Actor Robert Downey, Jr., has been cast in the newest comic-to-big screen adaptation as Marvel Comic's Iron Man, as well as his alter ego Tony Stark.

Stark, in the comics, is a wealthy industrialist who invents a high-tech suit of body armor giving him superpowers when he is kidnapped. He was also an alcoholic, which may cause comparisons to be drawn to Downey's personal life struggles, but the first film will only deal with the character's evolution into Iron Man.

This will be Downey's first big budget action film and marks a major highlight in the career of the actor who spent most of the 90s publicly battling drug problems. In recent years, he has slowly rebuilt his career with solid acting turns in low-budget and indie films such as Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang and A Scanner Darkly.

The film will be directed by Jon Favreau, who recently directed Zathura.

Principal photography on the movie is set to start in February 2007, with a tentative release date set for May 2008 via Paramount Pictures.

Iron Man will be Marvel's first self-financed film.

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