“Iron Man 3″ to be released early in IMAX

Photo: "Iron Man 3," courtesy Marvel Studios

It will come out April 25 instead of May 3.

Love “Iron Man”? Love IMAX? Well we’ve got some good news for you. If May 3 seems like way too long to wait until “Iron Man 3″ hits theaters, then you’re in luck, because it’s actually going to be released a week earlier in the IMAX format.

IMAX and Marvel have revealed that “Iron Man 3″ will come out on April 25 in IMAX theaters. The movie is being digitally re-mastered in IMAX 3D, though there likely will be 2D showings as well. “Iron Man 3″ is now the fourth Marvel film to be released in IMAX, following in the footsteps of “Iron Man 2,” “Thor” and “The Avengers.”

“Marvel and IMAX are a perfect one-two punch and the ‘Iron Man’ franchise has become a global phenomenon that resonates with fans around the world,” Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment Greg Foster said in a press release. “We look forward to moviegoers experiencing this highly-anticipated next installment of Tony Stark’s latest adventures in IMAX 3D.”

“Iron Man 3″ is based on Warren Ellis’s “Iron Man” comic book series “Extremis.” The flick is directed by Shane Black and also stars Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Jon Favreau, Wang Xueqi and Ben Kingsley.

Pearce’s Aldrich Killian looks to be the movie’s big bad as a co-creator of the Extremis serum, which creates a new breed of supersoldier. He and partner Maya Hansen, played by Hall, opt to place the serum in the hands of terrorists and set them up against Iron Man in order to prove the strength of Extremis. It was announced at San Diego Comic-Con that Kingsley will play The Mandarin. “Iron Man 3″ will hit theaters on May 3, 2013.

What other Marvel movies would you like to see be released in IMAX? Tell us in the comments section below or on Facebook and Twitter.