Robert Downey Jr. is the cover boy for Men’s Vogue, Spring 2009. The issue will somehow be included or integrated into the April Vogue issue. Apparently, Conde Nast is trying something new because the launch of Men’s Vogue hasn’t been the success they were hoping for.

It’s a really beautiful picture of Downey – he looks good for his age and his history. People have started comparing him to George Clooney, but I’m not so sure. Clooney and Downey are very different men with very different appeals – but both can wear the hell out of a suit, so there’s that. Downey is nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe for his role in Tropic Thunder, and his turn in the massively successful Iron Man has put him back on the A-list.

Robert Downey Jr. has never looked hotter than on the cover of the upcoming Men’s Vogue. The magazine has gone from publishing ten times a year to doing two seasonal editions. The next issue, Spring 2009, will appear on the back of regular Vogue magazine in its April 2009 issue.

For the first time, Vogue will couple the male mag by binding it to the back as a reverse-bound issue having two covers. If you flip Vogue over, you get Men’s Vogue.

The future of Men’s Vogue is still up in the air. Publisher Conde’ Nast indicates it is an experiment that may allow the male version to survive the chopping block and enjoy a second life.

Step aside George Clooney, you may have finally met your match.

[From Bitten and Bound]

In addition to Downey’s cover-boy status, Iron Man 2 already has some big casting news. Downey, of course, will return as Tony Stark. Gwyneth “GOOP” Paltrow, too, is returning. But who will play the next villain? As SamHill mentioned yesterday, some say Mickey Rourke, some say Sam Rockwell.

Mickey Rourke, who earned numerous awards and nominations for his work in “The Wrestler,” is in talks to play a villain in “Iron Man 2.”

Variety.com said Rourke is up for the role of the Russian arms dealer, the Crimson Dynamo, in “IM2.”

Director Jon Favreau reportedly plans to begin shooting the sequel to the 2008 Marvel Entertainment blockbuster this spring. Paramount Pictures, which will distribute the movie, has scheduled it for release in the summer of 2010.

Robert Downey Jr. plays the title character in the “Iron Man” franchise and Variety.com said Sam Rockwell is in talks to play his as-yet-undisclosed nemesis in the second installment. Rockwell can now be seen in “Frost/Nixon.”

[From United Press International]

I don’t have anything against Mickey Rourke, but I absolutely adore Sam Rockwell. Even though Rockwell’s a great actor, I wonder if he can pull off a comic-style villain. Rourke might be better, simply because he already seems a little cartoon-y.

Picture note by JayBird: Here’s Robert Downey Jr. on the set of “Sherlock Holmes” in Brooklyn on Thursday. Images thanks to Bauer-Griffin and Splash.