IRON MAN 2 hype is at an all time high, as the film is about to hit theaters on May 7th. It marks the start to the summer movie season, which is replete with massive blockbusters, movie stars, and populist pandering galore. IRON MAN 2 also marks the official Marvel entrance into the AVENGERS film franchise, as the original IRON MAN worked to do that with their all too revealing easter egg scene.

Coming Soon talked with Jon Favreau and learned that IRON MAN 3 is years off at best. There's also the possibility that Favreau might not even return for the next installment.The sheer magnitude of what Marvel is undertaking with their AVENGERS film is incredibly admirable. They're attempting to bring together the stories of at least three separate franchises and make them work in a single blockbuster film event. They've got to pull together the work of Jon Favreau's IRON MAN, Joe Johnston's CAPTAIN AMERICA, and Kenneth Brannagh's THOR and make one single cohesive film out of it. Quite a task.

That being said, it's understandable that Favreau might be reluctant to commit to a third film so early. With THE AVENGERS being so far away, there was a distinct possibility that Marvel might do their best to fit in a third IRON MAN before Stark, Rogers, and Nick Fury joined together. That chance seems to be completely nullified now.

Even further, Favreau hinted he might not come back for a third film...

"..so I'm feeling like I'm passing the baton and after all those movies are done, it's time to sit down and discuss if there's something I can bring to it, if it's something we want to do together, but that's way down the road."

What do you think about the possibility of another IRON MAN film that isn't directed by Favreau? Early reviews are starting to trickle in for IRON MAN 2, but there isn't a critical consensus quite yet. Look for it in theaters on May 7th.

Source: ComingSoon