"Iron Man 3" comes early for many fans of the blockbuster franchise. The much-anticipated movie will hit theaters in IMAX 3D April 25.

Image courtesy of ReutersIron Man 3

"Iron Man 3" will be released internationally April 25, with audiences in the U.S. getting to see the film's third installment a little over a week later on May 3. Marvel Entertainment decided to follow the same suit as the previous movies "Iron Man 2," "Thor," and "The Avengers" and release it in IMAX— while audiences get the benefit of better sound quality and a bigger screen, theaters and distributors get a bigger paycheck for the more expensive ticket.

"Marvel and IMAX are a perfect one-two punch and the Iron Man franchise has become a global phenomenon that resonates with fans around the world," Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment, said in a press release. "We look forward to moviegoers experiencing this highly-anticipated next installment of Tony Stark's latest adventures in IMAX 3D.

"Iron Man 3" pits the industrious genius Tony Stark, played by Robert Downey, Jr., against ruthless terrorist The Mandarin, played by Ben Kingsley, for a battle of epic proportions. Interestingly enough, the third installment will treat "The Avengers" film as cannon and central to the plot.

""It's almost like post-traumatic stress," Kevin Feige, President of Production at Marvel Studios told MTV News. "He has retreated after the events of The Avengers into his workshop, where he's building advanced versions of his suits. He has [designed] a version of the suit that can latch onto him in individual pieces ... anytime, anywhere."

"He starts to realize he doesn't want to be out of the suit. He's seen a lot of things in Avengers and has encountered a lot of powerful people, much more powerful than he is," Feige added.

The movie producer also hinted that the Mandarin from the film won't be the same as in the comics. Instead, his character will be an amalgamation of several versions of the menacing villain.