While Avengers: Endgame seemed to be the swan song for Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Tony Stark, a.k.a Iron Man, and his journey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Downey hasn’t completely ruled out a return.
In a recent conversation with Esquire, Downey expressed his eagerness to reprise his MCU role if the conditions were right, despite having just clinched an Academy Award for his performance in a role decidedly different from Iron Man, in the Chris Nolan movie, Oppenheimer.
When questioned about potential participation in future Marvel movies, Downey revealed…
I would do it joyfully. It’s just so much a part of who I am. That character found me. And remember, betting against Kevin Feige is a fool’s game. He’s like the casino – always comes out on top.
Marvel could certainly benefit from the buzz and focus a comeback from Downey would generate. Since Downey and other major Marvel players concluded their roles after Endgame, the recent Marvel releases have received mixed reactions. Newer titles such as Eternals haven’t resonated as strongly with audiences or critics compared to the initial slate of Marvel films. Their latest, The Marvels, hasn’t matched the success seen by its predecessors.
Nevertheless, Marvel has some exciting titles on the horizon, including this summer’s Deadpool & Wolverine starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, which aims to welcome the X-Men into the MCU. There’s also excitement around an upcoming Fantastic Four film featuring Oscar Isaac and Vanessa Kirby that has the potential to be a major hit. But the road ahead has some uncertain turns.
Meanwhile, the most ambitious project on Marvel’s schedule, Avengers: Secret Wars, is set to be a tale where the multiverse collapses into a single universe teeming with alternate versions of every Marvel character. Imagining a cinematic event featuring the return of Robert Downey Jr (alongside Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson) would be monumental.
However, this thought remains a ‘big if.’ Downey’s acting fees were already high, and following an Oscar win, they are likely higher. In the meantime, you can catch Downey in Oppenheimer streaming on Peacock.
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