Dr. Aldrich Killian was a brilliant scientist working for the FuturePharm Corporation in Austin, Texas alongside Dr. Maya Hansen. Together they developed Extremis, an attempt to create a new super soldier. The Extremis was a Techno-Organic Virus that completely rewrites the body's genetic code. It replaced entire organs, making them more efficient. The virus also gave the body healing abilities. The original Extremis granted super human strength, speed, endurance, reflexes and the ability to project electricity and breathe fire. He stole a sample and sold it to a terrorist group. The group injected a willing test subject named Mallen. A bizarre physical change overtook him; his horrified compatriots flew the room but locked him in it. The injected man's body was covered completely in a bizarre layer of scar tissue. Days later at Futurepharm Corporation offices, Dr. Aldrich Killian committed suicide at his computer. His suicide note informed Hansen that he had stolen the Extremis serum for an undisclosed purpose.
In other media
Television
Aldrich Killian is mentioned in Avengers: Ultron Revolution. In the episode "The Conqueror", he is listed as Stark Industries' competitors alongside Sasha Hammer and Ezekiel Stane.
Film
Aldrich Killian appears as the main antagonist in the 2013 film Iron Man 3, portrayed by Guy Pearce. He is the developer of the Extremis virus, and the founder of a think tank. On why he took the role, Pearce said, "I feel a little more experimental in what I'll take on these days, but I still don't know that I would want to play the superhero myself, since I'm playing a different kind of character in this film... The main difference was that, when I did The Time Machine, I was pretty much in all of it, so it was a really grueling experience. Prometheus and Iron Man are really kind of cameo stuff, so the experience of shooting them... I mean, on some level, it's tricky because you feel like a bit of an outsider. You don't really live the experience that you do when you're there all day every day with everybody. But at the same time, it can be more fun sometimes because you're just working in concentrated spurts." Pearce described his character as a man "who came into this world with a number of physical disabilities. He's never been able to accept those limitations though and has spent most of his life trying to overcome them in any way he can. His tenacity and blind determination in fighting for a better life are seen by some as irritating, as he often comes across as obnoxious. He just won't accept the cards he was dealt, and being as intelligent as he is, has real drive to change and become a different person." Killian plans on using the Mandarin persona to eliminate President Matthew Ellis. He successfully overpowers Iron Man, but is then killed by an Extremis enhanced Pepper Potts.
Video games
The video game shows Aldrich Killian's subconscious transferred into MODOK with the help of A.I.M.
The Iron Man 3 version of Aldrich Killian appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes, voiced by Robin Atkin Downes. He and his Extremis soldiers accompany the Mandarin in an attack on Avengers Tower. He and the Mandarin are defeated by Iron Man and Captain America.
