‘Iron Man 3’ Filming Locations Open Thread – discuss where the movie is filming in Wilmington!

According to WECT, Iron Man 3 will begin filming next week in Wilmington, NC.

Filming was originally scheduled to take place between May 21 and September 7, but there have been rumors for weeks that the shoot would be moved up. And, we’ve suspected filming would begin soon since Robert Downey Jr. sightings have already started pouring in!

The majority of filming on the movie will take place in Wilmington, where they will be based out of Screen Gems Studio, before moving to China later this summer.

It will be the biggest production to ever shoot in North Carolina and it is sure to be one of the most anticipated movies to hit theaters in 2013.

There have already been several casting calls for extras for the movie which is using Caged Heat as its working title. For extras info, you can visit the Caged Heat Casting Facebook page.

Stay tuned for more information about the shoot and be sure to let us know if you spot them in a comment below! Hopefully, fans can use this comment thread to swap tips and scoop about where Iron Man 3 is filming, and where the cast is hanging out, in Wilmington this summer! If you have scoop you want to keep anonymous or have photos to share, let us know via email at olv@onlocationvacations.com!

165 COMMENTS

  1. Since I live in Hong Kong (where I’ve heard that Iron Man 3 will also be filmed in), I was wondering if we’ll get any updates on where and when they’ll be filming here? Thanks 🙂

  2. If anyone has any idea about specific streets in Wilmington or actual filming locations (stores, businesses, restaurants) please comment. My son is 5 yrs old and a superhero freak. I happen to be on vacation and can drive down to Wilmington any day next week to do some investigation and searching. I’ve never done anything like this before so I don’t know how much security and barriers are involved in getting close for a picture or autograph or simply to let my son watch the real deal right before his eyes being filmed. Thanks for any info!

  3. Thanks Joe, I think a lot of the shoot will be in the studio, which you use to be able to tour when One Tree Hill was filming there, anyone ever tried to meet anyone or tour the studio?

  4. Thanks Christine. I did see the article about the museum. I was just searching for the best hotels in Wilmington. Only makes sense the bigger stars would stay at the swankiest digs. If anything, one could stop by the hotel bar in the evening and possibly catch a star grabbing a nightcap. Looks like Marriot an Hilton are the highest ranked hotels in the area. However, depending on the length of stay, someone like Downey or Cheadle may rent a house. Anyone have any idea of local hotels that have beefed up security or had star sightings? Thanks, I may drive down there tomorrow!

  5. Does anyone know where or how I could find a schedule for when and where they are filming? I really want to check this out…

  6. Joe & Christine – I also have a 5 yr old son that loves Iron Man! He just finished preschool and got an Iron Man mask as a present. He only takes it off to eat, bathe and sleep:) If either (or any others) knows the filming schedule please let me know! Thanks!!

  7. I live a few hours away from Wilmington, and some friends and I would like to see Iron Man 3 in the works! I wanted to sign up as an extra, but unfortunately I don’t think I would be able to do it 🙁 I’m an architecture major and I’m a little curious about set design, the movie business, etc, so this would be interesting to see in real life! Plus, Robert Downey Jr is someone I’d love to meet or at least see in real life haha. If there is anyway to find out about visiting the set and such, I’d love to know! Please and Thank You!!

  8. Has filming all ready started? Me and my friend would like to be extras if they are still in need of extras when school is out. How do we get put in as extras and where do we need to go?

  9. According to the casting co’s facebook page, they began filming at 8 am this morning!

    Monday revised CAGED Call times for JD, Kimberly, Christina & Eric is now 8 AM.

  10. In case you missed here is one of next week’s locations…also I’m going to change the title of this post and create a short cut so you may have to change your book marks – be on the look out for filming in Wilmington and let us know about it in a comment here, thanks!

  11. Hey Christine! You mentioned in your last post ‘next week’s locations’ – but there aren’t any listed. Did I miss a post or something w/ that info? Thanks!!

  12. okay, sorry to momentarily change the subject, but ive been searching for infomation on “Catching Fire”(“Artemis 2”). None of the other websites are as helpful as this one and I would like to know if any information on that will be put on this site. If so, please give me the link, if you would be so kind.

    • Angela – Do you know if they are still planning on filming in the mountains? And how do you find out the movie’s ‘code name’? Catching Fire=Artemis 2, Iron Man 3 = Caged. Thanks!

    • It’s not *much* info, but as of now Artemis 2 extra casting has moved to wilmington, although no casting company has been announced/casting isn’t supposed to get underway until early summer. I’ll add the link of where I’ve most recently heard this…I can’t tell you how definite it is, just a few days ago they were saying the whole production might move to GA, and before that it was still going to be Charlotte/Concord/Shelby, who knows!

      https://www.examiner.com/article/casting-and-production-information-for-major-feature-film-sequel-artemis-2

      • This site (link above) isn’t the most reliable, I’ve been burned so many times by posting this guy’s info and its totally wrong….the company that did casting for The Hunger Games (and is also doing extras casting for Iron Man 3) hasn’t posted anything yet for extras casting so I think we just have to wait and see on that one…

        • Thank you all for the great info!!

          Christine – Do you know who will be at the Cape Fear Club on May 29th? I’m trying to catch RDJ in his Iron Man suit so my son can see him:) Are you an extra in the movie?

          And thank you all again!

  13. yes the title is changed so that should be all set- as far who will be at that scene, I’m not sure…there will be two actors there but I don’t know who, sorry

  14. Hiii, I’m from Wilmington NC AND I’M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THEM FILMING HERE!
    But, I don’t exactly know how to contact them or where to go to audition for an extra, this is my first time. I think I’d be good at it. If maybe someone could Email me or something so I could get more information, as long as it’s not too late to auditon. I SURE HOPE NOT! Haha.
    That would be great thanks!

    • cagedheatextras@gmail.com is the email address for extras…the casting company (tona dahlquist) all ready had what, as of now, is their open calls, but are still accepting email submissions. include a head shot (snapshot is ok) and full body shot along with all info (age, height, hair, etc. and vehicle make/model/color you have available to you)…with the subject line as your age, gender and ethnicity

  15. Thank you Christine for all the helpful information on this page, I appreciate it! Do you know when filming in Wilmington ends? I hope I can make it out there in time!

  16. Got an interesting tidbit today, someone said all the police cars at yesterday’s shoot said Miami Police – so I guess be on the look out for those, sounds like the movie is set in Miami…

  17. Does anybody know any information about todays shoot i live in myrtle beach and thought about driving up also will RDJ be there for a couple weeks?

  18. Look, I really could use some help. The main reason I’m asking is because I was there for the filming of Iron Man 2. I was one of the spectators in the “Stark Expo” sequence in the beginning of the film and I got to meet and talk with RDJ after shooting finished that day (and he was a very nice guy to talk to, btw).

    For me, the experience was more than just being on a movie set — I felt like I was a part of the Marvel Universe. And after the recent success of “The Avengers,” I would love to be part of that magic again.

    So if anyone has any details regarding when and where they’ll be filming this summer, I would really appreciate it.

  19. Here’s a few tidbits a tipster sent to me , most of which I think is posted throughout the thread but here’s a good summery:
    They’ve been filming in studio (except tues when they did 1 day on location)
    Iron patriot scene was at the ILM airport Tues — The scenes were the president arriving with military and secret service

    • THANK YOU!!! I live about 20 minutes away from there, and I pray I can go!! Sorry I’m very excited right now..If you get any more information I’d love to know! Thank you so much again!!

  20. Any idea on Terrence Malick’s filming schedule? I know he’s out in LA over the next week or so filming scenes for Knight of Cups but I’m having a hard time figuring out where.

  21. Has anyone heard anything definite about filming in Cary? I know they are doing it tomorrow and Tuesday – I just need to know exactly where and the times. I’ve heard they are filming a driving scene and are filming another scene at the SAS building/campus. I’d really like to go check it out – but I don’t want to drive all over creation trying to find them.
    Why can’t they just put out a time schedule for us all to see so we can make plans?! 😉

  22. We are going to be in the Wilmington area next week. My sons and I would love to come and be an extra or watch a scene being filmed. Please send any info you can

  23. I know I’m sounding like a broken record, but I can’t help it. If anyone knows of any filming taking place on a Saturday or Sunday this summer, please let me know.

    • They are staying on Figure Eight Island in rented homes on the beach. It’s a private, gated community in Wilmington.

  24. Reminder:

    A permit request has been issued for Caged (the working title of Iron Man 3) for filming 6/14, 6/15, 6/18, 6/21, 6/22 & 7/6 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 am at National Gypsum, 838 Sunnyvale Drive, Wilmington, N.C.

    The shoot will include “exterior building scenes involving special effects and stunts.” Three main cast members are expected to take part in the shoot, along with 91 extras.

    On 6/18 & 7/6 filming will take place between 7:00 am – 10:00 pm (day shoot).

    • Hey I would love to be an extra and am living in Wilmington all summer so i’ll be available whenever! Please let me know of anything!

  25. Went to Sunnyvale Drive tonight and turned around when I saw the signs for Crew Parking. I was really worried about security questioning my presence because this seriously looks like a dead end and I obviously had no business being there. Has anyone else tried to go to the location with any luck? If you drive down Sunnyvale (past the neighborhood), the road curves to the left and you’ll see the signs to the right for parking and the crew. I was just so afraid to go down that road without hearing about someone else’s experience first.
    There is no posted “no trespassing” sign, but I guess I’m somewhat of a chicken.

    • I went the first night they were filming there and they really didn’t care about fans scoping the place out. News reporters talked to the crew and they said that as long as you stayed on one side of the road and didn’t cause any problems, they didn’t mind. However, you may not be able to see much. I stayed there seven hours straight hoping to catch a glimpse of something, but I didn’t see anything. I don’t know if it was because it was the first night and they were still setting up or just because the crew was super sneaky and snuck all of the celebrities to the set without me knowing. It is worth a shot, though, and you should definitely visit once.

  26. the general rule is they can’t harass you if you are on a public st…I’ve had a couple people tweet me from the set and they’ve been able to hang around without problems, but they weren’t able to see much…they have the area where they are filming blocked pretty good I guess, I think you’ll be OK if you want to check it out, worse case scenario you can always say you were lost 🙂

  27. I drove past the Sunnyvale Drive set today. It’s fenced off but you can see the green screen and lights and cranes from the public road. Also, it’s not a dead end, the road loops around and heads north again, and if questioned you could easily say you were lost. As soon as I drove up the security guard got out of his car (he’d probably been sitting there all day, how boring for him haha) and started walking towards us so we hurried and snapped some pictures and left. You’re right, they can’t tell you to leave a public street, but I figured if I want to return later on in the shoot it’s probably better not to become anyone “memorable” for security.

    p.s. I work in film production in another state as crew, I just have never seen a set of this size/elaborate so that’s what I was interested in seeing. Please, please, if you do go to set when they are filming be respectful to of the noise you make. It’s super annoying to be on set getting a perfect performance from an actor, only to have the audio messed up from some off-screen car honking or a loud engine/radio from the bystanders. So just use common sense, put your phones on vibrate, don’t talk loud, etc etc and the more respectful bystanders are the more inviting (and nicer) crew will be to you. Just some advice. 🙂

  28. Thanks for the update Paige! If anyone checks it out today let us know – they are suppose to be filming during the day so might be able to see a little more action.

  29. Any word on the filming they were going to do in Miami? I keep watching the Facebook page because I’d love to get a jump on being an extra here in the hometown, but no word yet.

  30. I think they’ll be in studio tomorrow (tomorrow is suppose to be one of their “off days” at this week’s location, anyone know if they are in studio for sure?

  31. I put a picture above 🙂 A friend and I parked right in front if the driveway on the other side of the road. We walked through the trails in the woods right next to the set and was able to gte a better glance at it all and could see in the warehouses.

    • Kristen– would you mind reposting the picture? The link didn’t work for me.

      And haha, I was one of the teenagers that ventured into the woods with you.

  32. They may still do some China- set scenes while in Wilmington…

    I’m almost positive they are in studio this week, has anyone heard differently?

  33. Any ideas if they are filming from 6/27-6/29? In town for my honeymoon and wouldnt mind catching it, since my wife gets to see the filming of Save Haven haha

  34. We will be in Wilmington area the week of July 9. Please post any news about the shootings schedule, cast updates, etc. Thanks.

  35. Here are updates for Friday & Monday, and later this month:

    On Friday July 6, 2012 they will return to National Gypsum, and will also filming at the New Hanover Regional Medical Center, 2131 S. 17th St in Wilmington from 3:00 a.m. to midnight. This scene will be exteriors and involve five main actors, but we’re not sure which ones.Iron Man 3 will also be filming a smaller scene inside Stevens Hardware, 1831 Dawson Street on Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

    Iron Man 3, is expected to film scenes at 1223 N. 23rd Street in Wilmington on Monday, July 9, 2012 from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.

    https://onlocationvacations.com/2012/07/02/iron-man-3-will-be-filming-on-location-july-9th-in-wilmington-n-c/

    According to WWAY, IM3 will film Christmas scenes in Duplin County, N.C. later this month, the exact date is unknown at this time.

  36. There are studio trailers and trucks in the parking lot on the corner of Independence and Park…. are they filming IR3 there? I know people said Cape Fear River today. Just curious.

  37. I went to see the filming of IM3 at the Cape Fear River yesterday. They were filming the dropping of the stunt actors again, except this time they fell into the water. They also got some shots of them screaming and crying for help while in the river. 🙂

  38. Here are a few more updates thank to one of our readers, James, Iron Man 3 will be filming on oak island near southport, NC for the next 10 days, and is also filming at evening/night in rose hill, NC it look like a Christmas scene with all the fake snow and Christmas lights and is supposed to be Chattanooga TN

  39. Don’t forget Iron Man 3 moved to Miami! Today they are filming on Pine Tree Dr in Miami Beach! Let us know if you spot them! They will be in Miami through 10/15.

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