'Iron Man 3' Leaving Los Angeles for North Carolina's EUE/Screen Gems Studios

Paramount/Marvel Studios The third installment of Marvel Studios' Iron Man franchise is setting up shop in North Carolina. EUE/Screen Gems and North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue announced in a press conference Thursday that the studios' Wilmington outpost will host the bulk of the film's production. Marvel filmed both Iron Man and Iron Man 2 both at its own Manhattan Beach studios in California, where it reportedly considered producing the threequel, along with locations in Michigan and New Mexico. PHOTOS: Top 15 Grossing Threequels of All Time "We aggressively pursued this piece of business," said EUE/Screen Gems co-owner and COO Chris Cooney. "This film is a game changer-not only for our studios, but for the entire state of North Carolina. It feels great to bring this project to Wilmington, a place where we've invested emotionally and financially since 1996. Today, our vision becomes reality." Cooney cited North Carolina's 25-percent film incentive and the studio's 150,000-square-foot facility as factors in Marvel's decision. PHOTOS: Shots From 'The Avengers.' Marvel's Superhero Film Iron Man 3 marks the largest production to come to Wilmington, which has previously hosted films such as I Know What You Did Last Summer and 28 Days and the television series Dawson's Creek. Starring Robert Downey Jr., the original Iron Man took in $585 million worldwide 2008. Its 2010 sequel had an international take of $624 million. Iron Man 3 is set to move into its Wilmington offices in early 2012, with a scheduled release date of May 3, 2013. Robert Downey Jr. Marvel Entertainment Screen Gems