Mickey Rourke Next Iron Man Villain

[wayshway]

Fresh from the The Wrestler’s ring, Mickey Rourke might next be putting the hurt on Robert Downey Jr.

The rebuzzworthy actor is in talks to play one of the villians in the upcoming Iron Man 2, which is scheduled to start shooting this spring, studio sources confirm to E! News.

Tony Stark’s new nemesis is another techno-mad arms dealer, this time a Russian who battles our hero in a nuclear-powered suit of armor. Early speculation about the heavily guarded, Justin Theroux-penned script suggests that the character will be Crimson Dynamo, of Marvel Comics fame.

Also in line to play a foe, according to the Hollywood Reporter, is Charlie’s Angels baddie Sam Rockwell, who might be suiting up as Justin Hammer, a rival billionaire industrialist.

The already anticipated sequel is slated for a summer 2010 release, with Gwyneth Paltrow back as Pepper Potts and Don Cheadle taking over for Terrence Howard as Jim “Rhodey” Rhodes. Jon Favreau is once again directing.

Meanwhile, Rourke is certainly a hot commodity as we roll into red-carpet season, having been nominated for a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and an Independent Spirit Award for his role as a washed-up wrestler looking to make amends for a life ill-lived in the aptly titled The Wrestler.