Theroux has appeared in the films "Zoolander," "Charlie's Angeles: Full Throttle," "American Psycho" and "Broken English," as well as in the TV miniseries, "John Adams," and the HBO funeral-home drama, "Six Feet Under."

The nephew of novelist Paul Theroux also has story and screenplay credits, along with Ben Stiller, on the upcoming big-screen comedy, "Tropic Thunder," featuring Robert Downey Jr., the star of "Iron Man" and its upcoming sequel.

The Hollywood Reporter said Theroux is in talks to write "Iron Man 2," replacing the teams of

Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, and Art Marcum and Matt Holloway, who scripted the original film.

"Iron Man" director Jon Favreau is also in final negotiations to helm the sequel, the entertainment industry trade paper said.