The always immensely watchable Guy Pearce has entered final talks to join the cast of Iron Man 3 say the folks at Variety.

According to the trade newspaper, Pearce is looking likely to play geneticist Aldrich Killian, the co-creator of the Extremis technology which Iron Man adopts after Killian sells it to terrorists. Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle and Scarlett Johansson all join newbie, Ben Kingsley in the flick which will probably end the series as we now know it. I've seen The Avengers and Downey Jr. is excellent in it; he really and truly owns the role of Tony Stark now - can't see anyone else playing it. Also, love Black; he's one of the sharpest screenwriters to ever sit in front of a laptop and his directorial debut, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a damn fine film.

The film begins shooting next month in North Carolina and China.