Iron Man Finally Challenges The Mandarin In New TV Spot

We’re getting dangerously close to the point of oversaturation when it comes to Iron Man 3 marketing materials. Some are even arguing on Twitter that we’ve blown past that point, and that too many secrets of the upcoming sequel have been spoiled. It’s very possible. And yet, if you are still devouring every new trailer, photo and TV spot that hits the Web while we wait patiently for Shane Black’s Iron Man film, then the above clip – which is Mandarin heavy – qualifies as a must-see.

“You’ll never see me coming,” Sir Ben Kingsley threatens, drawing a line in the sand and begging Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) to cross it. And yet, we’ve seen more than a few glimpses at Kingsley in character, dating back to that first reveal during Marvel’s Comic-Con panel in 2012.

And fans should be excited. We have been talking a lot about superhero nemesis lately, with a rumor about Lex Luthor in Man of Steel, the casting of Norman Osborn for The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and the eternal reliance on The Joker for Batman movies. Iron Man’s primary nemesis is The Mandarin, and fans of the Marvel hero have been wondering if and when he would factor in to the Iron Man film franchise. Die-hard comic geeks likely are fired up about Iron Man 3 simply because they have been waiting to see Stark face Mandarin on screen for years.

And yet, there is a major concern that Marvel’s showing too much in the stream of TV spots and clips lately. The problem’s not isolated to Iron Man. Heck, Fox teased a shot of Famke Janssen as Jean Grey in a Wolverine Vine. Is there no end to the studio-sanctioned spoilering? So it’s up to you. Soak up every frame of Iron Man 3 marketing, or hold off until the movie opens on May 3.

Sean O'Connell
Managing Editor

Sean O’Connell is a journalist and CinemaBlend’s Managing Editor. Having been with the site since 2011, Sean interviewed myriad directors, actors and producers, and created ReelBlend, which he proudly cohosts with Jake Hamilton and Kevin McCarthy. And he's the author of RELEASE THE SNYDER CUT, the Spider-Man history book WITH GREAT POWER, and an upcoming book about Bruce Willis.