Iron Man 3 Actor Backs Out

Hong Kong actor Andy Lau, who was set to play a scientist friend of Tony Stark, has apparently turned down the role. WantChinaTimes reports, "that Lau has pulled out of possible involvement due to the birth of his first child with wife Carol Chu on May 9. The Shanghai-based Oriental Morning Post reported that the producers of the film had contacted Lau but were turned down."

With Lau out, whose set to replace him? Well, it won't be Terrence Howard. WantChinaTimes says the frontrunners are "said to be Chinese actors Chen Daoming and Wu Xiubo. The 57-year-old Chen is highly respected for his versatility and is perhaps best known for playing Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the 2002 film Hero, while the 43-year-old Wu rose to acclaim as the protagonist in the Chinese television drama Before the Dawn."

Admittedly, I'm not the biggest cinemaphile of Chinese movies, so I can't say I'm familiar with either actor. But maybe I'm alone in this. Producer Dan Mintz says "The audience will be familiar with the Asian faces in Iron Man 3; our stand is to invest and produce a Chinese flavor and Chinese element international film," Mintz said last month, when the film was still in its initial casting phase.

In other news, it's all BUT confirmed that longtime Iron Man foe "The Mandarin," will be played by Sir Ben Kingsley. However, Latino Review reports that the Mandarin will be more of a "veiled threat as a silent partner," to Aldrick Killian, played by Guy Pearce.

Iron Man 3 is set for release on May 3rd, 2013.