It looks like marketing for Marvel’s Iron Man 3 is starting sooner than expected. Today they released the official synopsis to the third movie starring the one and only Tony Stark — I mean Robert Downey Jr.

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?

Before the premise was released, we knew that the film would take elements from the graphic novel Iron Man: Extremis. But now it’s clear that another influence for the movie is Iron Man: Iron Monger. Yes, Iron Monger met his demise in the first film, but parts of the story were not used. Particularly Tony Stark losing his company and his livelihood — basically needing to rebuild his life.

Rather than expanding the scope on world threats, the third flick is keeping the focus on Stark. It makes sense considering The Avengers now exist in the shared movie universe. Any villains terrorizing a city — or the world — would naturally be dealt with by the team. But a personal vendetta? There’s pride and a lot to prove. And Stark is notorious for both.

Iron Man 3 rocks theaters May 3, 2013.

[Blastr]