# The Saga Continues (DD-245)

> Iron Man 2, directed by Jon Favreau, was released in the U.S. on May 7, 2010, as the third film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Robert Downey Jr. returned as Tony Stark, Scarlett Johansson debuted as Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow), and Don Cheadle took over the role of James Rhodes, who becomes War Machine. Mickey Rourke played the villain Ivan Vanko. The film earned about $624 million worldwide. The Reel is a review with clips; the opinions in it are the Reel's.

- Department: Media
- First published: 2024-05-29
- Last updated: 2024-05-29
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-saga-continues/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## On the timeline

- **May 7, 2010**: Iron Man 2 opens in U.S. theaters

Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=the-saga-continues

## Quick facts

- **DD-245-F01**: It opened on May 7, 2010. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (May 7, 2010))_
- **DD-245-F02**: Scarlett Johansson debuted as Black Widow. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Black Widow))_

## Write-up

Iron Man 2 introduced Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow. Don Cheadle replaced Terrence Howard as James Rhodes.

1. **May 7, 2010**: It opened on May 7, 2010.
2. **Black Widow**: Scarlett Johansson debuted as Black Widow.
3. **War Machine**: Don Cheadle played Rhodes.
4. **Villain**: Mickey Rourke played Ivan Vanko.
5. **Box office**: It earned about $624 million.

## Related case files

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- [The Strongest There Is (DD-244)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-strongest-there-is/): I linked the MCU film before it, The Incredible Hulk
- [The God of Thunder (DD-246)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-god-of-thunder/): I linked the next MCU film, Thor

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: None needed.

## Video: The Saga Continues: Iron Man 2 Introduced Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow

- Duration: 25.6 s · Published: 2024-05-29
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/C7kK4n_plFB.mp4

### Transcript

Iron Man 2 didn't quite capture the magic of the first film, but it still had plenty to offer. Robert Downey Jr. continues to shine as Tony Stark, bringing his signature wit and charm. The introduction of Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, and Don Cheadle taking over as War Machine were definite highlights. The film juggles multiple plotlines, which can feel a bit crowded, but it does a great job expanding the Marvel universe and setting up future films. Not the strongest entry, but it's entertaining and essential for the larger MCU narrative. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: When was Iron Man 2 released?**  
A: May 7. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (May 7, 2010) · Wikipedia: Iron Man 2)_

**Q: Who debuted as Black Widow?**  
A: Natasha Romanoff. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Black Widow) · Wikipedia: Iron Man 2)_

**Q: Who played Rhodes?**  
A: Replacing Howard. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (War Machine) · Wikipedia: Iron Man 2)_

**Q: Who played the villain?**  
A: Ivan Vanko. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Villain) · Wikipedia: Iron Man 2)_

**Q: What does Rhodes become?**  
A: In this film. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Box office) · Wikipedia: Iron Man 2)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Iron Man 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Man_2)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "The Saga Continues." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-245, last updated May 29, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/the-saga-continues/