Nick Cassavetes Directing Iron Man

IGN Filmforce has confirmed that New Line Cinema and Marvel Studios have signed Nick Cassavetes ("The Notebook") to direct Iron Man for a Summer 2006 release.

Although Cassavetes is currently shooting "Alpha Dog," Marvel and New Line plan to begin casting immediately.

Based on the long-running Marvel comic book series, Iron Man is the story of Tony Stark, a driven inventor and executive who straps on billions of dollars in armor and weaponry each night to fight crime, terrorism and corporate espionage.

The project is based on a script by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, and David Hayter.