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Robert Downey Jr. has signed a deal with Marvel Studios to return to the screen as superhero "Iron Man" in two sequels to the hit film released last April, Hollywood media reported Wednesday.
Downey, 43, will make "Iron Man 2" for planned released in 2010, and Marvel envisions a third Iron Man film by 2012, according to Variety.
In between the two, Downey also agreed to play Iron Man, alias Tony Stark, in an Avengers movie, together with Marvel comics characters Captain America, Thor and the Incredible Hulk.
That film is scheduled for the movie houses in 2011.
"Iron Man" was a surprise hit in 2008, pulling in 318 million dollars in North American theaters, beating out the fourth "Indiana Jones" movie.
Downey is currently filming in the lead role of "Sherlock Holmes," directed by Guy Ritchie, singer Madonna's estranged husband.
Downey also found success in the Hollywood war-movie satire "Tropic Thunder" earlier this year.
The successes marked the return to Hollywood heights by an comic actor whose career slumped due to a series of drug-related problems after his initial Oscar-nominated triumph playing the title role in 1992's "Chaplin."
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-23 17:35:20
