Rumors are something that Marvel will have to get used to from here on out, as speculation has run rampant about how the 'Phase Two' films like Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World will raise the stakes after The Avengers. Now, we may have a much better idea of how they plan to do it. Those averse to SPOILERS will want to move along.

English stuntman/actor and current Marvel employee Andrew Lawden (Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace) recently spoke quite candidly about the plot twists and proposed action scenes for both films. Lawden's information comes from scenes witnessed first-hand, and through colleagues working on the set of Thor 2. We'd recommend taking these RUMORS with a grain of salt, but that might be easier said than done.

Last warning: BIG (POTENTIAL) SPOILERS FOLLOW!!!

-

Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3 Concept Art

In a recent episode of the BombadRadio podcast, Lawden claimed to have just returned from a Marvel/Disney trade fair in Milan, Italy, where Marvel had shown an extended look at both Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World. Beyond completed scenes of Shane Black's "darker" Iron Man story, the animated storyboards for some of the film's more special effects-laden sequences were also shown.

Lawden may not sound or look familiar to audiences, but he's the actor currently embodying the Iron Man armor during live promotions as part of Marvel and Disney's extended publicity. Wearing Tony Stark's armor while glad-handing and performing publicly isn't the only perk of the job, it seems.

While fans are still waiting to get their first look at the Iron Man 3 teaser this week, according to Lawden, that won't hold a candle to the finished product:

"Well, there's going to be a big fight sequence with The Mandarin, who's the main villain, which will involve none other than forty different iron man suits. There's an amazing rescue where The Mandarin basically wants to bring down the American government and kill the President, and he launches an attack on Air Force One. All of them - the President and his men and staff - get sucked out of the plane, and Iron Man rescues them by forming this amazing human chain in the sky.

"There's some pretty spectacular stuff that goes on. There's an amazing sequence where he has this rooftop house that he builds to store all his Iron Man suits, and it gets attacked by The Mandarin and these gunships [...] I was shocked to discover there are like forty Iron Man suits written into this feature in various ways...so that's going to be pretty impressive. But apparently he needs this Iron Man army to go up against The Mandarin's forces."

Lawden went on to confirm the biological changes Tony Stark will be undergoing; changes that might feasibly allow him to operate forty mechanized suits at one time. We've known for quite a while that Warren Ellis' Extremis story arc would be pulled upon for Iron Man 3, and it seems Stark's new-found powers will be put to the test.

In regards to how accurate this report actually IS: Well, as stated the 40+ suits in the finale has been rumored before - and in fact, Stark's new armor was also rumored to be designated as the Mark 47, indicating that a LOT of armor gets developed between the Mark 7 in The Avengers and the ending of Iron Man 3. Second, recent Iron Man 3 set photos have already depicted the mid-air rescue scene that Lawden describes, so it seems plenty credible.

Read the official Iron Man 3 synopsis.

-

NEXT PAGE: Thor 2 Plot Spoilers...

-

Thor: The Dark World

Thor 2 Dark World Hemsworth

Those behind the filming of Thor: The Dark World are certainly no strangers to stuntmen spilling the beans. It was stunt performer James Grogan who first revealed that the Dark Elves would be the villains battling Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in his next adventure, and the race has since been confirmed to appear, possibly among many others.

Lawden provided some context for the location shooting of large battle scenes in Iceland, confirming them to take place on Asgard. The official plot synopsis for Thor: The Dark World promises a more personal, painful journey for the hammer-toting-hero, and an enemy that even Odin and Asgard can't withstand. Lawden explains why:

"Thor becomes reunited with Jane who becomes possessed by a Dark Spirit, which is connected with the Dark Elves; a race the Asgardians have fallen out with many years beforehand [...] The Dark Elves attack Asgard, and they take a huge hit. So Thor has to rebuild Asgard by putting together an army to go and take the battle to the Dark Elves and defeat them. But the only way he can do this is - he needs to cross over to the Dark World, and the only person who has access to the dark side of Asgard is his old brother Loki, who at the beginning of the film is locked up in prison.

"So what happens is Thor basically has to negotiate this truce with Loki, and he goes on this great trek with Jane, all three of them. They go to this far side of Asgard, which is being shot in Iceland, where they train and assemble an army to go and attack the Dark Elves' world."

It's possible that the previous casting calls pointing to the mythological Einherjar (fallen warriors residing in Valhalla) could make an appearance alongside Thor as well. The fallen heroes are actually dead, according to mythology, but Hemsworth has complimented new director Alan Taylor on his ability to make even fantasty elements seem grounded in realism. How Captain America could cameo in this story isn't clear, and fails to mention any of the other Nine Worlds.

If all this Norse mythology seems a bit daunting, Lawden went on to explain how Thor's grudge against the Dark Elves will get personal:

"But the exclusive twist...is that one of the things that happens during the Asgardian attack is that Thor's mother gets killed. So it becomes like a vengeance thing. And they were keeping very tight-lipped about what actually happens with Loki, you don't know whether he redeems himself or he's still the bad egg."

chris hemsworth thor sequel loki

Rene Russo has recently explained that her role in the original Thor was intended to be much larger, and why the relationships between Frigga, Thor and Loki might all be explored in the sequel. More back story and development will certainly be needed to make the death of her character have impact. Even if this claim is unconfirmed, having Frigga die at the hands of the Dark Elves would go a long way in uniting Loki and Thor once again.

Lawden went on to explain that Marvel seems to be somewhat surprised with just how well the risks they took with 'Phase One' have paid off, given the runaway success of The Avengers. Aside from the established sequels and upcoming projects, there is also talk of "a Nicky Fury film," and "something to do with Black Widow and Hawkeye," but those are merely being thrown around at this point.

We'd recommend waiting for official confirmation before getting your hopes up, but what do you think of the plot twists themselves? Is that the kind of action and character drama that will build off the current momentum, or had you hoped to see different stories told? Sound off in the comments.

Read the official Thor 2 synopsis.

Iron Man 3 hits theaters on May 3rd, 2013, while Thor: The Dark World arrives on November 8th, 2013.

-

Follow me on Twitter @andrew_dyce.

Source: Bombad Radio