BREAKING: Robert Downey Jr. Signs Deal to Return as Iron Man in 'The Avengers 2' and 'The Avengers 3'

Robert Downey Jr. isn't ready to hang up the Iron Man suit of armor just yet. On Thursday, Marvel Studios announced that the actor had signed a two-picture deal to reprise his role as Tony Stark in both The Avengers 2 and The Avengers 3. The Avengers 2 is scheduled to hit theaters on May 1, 2015. No mention of Iron Man 4.

This isn't a shocker. It was very hard to imagine a Marvel Cinematic Universe without Downey playing Iron Man. There'll come a day when the studio has to recast the role, but they've bought themselves at least five more years with this deal.

Head past the jump to check out Marvel's full press release.

“I am Iron Man.” Tony Stark’s famous closing line to the very first Iron Man film takes on new life today as Marvel is pleased to announce the signing of Robert Downey, Jr. to reprise the role of the “billionaire, genius, playboy, philanthropist.” 

Under the two-picture agreement, Downey will star as Tony Stark/Iron Man in “Marvel’s The Avengers 2” and “Marvel’s The Avengers 3.” Downey is represented at CAA by Bryan Lourd, Jim Toth and Matt Leaf and by his attorneys Tom Hansen and Stewart Brookman of the firm Hansen Jacobson. 

Downey, Jr.’s last two Marvel films, 2012’s “Marvel’s The Avengers” and this year’s “Iron Man 3,” rank as two of the top five grossing films of all time, collectively earning over $2.7 billion worldwide to date. 

“Marvel’s The Avengers 2” is being written and directed by Joss Whedon. Featuring favorites from the first Avengers film and new Marvel characters never before seen on the big screen, “Marvel’s The Avengers 2” is slated to begin production in March 2014 and open in theaters May 1, 2015. 

Thrilled by this mega announcement, Marvelites? Well, be sure you stay glued to Marvel.com because in the coming days and weeks and months, Marvel.com will be FIRST in the world to reveal additional casting updates, new characters coming to Marvel movies and so much more -- directly from the most secret meetings at Marvel! You wouldn't want to miss out on that now, would you?!