▪ Robert Downey Jr. taking Iron Man 2 more seriously than any movie he’s ever done
Collider recently got the chance to ask Robert Downey Jr. a few questions about Iron Man 2, which is currently in filming mode. He said that due to high expectations he is taking the sequel a bit more seriously, and he also praised the new additions to the cast (Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle).

Here’s a snippet:

Another bit that Robert told us was how he is taking “Iron Man 2” more seriously than any movie he has ever done:

Robert: I’ve never been in a sequel and it’s very daunting because I feel the expectation of the millions of people who watched it and enjoyed it and told me that it was a little different than your usual genre picture and that they expected us to not screw it up. So I actually have taken “Iron Man 2” probably more seriously than any movie I’ve ever done, which is appropriately ridiculous for Hollywood.

On the way the suit has been improved from the first film:

Everything has been improved. Everything is ergonomic and the story is incredibly risky and artistic for a big genre movie.

In which way risky?

The set pieces have to do with things that aren’t your typical like bad guy conflict. The relationships are very complex and hilarious. The motivations Tony has and why he turns around and does things has completely to do with his own internal processes and it really is, I think, as much as we tried to in the first one really see behind the facade of this kind of storytelling. We really, I think, leaving ourselves open to… we’re kind of trying to tell a story about how a dysfunctional family saves life on Earth as we know it.

Could you talk about working with Mickey?

I could if we shot together. I’ve seen his stuff and it is literally remarkable. Literally remarkable. He’s so good. And he’s formidable and he’s very much reminding me of that kind of charming, confident guy that we know. Sam Rockwell, on the first day of shooting I was like “if this guy thinks he’s going to be funnier and cooler than me (laughter) and it was a photo-finish. Scarlett Johansson, amazing. Don Cheadle is just rocking it.

Click here to read the whole interview!

▪ A select group of humans have seen the Toy Story 3 teaser trailer
According to Variety Disney revealed some Toy Story 3 footage at the Digital Cinema Summit.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Group prexy offered up the first-ever public screening of the teaser trailer for “Toy Story 3.” Custom-animated short shows Woody supervising the Toy Story characters as they improvise a sign for the pic, only to have Buzz upstage them all with a high-tech version.

The Mouse House will re-release 3-D versions of “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2” in a double feature. “Toy Story 3” bows June 18, 2010.

Apparently Disney will be revealing the Toy Story 3 teaser to everyone else when the first two Toy Story movies are re-released in October (which makes sense marketing-wise).

▪ Fox Atomic Closing this Week
Variety says that 20th Century Fox will close down Fox Atomic, the production label started by Peter Rice in 2007, this week.

President of Production Debbie Liebling will return as an executive at 20th Century Fox, where she’ll continue to develop comedies and genre films for co-presidents Alex Young and Emma Watts.

Fox Atomic released such titles as 28 Weeks Later, The Hills Have Eyes II, Turistas, The Rocker, The Comebacks, Miss March and 12 Rounds. Upcoming titles include I Love You, Beth Cooper (July 10) and Jennifer’s Body (Sept. 18), which will be released by 20th Century Fox now.

Other high-profile projects that were in the works included zombie sequel 28 Months Later and Accidentes, to star Sacha Baron Cohen. Those titles may be moved over to Fox main.

▪ The Hobbit will span two movies
Originally, we heard that the plan was to adapt The Hobbit into one film, and then a second film would be made that bridged the gap between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. However Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson have revealed to Empire that the intention now is to split and extend The Hobbit over the two films to bring the story right up to the beginning of The Lord of the Rings.

“We’ve decided to have The Hobbit span the two movies, including the White Council and the comings and goings of Gandalf to Dol Guldur,” says Del Toro.

“We decided it would be a mistake to try to cram everything into one movie,” adds Jackson. “The essential brief was to do The Hobbit, and it allows us to make The Hobbit in a little more style, if you like, of the [LOTR] trilogy.”

This is probably the best way to go. Cramming The Hobbit into one film would have meant some stuff wouldn’t have made it into the movie. Laying it out over 2 movies means that they can do it more justice.

Only 3 years and 8 months to go!