If we’re just going by casting, the quality jump from Iron Man 2 to the third might be one of Hollywood’s largest. Sure, we had Sam Rockwell to lighten up the mood in Jon Favreau‘s otherwise filmsy blockbuster. But Shane Black already has him beat with his prospective cast. We’ve got Guy Pearce and Ben Kingsley joining Robert Downey Jr. and now another named has been added to the list.

Deadline reports that The Tree of Life actress Jessica Chastain, who was in six other films last year, may have decided on her first live-action big-budget project. She’s in talks to join the Marvel film, where she would star as a “sexy scientist every bit as smart as Tony Stark.” She was previously attached to the film, but had to give it up due to her Kathryn Bigelow‘s currently shooting Zero Dark Thirty, as well as The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby.

But she’s all freed up now, clearing an open slot to shoot the film in North Carolina next month. Marvel had considered Diane Kruger, Gemma Arterton and Isla Fisher, but with Chastain available, she’s got the part as long as the current talks go through. The actress was previously looking to make Oblivion with Tom Cruise her first major summer event film, but she skipped on that project. It’s certainly a surprise, but no matter what the situation is, Shane Black teaming with one of our finest actors should be reason enough to celebrate.

Iron Man 3 hits theaters May 2013, after The Avengers arrives early next month.