Marvel's machine in gear

May 05, 2008 Executives seemed all smiles during a conference call as they reported strong first-quarter financial results, raised full-year guidance and boasted of their newest franchise. While the studio has options for two more films in the "Iron Man" series at prenegotiated terms with Downey, Gwyneth Paltrow and Terrence Howard, studio chairman David Maisel refused to confirm Downey's participation in "Iron Man 2." The company already has general ideas of where it wants to take the sequel's story line and plans on sitting down with Downey and director Jon Favreau this week to nail down a direction before hiring writers.

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