Iron Man 3 (2013) is an American superhero film directed by Shane Black and the third solo film centred on Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Robert Downey Jr. returns as Stark, now struggling with anxiety and trauma after the events of The Avengers, while a terrorist figure known as the Mandarin begins a series of attacks that pull him into a more personal crisis. Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Jon Favreau and Ben Kingsley appear in major roles, with the story mixing superhero action, conspiracy thriller, buddy comedy and Christmas-set Shane Black crime-movie elements. The film strips Tony away from much of his usual technology for long stretches, placing more emphasis on improvisation, identity and the question of whether he is still Iron Man without the suit.
Iron Man 3 was filmed mainly in North Carolina, with additional work in California, Florida and China. Wilmington served as the production’s main base, with EUE/Screen Gems Studios used for major sets and visual-effects-heavy material, while the Port of Wilmington was used for the climactic oil-tanker/dock sequence. Several North Carolina locations double for other places in the story: Rose Hill stands in for Tennessee, Kenansville is used for the Miss Chattanooga Christmas Pageant, and Cary locations such as the Epic Games headquarters were used for Stark Industries material. Tony Stark’s Malibu home remains a digital creation placed above Point Dume, while Neptune’s Net on the Pacific Coast Highway appears as itself in the scene where Tony suffers a panic attack. Florida locations were used for several Miami-set sequences, including Dania Beach Bar & Grill dressed as Neptune’s Net, Vizcaya Museum and Gardens in Miami, and Miami Beach material. Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre appears in the attack sequence, while Beijing and other China-related material were used for the Chinese version and some international elements of the production. The result is a film that presents a wide geographical spread — Malibu, Tennessee, Miami, Washington-style government spaces, industrial docks and international settings — while much of its practical location work is rooted in North Carolina.
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens has appeared in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Miami Rhapsody, Any Given Sunday, Bad Boys II, Iron Man 3 and Miami Vice.
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