Earlier this month, we brought you the news that Marvel Studios was location scouting in Troy, New York for the production of Iron Man 3. Director Jon Favreau (Cowboys & Aliens) also dropped some info about the third installment, saying that Iron Man 3 would actually be more of a sequel or continuation of Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America: The First Avenger, and the Joss Whedon directed team-up, The Avengers, than a follow-up to Iron Man 2.
Now, NYMag reports that Favreau will not be directing the third installment of the Iron Man franchise. The director will however be sticking with Marvel’s parent company for his next film, directing Magic Kingdom for Walt Disney Pictures.
Favreau confirmed the news on Twitter – saying,
It’s true, I’m directing Magic Kingdom, not Iron Man 3. I’ve had a great run with Marvel and wish them the best.
The director then told the LA Times,
“Marvel and I both came of age together. The years that we shared were a pivotal experience. Kevin has a firm grasp on the many franchises and how they all interweave and I am happy that I had the opportunity to establish the world that these characters can now play in…. Iron Man has given me tremendous opportunities and Kevin and I are enjoying a lot of momentum in our careers thanks to the Iron Man films. I look forward to seeing what others can do playing in the same world.”
Thor, directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Natalie Portman, Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Hopkins, Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgård, Ray Stevenson and Jaimie Alexander is slated to hit theaters on May 6th, 2011.
Captain America: The First Avenger, directed by Joe Johnston and starring Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Tommy Lee Jones, Neal McDonough, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell and Toby Jones is slated to hit theaters on July 22nd, 2011.
The Avengers, directed by Joss Whedon and starring Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Samuel L. Jackson, Don Cheadle, Clark Gregg and Tom Hiddleston is slated to hit theaters on May 4th, 2012.
Iron Man 3 is slated to hit theaters on May 3rd, 2013.
