It’s been awhile since we’ve had a movie update. What about our beloved comic book movies??

Iron Man 2
Scheduled Release Date: May 7th, 2010
Who’s the same? Robert Downey Jr. will once again step in the suit as Tony Stark. Gwyneth Paltrow will return as love interest (and newly promoted) Pepper Potts
Who’s different? Don Cheadle replaces Terrence Howard Col. James Rhodey (aka War Machine!).
Goodies: Whiplash and Black Widow are the baddies in this film, played by Mickey Rourke and Scarlett Johansson. Samuel L. Jackson will also play a role in the film as Nick Fury. Iron Man 2 is also confirmed for the IMAX experience.

Captain America (The First Avenger: Captain America)
Scheduled Release Date: July 22, 2011
Who’s in it? Well, we know that Will Smith WON’T be in it.
Goodies: Not much is known about the Captain America film…we DO however know it’s coming. Marvel has been teasing us with eggs in the movies Iron Man (You see the famous star shield in Tony Starks shop) and in The Incredible Hulk (super-soldier serum anyone?). The Red Skull has been confirmed as the villain and the majority of the film will take place during WWII, making it comparable to the Origins Marvel movies.

Thor
Scheduled Release Date:  May 6, 2011
Who’s in it? Kenneth Branagh is directing, with Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek) starring as Thor, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Tom Hiddleston as Loki and our favorite Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.
Goodies: Synopsis from IMDB “Marvel Studios expands its film universe with a new type of superhero: THOR. This epic adventure spans the Marvel Universe; from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth. Kenneth Branagh directs this fantasy epic which stars Australian actor Chris Hemsworth as the ancient Norse god, Tom Hiddleston as his evil brother Loki, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, a young woman who befriends Thor on Earth, and Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Thor’s father and king of Asgard. Expect to see agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., previously seen in ”Iron Man,” to make an appearance, further forshadowing the coming of The Avengers!”

Green Lantern
Scheduled Release:  June 17, 2011
Who’s in it? Ryan Reynolds is apparently trading in his Deadpool duds for Green Lantern gear, Blake Lively is supposed to appear as love interest Carol Ferris, and Tim Robbins and Peter Sarsgaard (Oprhan, Jarhead) as Senator Hammond and villain Dr. Hector Hammond.
Goodies: The movie is listed on IMDB as “Pre-production”, directed by Martin Campbell (a couple Bond movies under his belt, Zorro…). Filming is expected to begin in March.

Spider-Man 4 (turned Spider-man Reboot)
Scheduled Release Date: Summer 2012
Who’s in it?
Goodies: Or baddies. Spider-man 4 picked up in 2007 with Sam Raimi at the reins to direct again, and Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst ready to take on Peter and Mary Jane. Conflict arose when Raimi worried he couldn’t meet the 2011 deadline, and bowed out of the project. Sony Pictures dumped the whole project and announced a Spider-man reboot with all new directors/actors, taking Spider-man in a “new direction” and sending Peter Parker back to high school.

The Avengers
Scheduled Release Date: May 2012
Who’s in it? Robert Downy Jr. has signed on with his character Tony Stark/Iron Man, as well as Chris Hemsworth as Thor. Rumored: Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow, Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Jeremy Renner (Hurt Locker, SWAT) as Hawkeye
Goodies: The Holy Grail of comic book movies (for Marvel lovers). Should be an all-star cast, from what I’ve read, with the actors who portray Marvel characters in other movies reprising their roles for this one. The line-up? Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, The Hulk, and Nick Fury.

X-Men Origins: Magneto
Scheduled Release: 2012
Goodies: No solid reports on who will be playing the infamous Eric Lensherr (Magneto). Pretty much all that’s known is that this movie will follow suit of the X-Men Origins and give us an insight on Eric Lensherr, his friendship with Charles Xavier, and the road to his transformation into the evil mastermind, Magneto.

Ant-Man
Scheduled Release: 2012
Goodies: This features Dr. Henry Pim as Ant-Man and is directed by Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead). The brief synopsis on IMDB: “Biochemist Dr. Hank Pym uses his latest discovery, a group of subatomic particles, to create a size-altering formula. Though his first self-test goes awry, he develops an instrument that helps him communicate with and control insects.” Stan Lee recently tweeted that “Marvel is prepping a movie starring– Ant Man!”

Pure Speculation

Batman/Superman Movie
Fueling the Rumor Fire: Do you remember Chris Nolan? He’s the one responsible for little known films, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Insiders state that Nolan asked to “godfather” the next Superman movie, which others speculate MAY open the door for a Batman/Superman film. Supposedly WB has granted him leadership of the project.

Batman 3
Fueling the Rumor Fire: Speaking of Batman, where is the new Batman movie series at? Supposedly Chris Nolan, Jonah Nolan and David S. Goyer have just started writing a script with promiment plot points rumored at including the Riddler discovering Batman’s identity, Arkham Asylum, Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson. An inside anonymous source at Warmer Bros also hints that Commissioner Gordon will mention Metropolis and Lex Luther (Superman), thus adding more fuel to the rumor fire for a Batman/Superman movie. Other, more suspect rumors put Megan Fox as Catwoman and Johnny Depp as the Riddler.