SPOILER SPECULATION: What Could IRON MAN 4 Look Like?

We've been hearing a bunch of talk from the folks involved with Iron Man 3 that more movies are on the table. The story for the next sequel really comes down to what happens in Avengers 2. If Hulk does go crazy and has be banished from Earth (rumored plot point) perhaps Stark takes on the duty to find a habitable planet for his friend Bruce. Basically having Bruce and Tony going on an intergalactic road trip together. There are rumblings that there is a connection to the Guardians in Iron Man 3, so having Stark exploring space in the new films wouldn't be much of stretch. I would kind of love to see a buddy film with Bruce and Tony. Something that had been speculated during Avengers because of the budding bromance.  If it did have elements from Planet Hulk story why not combine it into something fresh? Allowing them to use a cosmic villain that might eventually return to Earth for Avengers 3. While World War Hulk sounds awesome there are plenty of equally threatening villains to consider.

It's also possible that the film could stay earthbound and there are still a couple of angles the writers could go. A bit of conflict with the global energy crisis could see the Roxxon corporation which was been established twice already in the MCU. First with the final battle scene in Iron Man along with a Roxxon gas station in the short film A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Thor's Hammer. So the company could end up becoming a bit of a threat to Stark and his fusion projects. Instead of just using his technology for weapons,  destroying or stealing Tony's fusion technology to make themselves the largest supplier of energy on the planet. Exploiting it to their profits and eventually making them more powerful than any nation.

VILLIANS

I've come up with a couple of villains that could end up used in Iron Man 4 or even Iron Man 5 depending on what angle Marvel decides on. While it's possible a few might be adjusted to be a little more cinematic than in the comics. We've heard that Marvel is over using men in suits as villains for the Iron Man franchise. So these suggestions seem to be inline with what the studio could be looking at for future installments.

ROXXON CORPORATION: The evil energy company owned by KGB Agent Aleksander Lukin has been used in multiple comics including Spider-Man and Captain America. They have been established in the MCU (first in Iron Man) and could make an excellent contrast from Advanced Idea Mechanics and might see the two combine resources. Instead of technology and weapons the company takes major interests in energy. One aspect of their interest with Stark Industries could be Stark's fusion technology. Selling it to criminal allies like A.I.M. and HYDRA to power their weapon systems or even space exploration ships (leading to the discovery of Red Skull?).

 While Lukin is connected to the company it's very possible they might have him as the major villain in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. As he is the mastermind behind the Winter Soldier program but could be replaced with better known Captain American villains such as Baron Zemo.  Roxxon has also employed supervillains such as Coldblood 7 (James Badge Dale plays him in Iron Man 3), Ghost and Serpent Squad (led by Red Skull's daughter). It's possible that another Marvel villain could end up heading up Roxxon besides Lukin.

COUNT LUCHINO NEFARIA: The Count is an Italian aristocratic villain that pocesses superhuman powers and founder of the Nerfaria Family of The Maggia. An international crime syndicate that is the world's most powerful organization dedicated to conventional crime (as opposed to subversive activities). Originating in southern Europe, the Maggia spread throughout non-Communist Europe and the Americas. Its presence in the United States first came to public attention in the 1890s, and the Maggia's widespread bootlegging of illegal liquor during the Prohibition Era has become legendary. Today the Maggia controls most of the illegal gambling, loan-sharking, and narcotics trade in the United States, as well as many legal gambling casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey and Las Vegas, Nevada. It also has great influence within various labor unions, and controls politicians on every level of government. Especially in recent years, the Maggia has invested many of its illegal gains into legitimate businesses. However, the Maggia enforces a strict code of secrecy among its members, and does not hesitate to punish betrayals and failures with death. Often the Maggia marks one of its members for execution by having a Maggioso grasp the intended victim by the chin in the so-called "Maggia touch."

I could see Count Nefaria and The Maggia having ties or being the real people behind Roxxon. With the Count as the face of the company or at the very least pulling it's strings. Nefaria is an Avengers villain like Grim Reaper who is also involved with the Maggia.

WHITNEY FROST (MADAME MASQUE): Whitney Frost (Giulietta Nefaria) tries to gain access to Stark Industries weapons, secrets and other technology by exploiting S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Jasper Sitwell.  Maximiliano Hernández plays Jasper in Thor and Avengers so that aspect could be easily added. Like her father Count Nefaria is leader of crime syndicate The Maggia. Whitney has been mostly a conflicted Iron Man villain while wanting to contribute to her criminal organization she also has true feelings for Tony.

GHOST: On the Roxxon payroll (at times) the industrial thief is an anticapitalist saboteur who seeks to destroy various political and economic institutions he views as oppressive, apparently being most interested in those dealing with advanced technology and surveillance.

GREY GARGOYLE: French chemist Paul Pierre Duval is turned into the Grey Gargoyle after a chemical accident. It grants him the ability to turn anything he touches to stone. Duval has ties to A.I.M. and The Masters of Evil. He was apart of the villain lineup on the 90's Iron Man cartoon alongside Mandarin and Whiplash.

Marvel Says Pepper Will Suit-Up In IRON MAN 3?

Omlete (via CBM) has word from Marvel that Pepper Potts will become Rescue in Iron Man 3.

SPOILER SPECULATION: Plot Theories Of IRON MAN 3

The new trailer for Iron Man 3 seems to have given fans a lot to speculate over not to mention confirming some of the rumors as well. Here are a couple of my thoughts on what may or may not be in the film from previous rumors, rumblings, set photos and now this footage. Be warned this could very well spoil the film for you if you read any further.

THE TEN RINGS RETURN: Similar to The Dark Knight Rises, Iron Man 3 looks to close the circle of a trilogy by bringing back old villains. The terrorist group The Ten Rings headed by The Mandarin (self-proclaimed terrorist) looks to get very personal by blowing up Tony's home. We should assume they are very well armed this time-around and will be a force to be feared.

MANDARIN UPDATED AND RINGS COSMIC POWERED: It's looking like Ben Kingsley's Mandarin will be less a Fu Manchu and more terrorist guru. Previously, it had been rumored that the Chinese version of the film would have to change the villains because of the sensitivity of Chinese audiences. By sound of Ben's voice he might end up becoming more of an Eastern European baddie (possibly Chechnyan). His rings look like they may or may not be cosmic relics, could Mandarin be yet another pawn of Thanos?

SUPPORTING CHARACTERS GETTING BUMPED-OFF: In the image above things aren't looking so good for Happy Hogan (Favreau). After the death scene in Avengers it looks like anyone is fair-game to get the ol' axe, even Pepper. Notice Happy's chest which looks like his own chest-reactor. My previous speculation of The Iron Legion could be at play here. Where friends of Stark come together and don their own suits to save the day. Perhaps, Hogan isn't so lucky fighting the new threat.

WHITNEY FROST/MADAME MASQUE: Nothing confirmed here but it's looking very likely that French actress Stephanie Sozstak (seen above in the screengrab) has been at least cast in a similar role. Frost has been both friend and enemy of Stark so she could help or try to hurt him within the entire film. There is also talk this is just a random hook-up scene but Stephanie seems a little too aggressive.

PEPPER BECOMING RESCUE: This image gives the impression that Pepper is in a bad place from the look on her face. Possibly getting her own chest reactor like Tony, leading her to get her own suit with the nickname Rescue. It's been mentioned before that Feige and Shane Black would love to see Potts in her own suit. Finally, giving Pepper equal footing with Tony as one of the stronger female characters in the Marvel universe.

NO S.H.I.E.L.D. OR AVENGERS HELPING TONY: While there had been talk of replacing Agent Coulson with Maria Hill as Tony's new assigned S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. The organization along with fellow Avengers won't be there to help Stark in his darkest hour. It's pretty obvious that he might have to go off-the-grid to keep himself and others alive.

NEW ARMOR AN ANDROID: In Avengers we heard Tony refer to life-model decoy which is reference to androids. The new suit seems to be piloting itself in a few spot unless a villain or someone else is actually in there. If anyone would be able to create the technology that would lead to Ultron/Vision it would be Stark. It seems like there are some glitches if that's the case.

KILLIAN A BRIDGE TO WINTER SOLDIER: Killian (Pearce) seems to be heading up Advanced Idea Mechanics if the set photos are to be believed. Another group linked to HYDRA and started by Baron Strucker. It wouldn't be shocking to see him revealed as indeed Strucker leading to a resurrection of HYDRA or at the very least planting seeds for Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Stephanie Szostak Joins IRON MAN 3, Could She Be Playing Whitney Frost?

I'm a little late on this news but French actress Stephanie Sozstak (R.I.P.D., We Bought A Zoo, Devil Wears Prada) has joined the stellar cast of Iron Man 3. It was announced at Comic-Con during the Marvel pannel. While her character hasn't been revealed it's possible that she's been cast Whitney Frost (Madame Masque). Emily Blunt had been linked for the role before the film begun it's casting so it's possible they've just cast another actress. However, there's a bit of a link between Frost and Pepper becoming Rescue so Marvel could be holding that back for Iron Man 4. Not to mention the two other large villains Killian (Guy Pearce) and The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) already in place, it might be too crowded. That being said, it's also possible she might have been cast as Tony's quick witted secretary Kathleen Rennie. Other speculation place her as a possible candidate for Janet van Dyne (The Wasp) who could be introduced in the film.

CAST EM': Gemma Arterton As Whitney Frost In 'IRON MAN 3'

So it looks like Jessica Chastain has pretty been offered the role of Maya Henson in Iron Man 3 as the character is apart of the Extremis comics which the film is based on. The studio has already had meetings with actresses Diane Kruger (Inglourious Basterds), Gemma Arterton and Isla Fisher (Burke And Hare, Wedding Crashers) for the part before Jessica came back into the picture. My hope is that there is more than just one new female role in this film. Considering we know that the film will have multiple villains as previously reported by the trades. Currently Ben Kingsley and Guy Pearce are in talks to talk two of these roles, unknown how large they will end up being. Rumblings that Ben could be playing The Mandarin while Guy is confirmed to be up for the role of Killian. A scientist that sells the nanobot-tech to terrorists.

Whitney Frost has been teased ever since the announcement of third installment. Emily Blunt had been rumored for the role but seems to have moved on from Marvel films. She recently signed on for the science fiction actioner All You Need Is Kill. Frost who is better known as Madame Masque has been both villain and lover to Tony Stark being as complex/conflicted as Loki. I've been quite critical that Marvel Studios has yet to include a female villain into the Marvel Universe. Frost could be at the very least a supporting villain that could develop into a main baddie for future films.

Gemma Arterton would be an excellent casting choice for the role of Whitney. She's been able to raise the quality in mindless films like Quantum of Solace, Prince of Persia and Clash of The Titans so imagine what Gemma could do with a film from Shane Black. The British actress has been able to balance dramatic, comedy and action focused roles all seemingly needed for a Marvel Studios production. In the film The Disappearance of Alice Creed, Gemma showed off a tough-side that had previously been unseen. This led to a meeting with Ridley Scott for a possible part in Prometheus and a leading role alongside Jeremy "Hawkeye" Renner in Hansel And Gretel: Witch Hunters. Gemma seems like an actress perfect for the Marvel cinematic universe and Frost is just one solid character she could portray.