While elaborating on the multiple blockbuster flicks he's worked on, including Flight, World War Z and The Lone Ranger, actor James Badge Dale briefly discussed his role in Marvel’s Iron Man 3 film. Portraying Eric Savin, one of multiple villains in the threequel, Dale clarifies that, “Ben Kingsley (The Mandarin) is the mouthpiece. Guy Pearce (Aldrich Killian) is the brain. I’m the muscle. Being in a big CGI action movie is a weird departure for me” he told ShowBizz411. “I’m more of a ‘put two guys in a room and we’ll just talk to each other’ style of actor. But I had a lot of fun. I learned to ride a horse. I got to beat up grown men in robot suits and shoot zombies with Brad Pitt.”
In the comics, Eric Savin, aliased “Coldblood,” was a soldier who got fatally injured and then was resurrected as an urban soldier cyborg. While it's unknown how faithful that backstory will be translated into Iron Man 3, James Badge Dale's and actor Ashley Hamilton's (Jack Taggert, Firepower) characters are seemingly the only villains we've yet to see via promotional material.
UPDATE: While we're on the subject of Iron Man 3 villains, Entertainment Weekly talked with Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige yesterday. And once again explaining The Mandarin's interpretation & appearance in the film, Feige said, “Our version of this character wants to push those buttons in everyone, in every different country, all around the world to his own ends.” About Iron Patriot, Feige added that “It is not Norman Osborne in there, as opposed to the comics. We were inspired by that look and that suit, and again symbolism – what those icons mean.”
Marvel Studios’ “Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man? Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale with Jon Favreau and Ben Kingsley, “Iron Man 3” is directed by Shane Black from a screenplay by Drew Pearce & Shane Black and is based on Marvel’s iconic Super Hero Iron Man, who first appeared on the pages of “Tales of Suspense” (#39) in 1963 and had his solo comic book debut with “The Invincible Iron Man” (#1) in May of 1968. “Iron Man 3” is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures & DMG Entertainment. Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing & Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Stephen Broussard, Victoria Alonso, Alan Fine, Charles Newirth, Stan Lee & Dan Mintz are executive producers. The film hits May 3, 2013, & is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.