Downey Jr. confirmed to assemble with 'The Avengers'

No way -- the guy from "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang?" The dude who played the actor dude who was playing another dude of a different ethnicity in "Tropic Thunder?" He's going to be an even bigger star than before?

Marvel Studios says yes to all of the above. Actor Robert Downey Jr. will reprise his role as Tony Stark/ Iron Man in "The Avengers," based on the Marvel Comics superhero team. That means the "Iron Man" team comes along, right?

Jon Favreau will produce the film and Don Cheadle is confirmed to come back as Jim Rhodes (WAR MACHINE) after "Iron Man 2" which should hit the screens in May 2010. More details can be found here at Comingsoon.net.

This is a huge triumph for Downey and Favreau who have been on the fringes of the mainstream with their earlier works. Favreau directed "Made," "Zathura" and "Elf." "Elf" was the big boxoffice hit for Favreau earning $220 million worldwide.

More later.