After Tony Stark popped up in Louis Leterrier's film of The Incredible Hulk last year, it showed that Marvel's plans to interweave its characters between movies were genuinely being realised. And, of course, much of this work is building up to the planned Avengers movie, which will see the bringing together of several characters under the umbrella on one movie.

However, as he undertakes promotional duties on the film Couples Retreat, which Favreau acts in alongside Vince Vaughn, he's taken the opportunity to distance himself from directing the Avengers project.

Talking to MTV, Favreau said that "I'm not going to be available."

He continued:  "It's something I'm being the executive producer on, so I'll definitely have input and a say.  It's going to be hard, because I was so involved in creating the world of Iron Man and Iron Man is very much a tech-based hero, and then with Avengers you're going to be introducing some supernatural aspects because of Thor. How you mix the two of those works very well in the comic books, but it's going to take a lot of thoughtfulness to make that all work and not blow the reality that we've created."

He speaks almost as if the job is some kind of poisoned chalice there, interestingly.

In the same interview, which you can find here,  Favreau confirms that Edward Norton won't be cameoing in Iron Man 2 as The Hulk.

The Avengers movie is currently scheduled for 2012, but its director so far is uncertain...