Watch your back, Iron Man! Wolverine might just be about to learn what happens when your film is a critical and commercial (well, in movie studio terms -- it made more money than you or I will ever see) failure. It's The End, though not before you embarrass yourself with Peter Parker in the newspapers.

Marvel decided to tease everyone with this promo image, and at the moment it's not clear just what's in store for the Old Canucklehead. Marvel has already run a few glimpses into his bloody future (most recently with the Unforgiven-ish saga Old Man Logan, and in the past with both Paul Jenkins' Wolverine: The End and X-Men: The End), so "killing" or maiming Wolverine is nothing new, especially if it's in an alternate future. Frankly, it might not even be his end at all, but the death of his mohawked retcon son, Daken.

Sure, this is comic news and not really movie related (though they're quickly becoming one and the same), but you can't help but laugh at the nice timing. I wonder if they'll incorporate the film's magical bullets in order to do Wolverine in, thus forcing us to accept that creativity as canon. Or will he be embarrassed further by enjoying a fate inspired by summer's other flop, Terminator: Salvation? Whatever happens, I'm sure he's wishing he'd read the fine print on his movie contract.

This new bit of rumor better not be fake -- not after I just spent a whole bunch of words asking for some tougher females on the big screen. The weekend rumor mill was buzzing after Golden Apple's blog said that Katee Sackhoff had paid them a visit -- as in, Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica. It seems she went to the shop hunting down all the Typhoid Mary comics she could get her hands on because she "has hopes to get a part for a Marvel movie." Kara Frakking Thrace might start kicking arses on the big screen!

Now everyone is trying to figure out which movie it would be. A reboot of Daredevil? Perhaps. He accidentally helped cause her condition. Spider-Man 4? Maybe -- she did fight the webbed wonder before. But it's much more likely that this is one hell of a Deadpool casting announcement -- he's dealt with all of her personalities and they've wreaked havoc together.

Mary Walker - Typhoid Mary - Bloody Mary is a powerful Marvel villain who is plagued with multiple personalities and supernatural powers. Considering Sackhoff's Thrace, and the hero's mix of super-tough fighter, alcoholic, lover, artist, and temporary crazy lady, she's dead-on for the role. I just hope it's a big role. Having her play 3rd, 4th, or 5th fiddle would be a huge waste.

How do you feel about Kara Thrace as Typhoid Mary?

A hi-res screengrab from the new Iron Man 2 teaser

Though production on Iron Man 2 is just getting underway, Marvel and Paramount wasted no time in premiering the first teaser for the film at the ShoWest convention in Las Vegas and then simultaneously online through a pretty elaborate viral campaign. It all began when we here at Cinematical received an email from someone called "Metal Head" that read: "Think you have what it takes to fight me, American scum?" Underneath the message was a link to this site, which has something to do with top secret Russian military fighting (an obvious tie-in to Mickey Rourke's Russian bruiser character, who, judging from the email, is probably called Metal Head).

The (fictitious?) site mentioned various Russian fighting techniques, and it was soon after that when Cinematical reader Alex F. emailed us with another page that's linked to from the original Russian combat site. This new website, for a Russian Orthodox Church in China, contained several links and talked about different old-looking bearded Bishops throughout the years (Old? Bishops? Tony Stark's dad?). One of the site's many links, however, lead us to this new site that featured a recipe for Vegan Iron Man Cookies, which, well, kinda gave the whole thing away.

We then knew this was a viral campaign for Iron Man 2 and that something huge was about to happen. After a few movie bloggers at ShoWest alerted us to the fact that a web address was hidden within said Vegan Iron Man Cookie recipe – as well as the new name for the film, Iron Man: Shock to the Heart (which I love, by the way) – we were directed to the site housing what has to be one of the sickest teaser trailers I've ever seen.

Kudos to Jon Favreau and company for getting this up so quickly! I won't spoil it here, but all I'm going to say is Scarlett Johansson half naked and holding two shotguns while steering a motorcycle with her bloodied and bandaged knees. Sick. Twisted. Cannot wait. Watch it here, then let us know what you think. Iron Man: Shock to the Heart hits theaters on May 7, 2010.

It has been a busy couple of weeks for Marvel. After signing Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury for the rest of the man's natural born life and stalling on Iron Man casting (although that all worked out in the end), their behavior might have looked a little crazy -- but, it appears it was all a part of the plan. Deadline Hollywood Daily has posted a press release from Marvel today announcing "an adjusted release pipeline for its self-produced feature film properties that reflects the first time individual Super Hero characters and story arcs will be inter-woven and culminate in a multi-character motion picture."

So what exactly do they mean by adjusted? According to the new schedule, Thor will now be released June 17, 2011 (previously the big guy was slated for July 2010), The First Avenger: Captain America will now hit July 22, 2011 (one year later than expected), and the big bad daddy of them all, The Avengers has been moved to May 4th, 2012. Marvel even got a little feisty and stole some of Sony's thunder by announcing Spider Man 4's release date of May 6th, 2011. The good news for Marvel is this new schedule means that they will have a summer blockbuster entry every year between 2010-2012.

We all figured this would happen eventually -- and if Nikki Finke is right, it looks like Mickey Rourke (and his agent) have successfully negotiated their way into Iron Man 2. News broke last month that Rourke was in negotiations for the role of the Russian villain, but that Marvel was shooting back some low numbers that weren't very giant summer blockbustery (if you know what I mean). The same thing had happened earlier when Marvel tried to negotiate with Samuel L. Jackson to reprise his role as Nick Fury, but after a little of this and a little of that, Jackson finally signed a mega deal to appear in nine Marvel movies.

According to Finke, the same negotiation tactics were used to finally stick Rourke in the role. The actor is currently in Russia promoting The Wrestler, and will reportedly begin prepping for the role immediately (by chugging shots of vodka and smashing them over the heads of unsuspecting fans?). Rourke's character is described as "Tony Stark's Russian alter ego, a heavily tattooed bruiser who is in the arms trade and battles Iron Man in his own nuclear-powered armored suit." Finke added that Rourke was also being considered to play the main villain in Spider-Man 4, too, though that probably won't happen now. Maybe it was that other potential deal that got this one rolling? Iron Man 2 will hit theaters on May 7, 2010.

So whaddya think? Which movie would you rather see Rourke in playing villain: Iron Man 2 or Spider-Man 4?

UPDATE: Nikki Finke also posts now that Scarlett Johansson has officially signed to replace Emily Blunt as the Black Widow, and, unlike Rourke's deal, hers is a little crappier. Not only is Johansson tied to this sequel, but Finke says her contract "ties her to countless movies" ... including The Avengers in 2011.

So if you were still hoping to get the chance to audition to play the mighty Thor in Kenneth Branagh's adaptation, you might have to act fast. Latino Review has just received a tip that the Shakespearean director was recently spotted having a 'working lunch' with True Blood's Alexander Skarsgård (son of *Skelllan), and judging by the photo to the right, what could the two possibly be talking about other than Thor? I mean by "Odin's beard!" look at the guy -- all you need is a winged hat and you are in business.

But the Thor chatter doesn't end there. Over at IESB, talk has surfaced that Branagh has shortlisted Josh Hartnett to play Thor's brother, and bad guy, Loki. According to IESB, "Josh and his camp are really interested because he has never played a villain before and after Heath Ledger's Oscar win for the latest comic book villain, Hartnett is intrigued by the character." But before you get too excited about Hartnett and Skarsgård, keep in mind these are some pretty tenuous rumors -- even for a comic book movie. IESB also says Channing Tatum was or is being considered to play Thor, as well.

So outside of True Blood fans, Skarsgård may not be a household name, but the addition of a relatively unknown actor for the lead would be right in line with some of the other unlikely participants in this comic book adaptation. I mean would anyone have suspected that Branagh would be handed the keys to a Marvel franchise? I know Marvel has faith in him, but do you?

*Correction: Alexander's dad is acclaimed Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård

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In the months to come, I doubt that even a week will go by without us and other bloggers making some mention of 2010's looming Marvel tentpoles -- Jon Favreau's Iron Man 2 and Kenneth Branagh's Thor -- and while the former has most of its cast aligned (save for some villains), the latter is sorely lacking in a pretty critical Norse god figure.

Alas, the hunt may already be on, if the scoop by Corona's Coming Attractions is accurate (and save for one typo, it all sounds about right). Producers are looking for a "physically powerful, very handsome, occasionally egotistical, petulant, and wild" male lead in his mid-to-late twenties and standing six feet or taller in height. They want "a natural warrior with a quick charming wit who must be genuinely and severly humbled before becoming the compassionate, mature her [sic] of our film."

Man, take away the height and age restrictions, and I'd say we may already have a winner...