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After the success of The Avengers in theaters, with more than $1.355 billion earned since its May debut, Marvel Studios was not resting on its laurels to start a new wave of Marvel movies for the years to come. If you’ve been following our coverage of the development of the third Iron Man movie, you know that Shane Black, who was instrumental in the buddy-cop formula wave of ’80s actioneers with Lethal Weapon (not to mention he had a supporting role in arguably the greatest action film of that decade – Predator), is set to direct. He comes on board after Jon Favreau helmed the first two Iron Man features.
The hiring of Black sees him re-team with Robert Downey Jr., who he previously directed in the critically lauded but underseen gem Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, a film that helped propel Downey’s status back to being an A-list star.
In an official press release comes the announcement that production has commenced in Wilmington, North Carolina. The production schedule will also include locations in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, Miami, Florida and China.
In addition to Downey, Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle will reprise their roles as Pepper Potts and James “Rhodey” Rhodes, and Jon Favreau will play Stark’s bodyguard/driver Happy Hogan.
Set for release in the U.S. on May 3, 2013, Marvel’s Iron Man 3 marks the second feature to be fully owned, marketed and distributed by Disney, which acquired Marvel in 2009.
