Wang Xueqi shows his mettle in Iron Man 3

Veteran mainland actor Wang Xueqi has joined the making of Iron Man 3 in the role of Dr Wu.

Wang is teaming up with a returning cast that includes Robert Downey Jr. as the billionaire inventor Tony Stark, Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts and Don Cheadle as James "Rhodey" Rhodes.

Wang is now shooting his scenes in Beijing — one of the film's multiple locations — and the crew will leave the city in a week, according to Beijing-based DMG Entertainment, one of the film's production companies.

Iron Man 3 will deliver more heart-pounding action than the franchise's previous installments. Dr Wu's role is expected to be that of a scientist and ally of the Marvel superhero.

Wang Xueqi is well known for award-winning performances in many films in the past 25 years, including Forever Enthralled and The Founding of a Party. The 66-year-old was also a juror of the 2012 Montreal Film Festival.

"This is a very exciting time for DMG Entertainment, Marvel Studios and the millions of Iron Man fans around China, who have been eagerly waiting for this moment," says Dan Mintz, DMG's CEO and one of the film's producers.

"Uniting the best of the United States and China to produce world-leading entertainment in Iron Man 3 is truly a unique experience and marks the first time a franchise movie of this size has been filmed in China."

Iron Man 3 will premiere in the United States and China on May 3, 2013. It will be distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures in all territories worldwide other than China, where DMG will help with distribution.

The first two installments of the Iron Man series have been well received by the country's box office. Iron Man in 2008 was the fifth highest-grossing international film that year and raked in 94 million yuan ($15 million). The 2010 sequel brought in 176 million yuan.