ROBERT DOWNEY JR - JON FAVREAU CONFIRMS IRON 3

JON FAVREAU CONFIRMS IRON 3

Director Jon Favreau has hinted a third 'Iron Man' film may be completed by 2012.

Jon Favreau has confirmed there will be a third 'Iron Man' film.

The filmmaker - who directed the first two movies in the superhero franchise

- refused to confirm a timeframe for the project, but hinted it could be completed before spin-off 'The Avengers', which is due to be released in 2012.

Favreau said: "There's an 'Iron Man 3'. Here's how I know. When they make the option deals, they include 'Iron Man 3'. So I know they're planning on making another one.

"Whether that would be before or after 'The Avengers' I don't know. They've announced that 'The Avengers' is next but they pushed it back once, which I thought was encouraging."

'The Avengers' will see Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), the Incredible Hulk (Edward Norton), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and other Marvel Comics heroes join forces for a series of action-packed adventures.

Favreau is rumoured to be the film's executive producer, but denies he has signed a contract.

He added: "My involvement has yet to be determined on that project. You're not going to know about 'Thor' for two years, what that really means. And 'Captain America', they haven't even started prepping yet. So there's a lot of discovery that has to take place before you can understand what 'Avengers' really is."