From Marvel Studios comes “Iron Man 3”—the continuation of the epic, big-screen adventures of the world’s favorite billionaire-inventor-Super Hero, Tony Stark aka Iron Man.

Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book Super Hero Iron Man, who first appeared on the pages of “Tales of Suspense” (#39) in 1963 and had his solo comic book debut with “The Invincible Iron Man” (#1) in May of 1968, Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” returns Robert Downey Jr. (“Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,” “Tropic Thunder”) as Tony Stark, the iconic Super Hero, along with Gwyneth Paltrow (“Shakespeare in Love,” “Proof”) as Pepper Potts, Don Cheadle (“Flight,” “Hotel Rwanda”) as James “Rhodey” Rhodes, Guy Pearce (“The Hurt Locker,” “Memento”) as Aldrich Killian, Rebecca Hall (“The Prestige,” “The Town”) as Maya Hansen, Stephanie Szostak (“R.I.P.D.,” “The Devil Wears Prada”) as Ellen Brandt, James Badge Dale (“The Lone Ranger,” “Flight”) as Eric Savin, Jon Favreau (“Identity Thief,” “People Like Us”) as Happy Hogan and Ben Kingsley (“Schindler’s List,” “Gandhi”) as The Mandarin.

Rounding out the cast are Ty Simpkins (“Insidious”) as Harley, William Sadler (“Shawshank Redemption,” “The Green Mile”) as President Ellis and Paul Bettany (“Priest,” “Margin Call”) as Jarvis.  

Shane Black directs Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” and the screenplay is by Drew Pearce & Shane Black. Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing and executive producers on the project include Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Charles Newirth, Victoria Alonso, Stephen Broussard, Alan Fine, Stan Lee and Dan Mintz.

The creative production team on the film includes two-time Oscar®-winning director of photography John Toll, ASC (“Braveheart,” “Legends of the Fall”), production designer Bill Brzeski (“The Hangover,” “Due Date”), editors Jeffrey Ford, A.C.E. (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Captain America: The First Avenger”) and Peter S. Elliot (“Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer”) and costume designer Louise Frogley (“Quantum of Solace,” “Contagion” [2011]).

After the “Iron Man” and “Iron Man 2” box-office successes, the iconic Iron Man, once again reprised by Robert Downey Jr., was last seen in Marvel Studios’ critically acclaimed “Marvel’s The Avengers,” which set the all-time, domestic three-day weekend box-office record at $207.4 million. The film went on to gross over $1.5 billion worldwide, becoming Disney’s highest-grossing global and domestic release of all time and marks the studio’s fifth film to gross more than $1 billion worldwide.

President of Marvel Studios and Marvel’s “Iron Man 3” producer Kevin Feige explains why Marvel has continued its unprecedented box-office success in adapting comic book characters to the big screen. “The secret to Marvel comics and why our films have continued to be successful is our attention to the development and complexity of our characters, all of which are flawed in some way. Marvel characters have resonated with audiences for 70 years because, despite the spectacular and amazing things that they can do, people can relate to their many flaws. They struggle in a way that is recognizable and people like seeing Super Heroes save the day, but have difficulty doing it.”

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.