Time to lower your expectations, everyone. Despite intense fan speculation and hope that it might happen, Jon Favreau has officially ruled out directing The Avengers, the omnibus superhero movie featuring his own Iron Man alongside the Hulk, Captain America, Thor, and whichever other heroes they can rustle up. Talking to MTV News at the Couples Retreat junket in Bora Bora, Favreau said the following:

"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."

What will that input be? Favreau is already giving some hints about the direction he sees things going.

"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 tech-based hero, and then with 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."

Obviously Jon Favreau isn't the only director who's good at making superhero movies, but based on one example, he may be the best one. Can they find someone as good as Favreau to make The Avengers? Sure. But he would have been a easy choice to guarantee the movie wouldn't suck. Now the fanboy handwringing has to start all over again.