Initially rumored last month, Marvel’s armored hero is headed to North Carolina. The Associated Press has word that Marvel Studios will film Iron Man 3 at Wilmington’s Screen Gems Studios.
The state, which is thematically appropriate as the birthplace of aviation, pulled in the production due to its generous tax incentives. With pre-production beginning soon, the shoot is expected to create 550 crew jobs and more than 1,000 additional talent positions.
Little is known about the plot of the film, but Shane Black will take the director’s seat (replacing the first two films’ Jon Favreau) and will lend his writing talents to the script by Drew Pearce. At this time, Robert Downey Jr. is the only confirmed cast member, though it’s highly likely that Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle will be returning as well.
Downey will next play Tony Stark on the big screen as part of the superhero ensemble, The Avengers, arriving May 4, 2012. Iron Man 3 is, meanwhile, targeting a May 3, 2013 release.
