on to be the principle visual effects house on Marvel Studios’ Iron Man. Sister company Skywalker Sound will handle sound design and mix duties, while E-film digital color times the superhero flick, which Paramount Pictures plans to release to theaters on May 2, 2008.
‘When we first heard the news about Marvel becoming a studio we were very intrigued,’ says ILM president Chrissie England. ‘When Iron Man was announced here at ILM, the artists started knocking down my door asking to be assigned to the project. We are all thrilled at the opportunity to work on this film and equally excited for our new relationship with Marvel.’
‘This is also a great script, with new and challenging work, which is just the way we like it here,’ adds visual effects supervisor Ben Snow (Star Wars: Episode II, King Kong), who is heading up the ILM team with Oscar-winning animation supervisor Hal Hickel (Pirates of the Caribbean 1, 2, 3). Wayne Billheimer is producing for ILM, with Gretchen Libby serving as the company’s exec producer on the project.
Touting a new relationship with EFILM at the Ranch, Skywalker Sound’s VP and general manager Glenn Kiser stated, ‘Because of EFILM’s DI suite at the Ranch, our clients can now finish sound and picture at the same time under one roof. At Skywalker, we’ve always coupled the best creative talent with top technology, and we’re looking forward to showing off our best work on Iron Man. We can’t wait to have Jon Favreau and his team in the house.’ Multiple Oscar winner Chris Boyes (Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Titanic) will tackle sound design and the mix.
ILM previously teamed with Marvel to create the CG-animated star of 2002’s Hulk, but that job has gone to Rhythm & Hues for the upcoming sequel/reboot The Incredible Hulk. Currently on ILM’s plate is Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, which debuts later this month, as well as the upcoming 2007 releases Transformers, Evan Almighty and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
