Robert Downey Jr. saddles up for 'Cowboys'

Robert Downey, Jr. to Play "Cowboys and Aliens"
FilmWad — ... Robert Downey, Jr. may find himself in the middle of a shootout between "Cowboys and Aliens" soon. The actor is in talks to join the cast of a "pulpy mix of the sci-fi and Western genres that could serve as a potential 2010 tentpole" (THR). ...

So, If Downey Jr's Gonna Star In COWBOYS & ALIENS, What Does This Mean For IRON MAN 2?
Ain't It Cool News - The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news. — ... idea by Rosenberg. The story centers on an Old West battle between the Apache and Western settlers, including a former Union Army gunslinger named Zeke Jackson (Downey), that is interrupted by a spaceship crashing into the prairie near Silver City, Ariz. The story draws a parallel between the American imperialist drive to conquer the "savage" Indians with its advanced technology and the aliens' assault on Earthlings, who must join together to survive the invaders' attack. ...says THIS ARTICLE in Hollywood Reporter. It's unclear how (or IF) this would impact the IRON MAN ...

Robert Downey Jr slated for COWBOYS & ALIENS
Original Sharp Says... — ... together to survive the invaders' attack. Imagine Entertainment partners Brian Grazer and Ron Howard are producing. Platinum Studios chairman and CEO Scott Mitchell Rosenberg also will produce, along with DreamWorks mainstays Steven Spielberg, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. Ervin Rustemagic and Rich Marincic will co-produce. The project, which has been in-and-out of development at several studios throughout the last ten years is slated for a 2010 release. Souce: THR

RDJ to Play a Cowboy Who Battles (What Else?) Aliens
BuzzSugar — ... this summer and it looks like studios are no longer skittish about placing their big-budget films on the shoulders of the star who was once considered a liability. RDJ will star in the film adaptation of the graphic novel Cowboys & Aliens, which has been in the works for nearly 10 years. The script that finally set the wheels in motion came from the writers of Iron Man and Children of Men, which is a good sign. The Hollywood Reporter has the description of the plot: The story centers on an Old West battle ...