Marvel building Iron Man projects for TV

Marvel Animation is powering up the Marvel Super Hero Squad.

The Marvel Entertainment division said it is producing 26 half-hour episodes of a new super stylized animated series aimed at 6- to 8-year-olds.

It will feature such well-known heroes as Iron Man, Hulk, Wolverine, Thor, Fantastic Four and Captain America; all occupy a caricatured Super Hero City and are thrust into humorous adventures as they thwart the villainous plans of Doctor Doom, Magneto, Loki, the Abomination and others.

Marvel is in discussions with networks for the distribution of Squad, expected to be available for broadcast in 2009. The company already has two new series Wolverine and the X-Men and Iron Man: Armored Adventures set to debut early next year on Nicktoons.

Film Roman (The Simpsons) will provide production services for Squad.

Marvel also is developing a multimedia and merchandising campaign for the show, with Hasbro handling the toy line. Marvel Comics is introducing a Squad book series in the fall, and a direct-to-video animated feature is in development for 2010.

The news comes after theatrical Iron Mans $102.1 million four-day opening frame.

The Hollywood Reporter