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Ben Kingsley is in negotiations to play a villain in Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 3.
Kingsley, however, will not be the primary villain, according to insiders, and it is not clear what role he will play.
A classic Iron Man villain, the Mandarin, was hinted as being a on-the-outskirts bad guy in the first Iron Man movie and the movie’s director Jon Favreau more than suggested that he wanted the character to get his moment in the sun. Favreau is not directing the new movie (that honor goes to Shane Black) but will be exec producing, so audiences will have to see how far his influence goes.
Insiders say there is a chance Kingsley will play the Mandarin but at the same time say since the script is still being written, the character may be reconfigured for silver screen presentation. The character’s classic traits may be merged with a nano-technological virus seen in a storyline titled Extremis, sources have said.
The update will be necessary. The character, a Chinese ruler who worked with the communists was introduced in 1963, a different time from today where China is one of the most important film markets in the world.
Additionally, his power initially came from 10 alien rings. Since DC hero Green Lantern also had his power from an alien ring, Marvel will no doubt want to distance itself from any similarity.
Shane Black is directing the third installment of the popular Marvel Studio franchise, which will see Robert Downey Jr. reprise his role of wealthy industrialist-turned-Armored Avenger Tony Stark.
Kingsley, last see in Hugo, will be seen in The Dictator opposite Sasha Baron Cohen.
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