Casting news on Iron Man 2 has been coming out fast and furious, and thanks to Gwyneth Paltrow, we know that the reason why everything is being firmed up is that work on the film begins by March 26, 2009. The actress revealed, via her weekly GOOP newsletter, dated March 12, that she would begin shooting in two weeks.

In the newsletter, Paltrow asked several notable Hollywood figures what their five favorite DVD rentals were. When she got to Iron Man director Jon Favreau, Paltrow mentioned just a bit about the sequel, as well as her history with Favreau.

Patlrow wrote:

Jon Favreau and I met when we both had bit parts in Dorothy Parker and the Vicious Circle about 15 years ago. He then went on to write and star in Swingers and become an incredible filmmaker. We reconnected when he asked me to be in Iron Man. Jon is not only a confident filmmaker, he is deeply calm and funny. I can't wait to start Iron Man 2 in two weeks and hang out with him every day.

Iron Man 2, directed by Jon Favreau, will continue the tale of Tony Stark and his armored alter-ego as he continues his transformation from billionaire industrialist to super-hero. Robert Downey, Jr. will star as Tony Stark, with Paltrow returning in the role of his assistant Pepper Potts. Don Cheadle, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson also star. Iron Man 2 blasts into theatres May 7, 2010.