After months of speculation, it was confirmed on March 11, 2009, that Mickey Rourke will appear in the film, playing a villain combining elements of Crimson Dynamo and Whiplash.Slash Film: Mickey Rourke Has Signed for Iron Man 2 (March 11, 2009)EW.com: Iron Man 2: Mickey Rourke closes deal to play villain, Whiplash (March 11, 2009)

Later that day, news agencies confirmed that Scarlett Johansson has been cast as the Black Widow in the Iron Man 2 movie. According to rumor sites, the deal ties her to several movies in the Marvel franchise and according to Deadline Daily's Nikki Finke the pay is unsubstantial.Deadline Daily: Another Iron Man 2 deal: Scarlett Johansson replaced Emily Blunt(March 11, 2009) Johannson replaces Emily Blunt who was forced to drop out due to schedule conflicts.Deadline Daily: Another Iron Man 2 deal: Scarlett Johansson replaced Emily Blunt(March 11, 2009)

• Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man
• Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts
• Don Cheadle as Col. James "Rhodey" Rhodes
• Mickey Rourke as WhiplashTHR: Rourke, Rockwell Circle Iron Man 2 (January 7, 2009)
• Sam Rockwell as Justin HammerTHR: Rourke, Rockwell Circle Iron Man 2 (January 7, 2009)
• Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow
• Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury
• Kate Mara as Bethany Cabe
• Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson
• Mathew Lorenceau as French Prison Guard