Earlier today it was reported that Jessica Chastain had opted not to take on the “sexy scientist” role she was said to be up for in Iron Man 3. Not wasting any time, it looks like director Shane Black and company had another actress on stand by.

According to sources, Rebecca Hall is now in negotiations to play the character Chastain was lined up for. Apart from the brief description indicating that the character would be an attractive scientist type who’s just as smart as Robert Downey Jr.‘s Tony Stark character, all that’s known is that this will be a supporting role. Gwyneth Paltrow‘s Pepper Potts character is the movie’s female lead.

Hall is best known as Ben Affleck’s love interest in the bank heist flick The Town, as well as for her work in titles such as Woody Allen’s Vicky Christina Barcelona, The Prestige, and Frost/Nixon.

Chastain made sure to apologize to her fans via Facebook with a message explaining her not being involved with Iron Man 3:

Hall, if negotiations go well, would join newcomers Ben Kingsley and Guy Pearce, as well as Downey Jr., Paltrow, and Don Cheadle. Scarlett Johansson was thought to be involved as well, but it was recently revealed that her Black Widow character would not be part of the third installment.

[Source: Heat Vision]