Iron Man is an animated television series based on Marvel Comics' superhero Iron Man. The series aired from 1994 to 1996 in syndication as part of The Marvel Action Hour, which packaged Iron Man with another animated series based on Marvel properties, the Fantastic Four, with one half-hour episode from each series airing back-to-back. The show was backed by a toy line that featured many armor variants.

Iron Man is an upcoming 2008 superhero film based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Iron Man. The film is directed by Jon Favreau and stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist who is captured by terrorists in Afghanistan. Ordered to build a missile, Stark uses his resources instead to build a suit of power armor and make his escape. Returning to America, Stark improves his armor and becomes the technologically advanced superhero Iron Man. Gwyneth Paltrow plays his secretary and love interest Virginia Potts, Terrence Howard plays jet pilot James Rhodes, and Jeff Bridges plays the villainous Obadiah Stane / Iron Monger.

The film began development at Universal Studios in 1990. 20th Century Fox earned the rights in 1996, before handing them over to New Line Cinema four years later. Marvel Studios reacquired the rights in 2006, and put it in production as their first self-financed film. Favreau signed on as director, aiming for a realistic feel, and chose to shoot the film primarily in California, rejecting the East Coast setting of the comics so as to differentiate the film from numerous superhero movies set in New York City-esque environments. Stan Winston Studios built the armor seen in the film, which is modeled after Adi Granov's comic book art of the character; Granov himself started working on the film after recognizing his work on the director's MySpace page.

Marvel and Paramount Pictures, the distributor, have planned a $50 million marketing campaign for the film, which is modeled on Paramount's successful promotion of Transformers (2007); Hasbro and Sega will sell merchandise, and product placement deals were made with Audi and Burger King. Iron Man will be released on May 2, 2008, and the film's stars have signed on for a sequel. Favreau had planned out a trilogy, depicting Stark's alcoholism, Rhodes becoming War Machine, and the introduction of the Mandarin, whose presence is foreshadowed in this film. Downey is also reprising his role in The Incredible Hulk, as Marvel has plans for a film adaptation of The Avengers.

In this series, Tony Stark is the head of a company that is under continual threat from evil forces such as the Mandarin and Justin Hammer. Against this, Stark fights back by leading his own team of heroes as Iron Man wearing armour that not only has the standard features of his regular armour, but can instantly change into his specialized variants for stealth, space, underwater etc. Written by Kenneth Chisholm

When billionaire industrialist, Tony Stark, dons his solar-charged, steel-mesh armour, he becomes the invincible Iron Man, ready to do battle with the villainous Mandarin and the power of his ten deadly rings. To protect his company, Stark Enterprises, from the threat posed by the team of Mandarin, Stark's rival Justin Hammer, and their team of super-powered followers, Iron Man is joined by Force Works, his own team of allies and friends, who time and again claim victory over their foes. When Tony fakes his own death, enabling a pivotal battle to be won and for the Mandarin to apparently be destroyed, he inadvertantly alienates his team-mates, causing Force Works to disband. Now, with a new, more powerful armour that adapts to different environments, Iron Man must face a multitude of new foes - and his own personal demons, as well. Written by Chris McFeely

Rachel McAdams, director Jon Favreau's first choice, turned down Gwyneth Paltrow's role.

Robert Downey Jr. set up his own office next to Jon Favreau's office, to discuss his role with Favreau. He also became highly involved in pre-production.

Jon Favreau was originally going to direct Captain America (2009) in the manner of a superhero comedy adventure, but he instead chose to direct this film and give it a more serious tone.

According to Jon Favreau, this film's version of the Mandarin was based on the Dark Lord Sauron from J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," feeling that his role was more of a presence rather than a physical antagonist.

According to Jon Favreau, he wished to make this film a kind of independent film-espionage thriller crossbreed, being influenced by Tom Clancy (I) novels, James Bond films, RoboCop (1987), and Batman Begins (2005). He describes his film as "a kind of Robert Altman (I)-directed Superman (1978)."

In the comics, Tony Stark participated (and became Iron Man) in the Vietnam War; later this was retconned to the Gulf War. In this film, the character's origin was retconned to Afghanistan, as Jon Favreau did not wish to make the film a period piece but instead give it a realistic contemporary look.

During shooting, Jon Favreau preferred improvisation in dialogue scenes, calling back to his Robert Altman (I) influence.

Tony Stark drives an Audi R8 in the film, as part of a promotion deal Marvel Studio's made with the Audi Automobile Company. Two other vehicles, the Audi A6 sedan and the Audi Q7 SUV, also make an appearance in the film.

An Aaton 35mm camera was accidentally run over by a tank during the shoot.

In October 1999, Quentin Tarantino was approached to write and direct the film. Later, Joss Whedon, a big fan of the comic book, was in negotiations to direct the film in June 2001. In December 2004, Nick Cassavetes was hired as a director, with the film to release in 2006, but everything fell through. Finally, Jon Favreau was hired as director.

Nicolas Cage and Tom Cruise were interested in playing Iron Man. Cruise in particular was going to act in and produce the film.

Robert Downey Jr. is a big fan of the "Iron Man" comic book.

Ghostface Killah who plays Dubai Tycoon is a long time fan of the comic. He also goes by the rap aliases "Iron Man" and "Tony Starks".

Iron Man's armour was designed by Phil Saunders and Adi Granov (a comic book artist who is currently working on the "Iron Man" comic). This armour was then constructed by Stan Winston Studios.

Robert Downey Jr. will be involved with motion-capture work eight months after filming is completed in order to realistically portray Iron Man's movements.

Terrence Howard was cast as James Rhodes, as Jon Favreau felt he could also portray War Machine admirably. To prepare for his role, Howard visited the Nellis Air Force Base on March 16 2007, where he ate with the Base's airmen and observed the routines of HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters and F-22 Raptor jets.

To prepare for her role as Pepper Potts, Gwyneth Paltrow read many of the "Iron Man" comic books, lent to her by her husband Chris Martin (XI).

To play Obadiah Stane, Jeff Bridges (I) shaved his head and grew a goatee.

Comic book writer Stan Lee (I), as always, has a cameo in the live-action film of his creation Iron Man. He plays the man with three blondes whom Tony Stark mistakes for Hugh M. Hefner. He later mentioned that it was his most fun cameo.

In an issue of the Marvel comic Ultimates (the Ultimate version of the Avengers, of which Iron Man is a member) the eponymous superheroes discuss who could play them in a possible movie, and Nick Fury (who is African-American in the Ultimate reality and artistically based on Sam Jackson, bearing a striking resemblance throughout the entirety of the series) says the only actor who could portray him is Samuel L. Jackson. Jackson plays Fury in this film.

Prizefighter Mason loses his opening fight so wife Rose leaves him for Hollywood. Without her around Mason trains and starts winning. Rose comes back and wants Mason to dump his manager Regan and replace him with her secret lover Lewis. Written by Ed Stephan

Based on a true story.

The role of Marie was initially offered to actress Adrienne Wilkinson who unfortunately could not fit the film into her schedule and had to pass.

In Coaltown, Pennsylvania, miner Coke Mason hopes to better himself, buy a radio store, and marry Rose Warren. His gambler brother George thinks Coke can be more successful as a boxer, knowing that when he fights he's consumed with a murderous rage that makes him an "iron man." Seeing dollar signs in Rose's eyes, Coke reluctantly agrees, though he's fearful of the "killer instinct" that makes him a knockout success in the ring...and brings him the booing hatred of the fans. Will Coke throw off his personal demon before he kills someone? Written by Rod Crawford