According to Variety Guy Pearce, who was most recently seen in Lockout, is in final talks to join the cast of Iron Man 3. The site says Pearce will play the geneticist Aldrich Killian.
In the comics Killian is responsible for putting a genome-attacking viral creation known as Extremis into the hands of terrorists. The plot of the film will borrow elements from Warren Ellis’ six-issue “Iron Man: Extremis” comic books which focuses heavily on the spread of the Extremis virus through nanotechnology.
Pearce joins a cast that already includes Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, and Scarlett Johansson. Sir Ben Kingsley was recently set to play the villain, but specifics on his character remain under-wraps.
Shane Black is directing, and filming is set to begin in May. Disney has set the Iron Man 3 release date for May 3, 2013.
