Iron Man's arc, since Iron Man 3 to now, has been about CONTROL. It's been about how he can't control everything, and when he tries, it all goes wrong. Ultron was a method of control, as was the Sokovia Accords. He lost Pepper because he kept going back to his suits, and to the control they gave him.
This movie will have THE ONE, TRUE MANDARIN as the villain. Iron Man's Joker. Iron MAn 3 was great and the twist was hilarious but now lets get hte real guy. Iron Man always has to rationalize and explain his foes,thats why other armored villains are no contest. But aliens and magic are so far beyond the suits stark builds that they can't be explained, or rationalized. So for this movie: Science VS Magic
CHARACTERS:
THE MANDARIN: We begin in ancient China. A young man, an aristocrat, has left his home in search of power, riches, and adventure. He now searches in the Valley of Spirits, and he finds an ancient alien ship, with the bones of long dead ancient beasts, and 10 rings of immense power over all the energies of earth. He will use these rings to conquer, and destroy throughout history, he will advise kings, and build an empire of his own, his wealth will be greater than any man on earth, until the 1900's, when the world begins to change in china and abroad, the mandarin goes into the shadows, and inspires many myths, and his name is used to inspire fear. He occasionally appears in public under a manufactured identity. He first appears to Stark as a mysterious man at a convention in China, where Stark is presenting his newest invention. He will thank Stark for his numerous times saving the world, and inform him of the legend of The Mandarin that Killian c o-opted. This is both a taunt, and a show of respect to a worthy foe.
TONY STARK: Now, Stark is the face of the Sokovia Accords. He and Pepper are currently seperated, and he has begun to go back to his old, pre cave ways (getting super drunk and being an jerk), but much more guilt ridden. His newest invension: Nano-tech armor that is stored within your own body until it is needed. It's not as strong as Iron Man armor, but can protect soldiers in the field, and has no weapons cappabilities, so it can't be misused. It's tank proof armor stored inside of you. Some might say it's almost magic, but its still science.
Pepper Potts: She and Tony are separated, as was said in civil war. She is still running the company. Tony has a special suit built for her called Rescue for emergancies. She doesn't control the suit though, an AI version of Tony does.
Justin Hammer: Recently released from prison, he is now being advised by the mandarin. He is being played, its not about him, its about Stark. When Stark stock goes down after numerous 10 rings terror attacks at Stark facilities, and a field test of the nano armor that killed a soldier( both of these caused by agents of The Mandarin) Hammer begins a hostile takeover stratigized by The Mandarin, who has chosen a fool to take Starks empire to make the blow hurt much more.
James Roades: He is stilll one of Tony's closest friends, and has remained by his side, but at the same time is trying to stop Tony from going down a sad path.
Fin Fang Foom: An ancient dragon alien that was revitalized by the Amnderan than enslaved by him, caged and only released as a final checkmate. The Mandarin will release him to lay waste to China, then force other countries to fall in line under his rule, or else.
In this movie I want the Manderin to destroy Tony. That is his first goal, He is thinking: I want him taunted by a force more powerful and intelligent than he could ever be, that is breaking him down both as Stark and Iron Man, and once he's laying among the rubble of his ruined life, I want him to be shown the error of his ways for daring to become an enemy of the true and rightful ruler of the world, and then I want to leave him to live in his shattered live because he doesn't even deserve to die. This is the fate off alll who defy The Mandarin, knowing or unknowing. And he won't even know what happened because he's still trying to figure out how those rings work...
That's step one, once The thorn in his side that is Tony Stark has been dealt with, then we move on to The Mandarin's triumphant return as the mighty conquerer of all he sees. Stark is defeated, and it's time to take over the world.
Then Tony works his way back up, studies his oppenent, travels to the Valley of Spirits himself, builds new armor merging both his own technology and the mysterious metals of the ancient ship, learning magic is just technology he doesn't understand, and heads off to fight The Mandarin, the 10 rings, and Fin Fang Foom with War Machine, Rescue, and maybe even Vision!!!
Also character development, and a satisfying conclusion to Starks arc that has him regain Pepper's love, and become a better person before heading off into the sunset, maybe actually buying a farm or something.
I know dragons and aliens and magic aliens make no sense in an iron man movie, but just go with.
THE MANDARIN!!! HE IS SO COOL!