China has always been a crucial market for Hollywood, leading to certain changes in a project to appeal to the Chinese audience. Marvel’s Iron Man 3 did something similar as it made several changes in the threequel specifically for its release in China. The studio added extra scenes featuring popular Chinese actors for its release in China. However, another suggestion was made to replace the character of the kid, Harley Keener, who helped Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man in the movie with a Chinese kid.
Iron Man 3 Almost Featured a Chinese Kid as Harley Keener
Fans were curious to learn more about the kid who made an appearance alongside Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man 3. The threequel features him helping the Marvel superhero as he investigates The Mandarin. However, before Ty Simpkins was cast in the role, the producer of the film, Chris Felton, suggested casting a Chinese child in the role.
Felton made the pitch to Kevin Feige and Louis D’Esposito to impress the potential new leader of China at the time, Xi Jinping. He stated that Xi Jinping has spent quite a time in the USA, and having a storyline that is similar to his would be a way to impress the new leader.
“Well, you have a kid in Iron Man 3. He lives somewhere in rural America, possibly in Iowa… Well, what happens if that kid is Chinese?” Felton shared in his book Feeding the Dragon. He shared that it would be like Xi Jinping, whose father was on an exchange in rural America. He would then find Iron Man and help him after he crashes in rural Tennessee.
While Felton believed that their pitch would be accepted, he got a response that said, “Your Chinese kid idea is not happening.” Feige and D’Esposito denied having “the sidekick from Indiana Jones” in the Iron Man threequel. Ty Simpkins was eventually cast in the role and also had a cameo in Avengers: Endgame.
Read More: Marvel Fans Missed Jenna Ortega’s Cameo in Robert Downey Jr’s $1.2B Movie ‘Iron Man 3’
Marvel Changed the Villain For Iron Man 3
While the studio denied having a Chinese kid in the movie, it still made significant changes in the story to keep it appealing to Chinese markets. And one such thing included changing the ethnicity of its villain, The Mandarin. Iron Man’s legendary nemesis was played by a British actor, Ben Kingsley, with a twist in the story.
While it is revealed that Aldrich Killian is the real bad guy in the movie, the original villain is expected to be someone else. Director Shane Black initially wanted to feature a female villain in the Iron Man threequel, most likely Maya Hansen, played by Rebecca Hall.
Maya would have followed similarly to Killian. However, the plan to have a female villain was pushed off the table due to concerns regarding toy sales. It was believed that a female villain’s toy might not get as much sales as if it were a man.
Iron Man 3 is available on Disney+.
