Is Jon Favreau Even Planning To Direct IRON MAN 3?

MTV News did their usual thing this week when they talked with director Jon Favreau about next year’s Cowboys & Aliens - they sort of touched on his future projects but got just about no information and asked no interesting questions. They asked the director about Iron Man 3 and he gave one of the great vague answers I’ve ever heard:

“In theory, ‘Iron Man 3’ is going to be a sequel or continuation of ‘Thor,’ ‘Hulk,’ ‘Captain America’ and ‘Avengers,’” he said. “This whole world… I have no idea what it is. I don’t think they do either, from conversations I’ve had with those guys.”

Everybody ran with the sizzling headline that Iron Man 3 would be a ‘sequel’ to The Avengers, but duh - of course it would be. The film comes out after The Avengers, and we’ve already learned that the Marvel Movie Universe is closely connected. What interests me here is Favreau’s seeming lack of interest in what’s up with the rest of the Marvel Movie Universe; he doesn’t know a thing about Thor and he’s barely chatted with Joss Whedon about The Avengers. Favreau’s the guy who started this universe, and at one point he was chomping at the bit to direct The Avengers.

But he’s busy with Cowboys & Aliens, you say. Of course he’s not keeping up with Marvel. To which I say, sure, maybe… but you’re forgetting about The Magic Kingdom. Favreau’s weird sounding Disney movie (Night at the Museum at Disney Land, essentially) is hitting in 2013. The same year that Iron Man 3 is scheduled.

Could Favreau deliver two major FX-heavy blockbusters in 2013? Technically, sure. Maybe Magic Kingdom is a Christmas film; we know that Iron Man 3 is scheduled to come out in the early summer. I guess he could jump right from Iron Man 3 to Magic Kingdom; or perhaps Iron Man 3 could be pushed back to 2014. But I doubt that - Iron Man is the only sure-fire hit series that Marvel has, and I don’t know if they’ll want to go four years between entries (especially if Captain America, Thor or The Avengers don’t take off).

I know that Favreau wasn’t happy on Iron Man 2. He had a very hard time on the film, and I think his second experience with Marvel wasn’t the most positive. I’m sure that the film’s large box office is helping him overcome any hard feelings, but is Favreau done with the Iron Avenger?

This will probably all play out in the next few years, as Favreau has proven to be no chump when it comes to negotiations. That said, I wouldn’t be so sure that the first three Iron Man films all come from the same director.