Iron Man 3: Who's Who and What are the Latest News

Now that all Marvel merchandise are taken under the care of Disney, many were a little worried of how this Superhero universe will move on. But after seeing the box office hits and the fan's hyperactive reactions on Thor and the upcoming Avengers movie, fans could certainly take a rest on fretting that Disney might ruin our favorite heroes after all.

Delighted movie goers were in for a treat after seeing the first few trailers and clips of The Avengers, where each and every of the previously featured Heroes have their own solo movie. This just added to my urge to dig in on what's going to happen to the individual movie arc of each characters. And this time let's see what's up with the third installment of Iron Man.

Right after the release of Iron Man 2 last April 2010, Jon Favreau revealed that he won't be coming back to direct the movie. So, after some time-cracking negotiations and deals, Iron Man 3 will now be under the supervision of director Shane Black, best known for the amazing and highly admired Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. The movie will be based on the screenplay by Drew Pearce, who will also adapt another Robert Downey, Jr. project: Sherlock Holmes 3.

Iron Man actor, Robert Downey, Jr.,
together with director Shane Black (left)

Of course, Robert Downey, Jr. will return to play the role of the multi-billion dollar playboy engineer and industrialist, Tony Stark, Iron Man minus his suit. Known to be the last movie in the Iron Man trilogy, Iron Man 3 will feature a very non-conventional villain. Since Favreau established the movie world in a most realistic way, producers and movie-makers are having quite an issue placing Mandarin as the villain of the movie.

Ben Kingsley

Aside from being a super-genius and an expert on martial arts, Mandarin also possesses ten rings with magical powers and this just doesn't fit in the world the previous director has created. Favreau also added that "the problem with the Mandarin is that the way it's depicted in the comic books, you don't want to see that. He has 10 magical rings... So it's either tech-based, or the rings are not really rings." But I am sure they will find a way to make this story line realistic.

Guy Pearce

Ben Kingsley has just been revealed to play the villain should negotiations come through. Together with another new addition to the franchise Guy Pearce, who will play the geneticist Aldrich Killian, the inventor of the Extremis serum, a substance that makes anyone who takes it much stronger and powerful. I was glad to have read this arc thanks to a local Marvel publishing company that featured all six issues of the story line. Now I guess I will have to read it again.

Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, also revealed the shooting of the movie will start in less than five weeks from now. He also said that this movie will be Tony Stark-centric, a reminiscent of the first half part of the first Iron Man movie. It will feel like the Avengers movie has never happened because he can't ask for help with his fellow super heroes. He will have to face every threat alone.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle will reprise their roles as well.