Robert Downey Jr. may only wear his Iron Man suit one more time before being recast as superhero billionaire Tony Stark. Three Marvel movies have been officially announced for release after AVENGERS ASSEMBLE — IRON MAN 3, CAPTAIN AMERICA 2 and THOR 2 respectively — but what will follow these blockbusters is still up in the air.
Discussing the future of the IRON MAN franchise, Marvel Studios producer Kevin Feige revealed his plans for when Robert Downey Jr. inevitably leaves… Rather than reboot the series, Feige aims to continue the story using a new actor.
‘I think Bond is a good example. Let’s put it this way: I hope Downey makes a lot of movies for us as Stark. If and when he doesn’t, and I’m still here making these movies, we don’t take him to Afghanistan and have him wounded again. I think we James Bond it.’
No mess, no fuss. A new actor portraying the same character would allow for continuity in the plots set up in previous Marvel adaptations, particularly AVENGERS ASSEMBLE. If cinema-goers would want to see Stark played by anyone other than RDJ is another matter.
Downey Jr. agreed to a four-picture deal as Iron Man beginning with IRON MAN 2, meaning the actor still has another movie on the cards before the need to negotiate further deals. THE AVENGERS 2? IRON MAN 4? Perhaps both. RDJ clearly relishes his time as the superhero playboy and may stick with the role for as long as Marvel will have him. Time will tell.
Source: FilmJunk
Dan Bullock
May 1, 2012 at 12:40 pm
I say, bollocks.