The Walt Disney Company has issued a statement concerning an injury sustained by star Robert Downey, Jr. on the set of Iron Man 3 in Wilmington, North Carolina.  The studio’s release notes: "Robert Downey Jr. sustained an ankle injury on the set of Iron Man 3 in Wilmington, North Carolina while performing a stunt.  There will be a short delay in the production schedule while he recuperates."

No word on the severity of the injury was released.  Typically in such situations the production team can shoot scenes involving other actors (depending on their availability and the availability of the right sets and locations), though Downey Jr. is in a rather high percentage of shots in the typical Iron Man film.

Iron Man 3, which is loosely based on the Warren Ellis "Extremis" storyline, is slated to debut in theaters on May 3rd, 2013.  Shane Black is directing the film, which will largely be shot in North Carolina and in China with Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Ben Kingsley, Jon Favreau, Rebecca Hall, James Badge Dale, and Ashley Hamilton joining Downey Jr. in the cast.