Latest News From Iron Man 3 Camp

Do you think that after Batman Returns, fans of the Burton Batmans were all like, ‘Keaton IS Batman. No one else will come close’. Somehow, I hardly think that’s the case as awesome as Keaton is, generally. Obviously, the Bat Cowl was taken up by Val Kilmer only a few years later, and no one since has yet to top his dark, brooding portrayal of the billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne and his nocturnal alter-ego.

When it comes to Iron Man, it’s hard to deny that Robert Downey Jr IS Iron Man. And, perhaps more concisely, Tony Stark IS Robert Downey Jr. Having fulfilled his contractual obligation (two sequels and The Avengers), RDJ has all but completed his tenure beneath the arc reactor. The question is, considering the relentless buzz surrounding Marvel Studios and The Avengers franchise, are we to presume that Iron Man will cease to be following Downey’s imminent departure? Or will Marvel try to reinvent Iron Man in a way that is acceptable to fans of an already very established character? I suppose it’s hardly worth thinking about at this point in time. Downey still has one more Iron Man film to go, and who knows what could happen contractually between now and then.

Having relinquished directing duties to Shane Black (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang) and opting for an executive producer credit instead, Jon Favreau led the charge at Comic Con as members of the cast and crew introduced the first snippets of footage to an eager public. In the clip, Tony Stark’s mansion is destroyed from above, disintegrating every available bit of armour that Stark had previously relied upon. CUE NEW SUIT (see below). Whether or not the film will focus on Stark’s rebuild is to be discovered, but it certainly would seem like a suitable device for an eventual passing of the mantle (should that come to pass before the end of the film).

What can be 100% confirmed following the Comic Con panel is that Ben Kingsley has been cast as lead villain, The Mandarin, and it doesn’t get more mouthwatering than that. If anyone can play bad, it’s Kingsley (for those who saw Sexy Beast). He will star alongside franchise regulars Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle as well as newcomers Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall and (as recently seen in The Avengers, and reprising her role) Cobie Smulders in what will surely be one of the big hitters of next summer.

Iron Man 3 will be released on May 3rd, 2013 through Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures.

(Photo: Marvel Studios)