Filming Begins on Iron Man 2!

If you’re anything like me, Jon Favreau’s Iron Man was one of your favorite films of 2008. You also might be obsessively following production on the sequel, due to hit theaters May 7, 2010. According to Favreau's Twitter page, Iron Man 2, which features Robert Downey Jr. returning as the titular superhero/billionaire industrialist Tony Stark, began filming this week.

Downey is joined by Iron Man co-star Gwyneth Paltrow, who plays Stark’s leggy assistant Virginia “Pepper” Potts. New additions to the cast include Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson, who had a cameo in the original film as secret agent Nick Fury. In addition, Don Cheadle replaces Terrence Howard as Stark's best friend Jim "Rhodey" Rhodes.

I'm already excited, and you should be too.