Over the past decade a plethora of comic book superheroes, and their nemesis counterparts, have been sent to the big screen with a blockbuster price tag. Next on the list: Iron Man.

Marvel Studios and Paramount Pictures have come together for what will undoubtedly be the biggest movie of next spring. Based on the comic book that began in 1963, Iron Man is the story of billionaire Tony Stark, a businessman who gets recruited to make weapons for the U.S. government. During tests in Afghanistan he is wounded by one of his inventions, then captured and forced to make weapons for terrorists. Instead, he creates an invulnerable robotic suit to save his life, break free, and eventually, fight evil.

Iron Man stars Robert Downey Jr., was directed by Jon Favreau (Elf and Daredevil), was produced by Marvel veterans, Avi Arad and Kevin Feige, and was written by Arthur Marcum, Hawk Ostby, Matt Holloway, and Mark Fergus.

Favreau and the producers took a gamble in casting Robert Downey Jr. to play the movie's namesake. With a past of alcoholism and arrests, having him play a character who is an alcoholic could be either brilliant or disastrous. But the character of Tony Stark is a grown man’s part. He’s a guy with problems, a boardroom bachelor, who gets held hostage for weeks in Afghanistan. A guy like Downey doesn’t have to be shaped for this part, he’s got the mold at home.

The rest of the cast is worthy of much bragging. Academy Award winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love) plays Stark’s personal assistant, Virginia “Pepper” Potts.  Terrance Howard, Academy Award nominated actor (Hustle and Flow), plays Jim Rhoades, a military friend of Stark’s who helps refine the Iron Man suit and, at one point in the comic, dons the uniform when Stark is too immersed by his alcoholism. Playing Obadiah Stane, Stark’s mentor, is Oscar nominee Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski). 

Rumors have been circulating that a few other top name actors will take part in the film. Samuel L. Jackson may be playing the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury. As another S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, may be two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank (Boys Don’t Cry and Million Dollar Baby). 

With a cast like that and Marvel pros behind the camera, Iron Man is set to be authentic, smooth, and intriguing. Oh, and we get to see stuff being blown up and watch Iron Man fly faster than fighter jets! Check out the trailer on the Iron Man website.