If Marvel can get Phoenix to sign a multi-picture deal, they deserve a pat on the back. Earlier on I would've thought that'd be the deal breaker, but apparently they're showing him something he likes. I think contractually Marvel is going to try to retain some degree of creative control (obviously) so if Phoenix gets too artsy, they can always fall back on that, but as we all know oftentimes creatives just don't give a damn about a written contract. Marvel and RDJ have been able to work really well together though, and he strikes me as a bit of a diva, so who knows. If Phoenix has a reputation of being difficult to work with (perhaps like a repeat of Ed Norton), I'm sure Marvel wouldn't have gone this far with him.