Justin Theroux is an actor turned writer who is negotiating with Marvel Studios to write Iron Man 2, the sequel to this summer’s breakout super box office winner.

Iron Man, Marvel’s first release stoked $566 million worldwide since opening May 2. Written by Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby and Art Marcum & Matt Holloway and directed by Jon Favreau is in final negotiations to direct the sequel.

Known primarily as an actor — Theroux played a variety of roles from Jesus H. Christ in The Ten, John Hancock in HBO’s John Adams and Evil DJ in Zoolander to the hapless director Adam Kesher in David Lynch’s Mulholland Dr. — Theroux is on a career-changing tear. Last year he directed his first film, Dedication, which I thought was very good, fine acting that comes from a talented director.