FIRST LOOK: Sir Ben Kingsley cuts a menacing figure

He's the Oscar-winning actor most famous for roles in movies such as Gandhi and Schindler's List.
But Sir Ben Kingsley is seen in a whole different light as super-villain The Mandarin in upcoming action movie sequel Iron Man 3.
A newly-released featurette of the film shows Kingsley looking menacing, with a long beard and hair tied up on top of his head, as he sits and ponders the demise of his superhero enemy.

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First look: Sir Ben Kingsley, 69, plays the villainous Mandarin in Iron Man 3
Speaking about the new role, Kingsley, 69, says in the featurette: 'There is something original, dare I use the word intelligent, approach to this film. I was really delighted to join.'
In the Marvel comics, the Mandarin was portrayed as a brilliant scientist and a virtually unbeatable skilled martial artist.
His power was said to have come from his ten rings, one worn on each finger, which he adapted from the alien technology of a crashed space ship.

Shadowy figure: Kingsley looks to bring an ominous skill to the film adaptation of the Mandarin character

 

Bloodied but not beaten: The Town actress Rebecca Hall and Iron Man himself Robert Downey Jr. are bloodied by the Mandarin

 

Best of friends: Robert Downey and Sir Ben posed up a photocall promoting Iron Man 3 in Moscow on Wednesday

 

Joking around: The pair put on a play fight for photographers at the photocall

 

Each ring has a different power and is worn on a different finger.

 

In the first Iron Man, the Ten Rings were an international terrorist cell, for whom Kingsley's Mandarin villain will be the leader.

Also revealed in the new featurette is Aldrich Killian, played by the 45 year-old Australian actor Guy Pearce, a rival industrialist to Tony Stark who is interested in Pepper Potts, played by the elegant Gwyneth Paltrow.

Stark competition: Competing industrialist Aldrich Killian, played by 45 year-old Aussie actor Guy Pearce, makes a play for Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow)

It is teased that the Paltrow's character goes through a true transformation in the latest movie, as she is seen piloting a Stark-tech suit in just about every trailer released so far.
This reflects what happens in the Marvel comic as well, with Pepper stepping out of the boardroom and into battle for the first time.
'Robert was really interested in having Pepper do more in this movie,' Paltrow says in the featurette about her character's transformation.

 

 

 

Pretty Pepper Potts: The always radiant Paltrow returns with a new mentality in Iron Man 3

 

Getting into character: Paltrow gets into the action in Iron Man 3

This should infuse an added level of intensity to the film, considering Tony states that Pepper is 'the one thing I can't live without' in the trailer.
Iron Man 3 will effectively open the summer blockbuster season when it is released in theaters worldwide on May 3rd.

 

 

Iron Man 3 will be released worldwide May 3rd