Something Tells Me Tom Cruise Is Not Too Happy Today

Variety reported today that Robert Downey Jr. (whose Kiss Kiss Bang Bang – one of the best movies of last year that I didn’t see – you must check out) has signed on to star as Tony Stark, a wealthy industrialist who, upon being kidnapped, invents a high-tech suit of armor that gives him superpowers and allows him to escape, in the Marvel Comic flick Iron Man.

Jon Favreau (Elf, Zathura) is directing; the movie is expected to arrive in theaters in May 2008.

I don’t mean to be glib or anything, but the news effectively puts the kibosh on Tom Cruise’s longtime (rumored) attachment to the project.

Downey will next be seen opposite Nicole Kidman in this November’s Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus.

Photo: TrailerDownload.net.