Marvel Studios has announced a series of international deals on Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, the first two films which it is self-financing through its recent $525m credit facility from Merrill Lynch.

Sony Pictures has acquired distribution rights to both films in Japan and Spain, SND/M6 has taken them for France and Concorde/Tele Muenchen has taken them for Germany. Paramount Pictures has picked up rights in Australia/New Zealand as well as the next film to be distributed by Paramount under its overall film slate agreement with Marvel.

Marvel held back these territories from its Paramount deal. Paramount is handling Iron Man domestically and in all remaining territories, although Universal has the same deal on The Incredible Hulk per its previous relationship on Ang Lee's Hulk film.

Iron Man, which is set to start shooting on March 12, has a release date set of May 2, 2008, while The Incredible Hulk will go out in June 2008.

Jon Favreau is directing Iron Man with Robert Downey Jr, Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges in the lead roles.

MVL Film Finance LLC, an indirect subsidiary of Marvel, is the borrower under the facility.

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