After months of waiting to see if Andy Lau would take a part in "Iron Man 3," it now seems as though he's made his choice... and it's not the one we were hoping for.
Want China Times reports that Lau has turned down an offer to appear opposite Robert Downey Jr. and friends in "Iron Man 3," director Shane Black's upcoming entry in the fan-favorite superhero franchise. According to the report, Lau's decision came down to wanting to spend more time with his newborn daughter.
With Lau out, the search is on for another Chinese actor to take on the mystery role — and two names, Chen Daoming and Wu Xiubo, have already surfaced as front-runners.
"The 57-year-old Chen is highly respected for his versatility and is perhaps best known for playing Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the 2002 film 'Hero,' while the 43-year-old Wu rose to acclaim as the protagonist in the Chinese television drama 'Before the Dawn,'" Want China Times reports.
Also in the mix for parts in the film are Yao Chen and the previously rumored Fan Bingbing.
"The audience will be familiar with the Asian faces in 'Iron Man 3'; our stand is to invest and produce a Chinese flavor and Chinese element international film," said Dan Mintz, CEO of DMG Entertainment Group and one of the producers on "Iron Man 3."
Thanks to Comic Book Resources for the tip.
Are you sad to see Lau miss out on the "Iron Man" sequel? Who would you cast in his stead? Leave your suggestions in the comments section below or hit us up on Twitter!
