Iron Man 3 is a 2013 American superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the sequel to Iron Man and Iron Man 2, and the seventh installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, being the first major release in the franchise since the crossover film The Avengers. Shane Black directed a screenplay he co-wrote with Drew Pearce, which is based on the "Extremis" story arc by Warren Ellis. Jon Favreau, who directed the first two films, serves as executive producer, along with Kevin Feige. Robert Downey, Jr. reprises his role as the title character, with Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, and Favreau reprising their roles as Pepper Potts, James Rhodes, and Happy Hogan, respectively. Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale, and Ben Kingsley round out the film's principal cast.
Iron Man 3 was converted to 3D in post-production. The film premiered at the Grand Rex in Paris on April 14, 2013, and was internationally released on April 25, 2013 in IMAX and is scheduled to be released on May 3, 2013 in the United States. The third film is always the crucial one. Spider-Man 3 bungled it up and the series needed a reboot. The Dark Knight Rises was a glorious finale. Iron Man 3 serves up a thumping ace. Iron Man 3 is richly visualised, assorting a US President who resembles George W. Bush, a terrorist who looks like a Chinese Osama, and a smart kid who bails out the hero and who could be straight out of a Steven Spielberg sci-fi. Tony Stark’s romance with Pepper Potts gets a triangle tangle by way of an ex flame (Rebecca Hall), and the sexed-up Iron Man suit - more gold than red this time - is a gadget that can self-assemble or detach individual parts on command.
After the release of Iron Man 2 in May 2010, Favreau decided not to return as director, and in February 2011 Black was hired to rewrite and direct the film. Throughout April and May of 2012, the film's supporting cast was filled out, with Kingsley, Pearce, and Hall brought in to portray key roles. Filming began on May 23, 2012 in Wilmington, North Carolina. The film was shot primarily in North Carolina, with additional shooting in Florida, China and Los Angeles. The film's visual effects were handled by a number of companies, including Scanline VFX, Digital Domain, and Weta Digital.
Iron Man 3 is actually a sequel to last year's monstrous hit, The Avengers, rather than Iron Man 2. There is an obvious attempt at reinventing the series. Shane Black takes over from Jon Favreau, who made the first two Iron Man films. Black, best known as the director of the 2005 crime comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, banks more on old-school thrills to get the story going, though the digital effects on 3D are guaranteed to blow you away. Mandarin sure grabs the eyeballs as does Guy Pearce in his role of the sinister genetic scientist Aldrich Killian, the man who really gets the drama going. Downey Jr. does well to retain an element of freshness as the witty Tony Stark. Three films down, that is credible. Gwyneth Paltrow is lovable as ever, as Stark’s lovergirl Pepper. She sure has the presence to make even a supporting role look special.
