After what seems like forever (even though it’s only been since June), Shane Black, Robert Downey Jr., and the whole ‘Iron Man 3’ team are moving the production to China thanks to a co-production deal with DMG Entertainment and Marvel Studios. With only five months until the movie hits theaters, we seem to be getting some official casting confirmations now that the film has started rolling in Beijing and Chinese actors are being utilized so as to cater to the “lucrative Chinese box office” that loves blockbuster films such as this one.
According to Collider, Wang Xuequi has joined the cast of ‘Iron Man 3’ officially. If that name sounds familiar to you, you’re not crazy. Three month ago when Andy Lau had dropped out of the film, Xuequi was rumored to take over and play Dr. Chen Lu, who is better known as Radioactive Man. However, the reports indicate that the veteran Chinese actor will not have a huge role in film, so it’s unlikely that he’ll be stepping into the shoes (or radiation suit) of the former Masters of Evil member. Furthermore, who even knows if the character will actually appear in the film at all at this point? Signs point to no, but there is always the possibility of a post credits scene as it was once rumored that Radioactive Man would appear in the post credits scene of ‘Iron Man 3’ to set up for ‘Ant-Man’.
It doesn’t seem like director Black will be shooting too much in China regardless of a co-production deal. Since principal photography has wrapped and the film’s release date is so near, it’s more than likely that they’re just shooting some small stuff here and there to really add a Chinese feel to some scenes that just couldn’t be recreated. Some of Xuequi’s scenes may have already been shot in the US, although that’s not really something revealed in the pictures below that show the actor on set alongside co-stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, and RDJ.
Check them out and tell us what you think of Xuequi as possibly being Radioactive Man!
‘Iron Man 3’ opens in 3D on May 3, 2013.
