Iron Man 3 — Characters & Cast

Protecting Pepper and redeeming the damage his old arrogance caused.

He starts the film traumatized, sleepless and hiding in his armor. Stripped of his tech, he rebuilds himself through his wits, faces his past mistakes and ends by letting go of the reactor and the suits while claiming his identity as Iron Man.

Loving Tony while demanding that he face his problems. She also refuses to be a prize.

She goes from frustrated partner to a captive given Extremis, and then to the person who saves Tony and defeats Killian herself.

Revenge for Tony's old snub, power and profit from controlling both sides of the "war on terror."

He goes from a scorned, awkward inventor to a polished tech mogul, and he turns out to be the real mind behind the Mandarin.

Duty to his country and friendship with Tony.

He starts as a government-rebranded hero in the Iron Patriot suit, loses the armor, and becomes Tony's partner in the buddy-cop finale.

Perfecting her life's work and, too late, undoing its harm.

She is the co-creator of Extremis. She tries to make up for having worked with Killian, but she is caught between ambition and conscience.