Shane Black to Write and Direct 'Iron Man 3?'

Shane Black is reportedly in contention to write and direct Marvel’sIron Man 3.

THRreports the writer-director has“powwowed” with the comic book studio about directing the sequel, but the assumption is he would also write a draft, like Marvel’sThe Avengershire Joss Whedon.

Black is best known for writing all fourLethal Weaponmovies (which are now being rebooted), but Black also directed Robert Downey Jr. for his first and only feature, the criminally under-seenKiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Other filmmakers will be considered, of course, so Black’s involvement is far from a“sure thing.” However, Downey Jr. has negotiated himself into director approval on these projects and would certainly favor his friend and former collaborator— though you couldn’t tell from the photo above where RDJ looks like he’s trying to murder the cameraman with his mind.

If Marvel does hire Black, it would be another in a long list of bold choices for their action hero tentpoles. Jon Favreau wasn’t a popular pick forIron Man, coming off the family-friendly flopZathura. Kenneth Branagh is mostly known for his Shakespearean work, which somewhat translates to the Norse gods ofThor, but certainly not action. Even Whedon is an unorthodox hire to directThe Avengers, though his writing skills are unquestionable.

Favreau announced inDecemberhe would not be returning to the franchise he helped rocket to popularity. Instead, he is working on Disney’sThe Magic Kingdom, a movie about theme park attractions coming to life a laNight at the Museum. But Favreau left behind a rich, somewhat practical world that will expand exponentially with Marvel’s Avengers in 2012. This extended universe potentially opens the doors for the mystical villainMandarin, who was carefully set up in the previous two, and allows for Tony Stark’s newfound superhero pals to tag along for the fight.

Iron Man 3is already scheduled for release on May 3, 2013.

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