Jessica Chastain to sex it up in Iron Man 3

Has Tony Stark met his mental match? Oscar-nominated actress Jessica Chastain (The Help) is in talks to join next year's Iron Man 3, and she's bringing her A-game to the table.

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According to Deadline, Chastain is being courted to a play a sexy scientist who will give Robert Downey Jr.'s alter ego a run for his money.

Apparently, the studio has wanted the actress for quite a while, but talks continued to breakdown because of scheduling conflicts.

Chastain was preoccupied with two other films, including Kathryn Bigelow's Osama Bin Laden drama.

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Thankfully, Chastain's other gigs have been moved around giving her some much-needed free time.

If her schedule hadn't cleared Marvel was looking at Diane Kruger, Gemma Arterton and Isla Fisher as possible replacements.

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Iron Man 3 is scheduled to begin production next month in North Carolina. Chastain will join the growing cast, which already includes Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Ben Kingsley and Guy Pearce.

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Both Paltrow and Cheadle will be reprising their roles as Virginia "Pepper" Potts and James "War Machine" Rhodes, while newbies Kingsley and Pearce will play the film's villains.

Iron Man 3 will center on the spread of a fatal virus through nanotechnology, which would explain the need for a new scientist.

Iron Man 3 will be directed by Shane Black and opens May 3, 2013.

What do you think of Jessica Chastain joining the cast?

Photo credit: WENN