Some potential good news for Marvel movie fans on a day that has already been full of satisfying, if not entirely unpredictable announcements. Hot on the footsteps of Jessica Chastain passing on a role in Iron Man 3 comes word that Rebecca Hall is in negotiations to nab it instead.

According to the latest story, the role – which is being kept predictably under wraps, but seems certain to be a fetching scientist working on nanotech who comes into contact with Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark– is more of a supporting part than a lead.

The female lead will, not all that surprisingly, be Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts. Given her especially cosy relationship with Tony in The Avengers (Assemble), it’s only natural that she’ll get more to do in a solo Iron Man outing. But we’d expect there to be trouble ahead for Stark and his ladylove.

If she signs, Hall will join a cast that includes Ben Kingsley, Andy Lau, Guy Pearce and Don Cheadle.

Shane Black has co-written the script with Drew Pearce and is set to kick off calling the shots this month.

Hall, who last appeared in The Awakening, has Stephen Frears’ Lay The Favourite awaiting release and is shooting an untitled legal thriller alongside Eric Bana.