Actor Guy Pearce is holding on to the hope that Aldrich Killian, his devious character from Iron Man 3, will resurface on the screen.

In an interview with Comicbookmovie.com, Pearce mused about his chances for re-entry into the MCU with Killian safely in the ground since his demise in Iron Man 3. Taking an optimistic tone, the Primetime Emmy winner expressed no doubt that supervillain Killian could possibly make a comeback. "The idea of someone like Aldrich Killian coming back in some other shape or form is totally feasible," noted Pearce.

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He added, "It's such a fascinating universe, really. The amazing thing about it is that it's not as clear cut as going, 'Well, a character dies so that's the end of them.' Also, obviously in films these days there are prequels, so people are going back to earlier stories or there are tangents going across."

Having been scorched to death by Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts at the end of the 2013 film, Killian has certainly expired in the traditional sense. As Tony Stark's enemy, Killian gained leverage by hiring Trevor Slattery to impersonate the Mandarin. Once that ruse was exposed, Killian, in his hubris, declared himself to be the true leader of the Ten Rings, shortly before meeting his doom.

Due to backlash from fans, Marvel Studios released the short, All Hail the King, which revealed that Killian had based his puppet organization and character on a legend he had heard and whose name he had appropriated for his own schemes. The short is now available on Disney+.

See the real Mandarin in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, available exclusively in theaters.

KEEP READING: Guy Pearce 'Adored' Mandarin Twist in 'Iron Man 3'

Source: Comicbookmovie.com