3rd Iron Man film to shoot in North Carolina

[October 28, 2011]  WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) -- The next installment in the Iron Man superhero film franchise will shoot in North Carolina.

Marvel Studios will film "Iron Man 3" starring Robert Downey Jr. in Wilmington, with pre-production starting soon and work in the state lasting about 10 months.

State film office head Aaron Syrett said Thursday it will be the largest production to shoot in North Carolina. The production is expected to create 550 jobs for tradesmen, technicians and other crew members and more than 1,000 spots for actors and other talent.

The previous films in the series are based on a Marvel Comics character and featured Downey as a billionaire weapons-maker who fights bad guys wearing a high-tech suit of armor he created.

[Associated Press]

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