Director Favreau turns down 'The Avengers'

'Iron Man 2' director Jon Favreau will not be helming 'The Avengers'.

The filmmaker won't be available to take the reins of the hotly-anticipated film - which will see several Marvel comic book superheroes brought together on the big screen, including Iron Man, Thor and The Incredible Hulk - but will have some input on the project.

He said: "They'll have to find a different director, because I'm not going to be available. It's something I'm being the executive producer on, so I'll definitely have input and a say."

Favreau is predicting it will be a difficult movie to make because the characters' varying superpowers will each present a different special effects dilemma.

He added to MTV news: "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 technology-based hero, and then with 'The 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."

Edward Norton recently revealed he wants to reprise his role as The Incredible Hulk in 'The Avengers', which is being planned for 2012.

The actor - who played the green anti-hero and his alter-ego Bruce Banner in

2008 movie 'The Incredible Hulk' - said: "The thing about Marvel's universe that's fun is that it all cross-pollinates.

"Even when I was working on the script for 'The Incredible Hulk', I tried to plug in the whole Super-Soldier Serum from Captain America. I would definitely say yes to it."