Casts looking stellar in 'Iron Man,' 'Dark Knight'

Casting can make or break a film. No matter how good the script or direction is, a wrong-headed casting choice can ruin a project. And some improbable casting decisions can later seem inspired, such as Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man.

And I'm already excited by the casting for "Iron Man," director Jon Favreau's adaptation of the Marvel Comics character.

Favreau ("Elf," "Zathura") has cast Robert Downey Jr. as the title character, billionaire inventor and industrialist Tony Stark. Downey has had his share of struggles with sobriety — and in the comics, Tony Stark is a recovering alcoholic. That irony aside, Downey is a terrific actor and a fine choice for this character.

Two other Oscar nominees and one Oscar-winner will join Downey in the movie: Terrence Howard is Stark's best pal, James "Rhodey" Rhodes; Jeff Bridges is evil industrialist Obadiah Stane; and Gwyneth Paltrow (Oscar-winner for "Shakespeare in Love") is his Gal Friday, Virginia "Pepper" Potts.

The cast for "The Dark Knight," next summer's sequel to "Batman Returns," is also shaping up nicely. Christian Bale is returning as the title character, and Michael Cain, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman will also return as their characters, Alfred Pennyworth, Lucius Fox and Lt. James Gordon, respectively.

New additions are Heath Ledger as the Joker and BYU graduate Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent, the once-heroic district attorney who eventually turns into the villainous Two Face (although whether that event happens in this particular film remains to be seen).

• UPS AND DOWNS OF RECASTING. Getting back to the "Spider-Man" films, there are still questions as to whether director Sam Raimi and stars Maguire and Kirsten Dunst will be back for future "Spidey" sequels.

The two actors have gone on record as saying they'll only return if Raimi does.

Uh-oh!

But the upcoming "Hulk" sequel, sort of, suggests that recasting roles just might work.

The first "Hulk" featured Eric Bana, who has been nicknamed "Eric Bland-a." (Aside from his performances in "Munich" and "Troy," he's been pretty dull.)

His replacement for the new "Hulk" film will be Edward Norton, and Liv Tyler should bring a warmer presence than the frosty Jennifer Connelly was as lady love Betty Ross.

Also, in "The Dark Knight," Maggie Gyllenhaal will replace the much-maligned Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes.

• MARVEL-OUS. "Iron Man" will be the first theatrical feature released by Marvel Enterprises's new film division, which is aligned with Paramount Pictures. That movie will open May 2, with "The Incredible Hulk" following June 13.

• BECAUSE NOTHING SAYS HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA, LIKE GIANT FIGHTING ROBOTS. One quick correction to the recent summer-movie preview story: Michael Bay's "Transformers" opens July 4, not July 6.

---

E-mail: jeff@desnews.com