"Iron Man 3" is a 2013 superhero film directed by Shane Black and written by Black and Joe and Anthony Russo. The film stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man, along with Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, James Norriss, and Alden Ehrenreich. The film marks the start of Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).