A lot of people were very disappointed with Iron Man 2.
A lot of people felt like it was a teaser to the Avengers more then it was a Iron Man movie. I personally felt that Iron Man 2 similar to Iron Man 1 was the start of it all. A point in the Marvel Universe history were the Humans are made very aware of this world that Shield has worked to keep hidden.
That is why we were introduced to Nick Fury at the end and we were giving the iconic line from Nick - "I am Iron Man". You think you're the only superhero in the world? Mr. Stark, you've become part of a bigger universe. You just don't know it yet.
This was Marvels why of telling us that these movies are going to be more then just centered around one character. Like the comics from time to time you will get a cell were Iron Man comes across Human Torch or Professor X or Nick Fury etc etc. IT'S A BIGGER UNIVERSE..... Through out the years every time Marvel has done a comic book or a cartoon series on a character you had cameos from other characters. I remember Iron Man and the Hulk buster suit in "The Incredible Hulk" animated show, Spider-Man in the "X-men" animated show etc. That is what they want from the movies and it can be done with out compromising the integrity of a Iron Man centered movie.
Going to the bigger universe point. I had no issue seeing shield help Stark figure out his problems. No problem seeing mention of all the other character from the map and not one problem with the flow of the movie. I think the usage of Whiplash and much smaller know villain in the Iron Man world hurt the movie. A movie can not make more of a villain that has had 20 plus year to become something in the Comics. You just can't do it. Also what if we find out that the points on the map are rings of power locations hmmm.
This gets to my expanded Universe and expanded armor gallery point.
What if some of the rings are located at various points of the world or space that is the home of another famous character. The following are some locations for the rings that would lead to a new character and armor needed to retrieve the ring.
Wakunda - Home of the Black Panther - Iron Man Armor Model 07 (Stealth Armor MK I).
Atlantis - Home of Namor - Hydro Armor. No need to explain this Armor lol.
The Dark Side Of The Moon - Home of the Inhumnas - Space Armor MK I.
The Sanctum Sanctorum - Home of Stephan Strange - No Armor. This should be how Tony learns of the rings and see's one of them. He goes their as Tony with Mark V travel armor.
Just to name a few. The rest should be at various remote locations. Also keep in mind We know or believe that Justin Hammer has one. Obidiah we believe has one, which should have gone to his son Ezikiel. Maybe the one Ezikiel has is how Tony learns they have some sort of power because Ezikiel is angry and the ring does something or projects its self through him and at Tony.
Not only would this be a great movie. It would be amazing for the Marvel Universe fans. This would be a way to show us, similar to Thor and Odin's weapon room, were Marvel is looking to go next. I myself would be very happy to see them using Iron Man as the center of the exploration of the Universe.
Iron Man movies so far have giving us Captain America via Caps shield easter egg, Shield via agent Coulson's character, Nick Fury via the end credit scene from Tron Man, Thor via the end credit scene from Iron Man 2, The cosmic cub, The machine used to create the Hulk and many other little nods. Clearly Tone Stark and Iron Man is the catalyst to all of this and should continue to be.
So we get the Mandarin and his rings. We get the expanded Armors which are needed to obtain or prevent the Mandarin from obtaining the rings. We get the expanded Universe because lets face it wouldn't such items of power be sought by or protected by individuals that are of power. Similar to Odin's weapons locker?
Well what do you guys think?