You did stay until after the credits of Iron Man, didn't you? If you didn't, you should probably drop whatever you're doing and go see the film again right now, because that's what we'll be discussing here.
For those of you familiar with "The Avenger Initiative," that's not just a line from Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury: Director of SHIELD - it's actually Marvel's business plan. Marvel's huge year this year - with Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk in June and Punisher: War Zone in December - means they'll be taking 2009 off (save for X-Men Origins: Wolverine, natch) only to come back strong in 2010 with Iron Man 2 slated for April 30 and a new movie based on their interpretation of the Norse God of Thunder, Thor, set for June 4.
This will be followed up with a movie they're calling The First Avenger: Captain America, due out on May 6, 2011 (and, if there's any justice, it will be set entirely during World War II), to be followed by a full-on Avengers movie in July of 2011. The Avengers, of course, being Marvel Comics' premiere superhero team - their version of the Justice League. The "Big Three" Avengers are Iron Man, Thor and Captain America, and considering Robert Downey Jr.'s cameo as Tony Stark in the upcoming Incredible Hulk, it must be noted that the Hulk was one of the founding members of the team (although he left in short order, because he's kind of a surly misanthrope, y'see). Most everyone else around them is somewhat interchangeable - although the door is open for an eventual X-Men crossover, as two of Magneto's children are longstanding Avengers themselves.
A Thor movie might be a difficult thing to pull off, really - along the lines of the troubles in translating Wonder Woman's strange origins to a movie screen (she was built out of magic clay on an island full of Ancient Greek Amazon women. Yeah, you try making that work). A big, burly, mead-swilling, magic-hammer-wielding Nordic god inexplicably speaking in Shakesperean English could be difficult to cast without resorting to a pro wrestler like HHH. Then again, an unsuspecting guy happening across a magical artifact that will transform him into a powerful hero is not unheard of. And it must be done, if for no other reason than to please Sara Anderson of Adventures in Babysitting.
The big upside to all this is that Jon Favreau has stated openly that he wants to direct that Avengers movie, and considering the unbelievable job he did with Iron Man, the fans should want no one else at the helm.
It's a glorious time to be a nerd.
