The first trailer for director Shane Black's Iron Man 3 has been released and it's looking a lot darker for Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) this time around. Following the events of The Avengers, Stark is a bit more shaken up than one would have expected.  His nightmares plague him with sleepless nights and constant fear that harm will befall the people he cares about.  And it's looking like his greatest technological achievement will become his biggest threat.  At least until the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) makes his appearance in grand fashion (though I'm not 100% sold on his accent).Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film stars also stars Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Ashley Hamilton, Jon Favreau and James Badge Dale.  Iron Man 3 opens on May 3rd, 2013.Click over to Apple to watch in HD.  For more Iron Man 3 coverage:

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Here’s the official synopsis for Iron Man 3:

Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 3 pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Szostak, James Badge Dale with Jon Favreau and Ben Kingsley, Iron Man 3 is directed by Shane Black from a screenplay by Drew Pearce and Shane Black and is based on Marvel’s iconic Super Hero Iron Man, who first appeared on the pages of Tales of Suspense (#39) in 1963 and had his solo comic book debut with The Invincible Iron Man (#1) in May of 1968. Iron Man 3 is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures and DMG Entertainment. Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing and Jon Favreau, Louis D’Esposito, Stephen Broussard, Victoria Alonso, Alan Fine, Charles Newirth, Stan Lee and Dan Mintz are executive producers. The film releases May 3, 2013, and is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

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