The Iron Man trilogy has transformed the fledging Robert Downey Jr (Sherlock Holmes, Chaplin, The Judge) into the decade’s biggest action star. The three films have an average of $750 million each with the final film making $1.2 billion internationally. The first film is generally lauded, the second is regarded as mediocre while the third is greatly audience dividing but there’ll be great financial gains from whatever Iron Man does next. However, particularly after Guardians of the Galaxy’s incredible success, Marvel’s packed schedule (Avengers 2, Ant-Man, Captain America 3, Doctor Strange and Guardians 2 are confirmed while Black Widow, Thor 3, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, The Inhumans and Avengers three are in the pipeline).
There were rumours of director Shane Black tying up the unresolved plot thread of The Mandarin and The Ten Rings but Downey Jr himself has shut them down. “There isn’t one in the pipe. No, there’s no plan for a fourth Iron Man.”
2012’s Dredd gained mixed critical approval and diminished box office returns upon its release but became a huge hit on DVD and gained a cult status. The fan demand for a sequel is great but star Karl Urban (Star Trek Into Darkness, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Bourne Supremacy) has stated interest in the project being a prequel. “It’s more likely that we’ll do the Origins story, with Dredd trekking through the Cursed Earth to find the first Chief Judge Fargo.” This will easily excite 2000 AD fans out there but part of the first film’s appeal was that it was a regular day in Dredd’s life. Upping the ante to a greater villain, a greater threat or “Dredd’s greatest battle yet” by take away that charm.
There are few actors who command as adoring as fan base as Bill Murray’s. The Ghostbuster/Lost in Translation/Groundhog Day/Rushmore star recently celebrated Bill Murray Day at the Toronto Film Festival and, while interviewed there, managed to fan cast his own female-lead Ghosbusters reboot. “Melissa McCarthy would be a spectacular Ghostbuster. And Kristen Wiig is so funny — God, she’s funny! I like this girl Linda Cardellini a lot. And Emma Stone is funny. There are some funny girls out there.”
Murray has clearly picked up on the fact that Paul Feig (The Office, Bridesmaids, The Heat) is in negotiations to direct the film, after Ruben Fleischer (Zombieland) and Phil Lord and Chris Miller (21 Jump Street, The Lego Movie) reportedly passed. He’s gone for a few Feig regulars, namely Bridesmaids alumni Kristen Wiig (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Paul, Despicable Me) and Melissa McCarthy (The Heat, Identity Thief, Gilmore Girls). Cardellini is a veteran of Freaks and Geeks, ER and Mad Men while Emma Stone (Zombieland, The Help, Easy A, Crazy Stupid Love, Birdman) is perhaps better versed in the world of action fantasy after a leading role in The Amazing Spider-Man films.
Iron Man 4 – never probably?
Dredd 2 – 2017?
Ghostbusters 3 – 2017?
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