Back in April, we reported that Chinese superstar Andy Lau was in final negotiations to star in Marvel Studios' Iron Man 3. Today we have word that the actor has pulled out of the project to spend more time with his newborn daughter.

He was set to play a close friend of Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark, who helps him defeat the Mandarin. The character is also said to represent, "the technology sector of China." Producer Dan Mintz revealed that they are currently seeking a Chinese male actor over 40, who has strong English skills.

The two front runners for the role are Daoming Chen (Hero) and Wu Xiubo. Chinese actresses such as Bingbing Fan and Yao Lin Chen are also in the mix for unspecified roles.

We reported in April that this superhero sequel will be a Chinese co-production, with part of the shooting to take place in China. Principal photography is already under way in North Carolina, although it is not known when production will begin in China.