Iron Man Actor Addresses His Possible Return To Marvel Studios

During an episode of Rob Lowe’s “Literally!” podcast, Iron Man Actor reflected on his iconic portrayal and possible return of Tony Stark in the MCU. The Oscar nominee expressed that his time as the character was among the highlights of his acting career, despite feeling that it went somewhat unnoticed due to the superhero genre. Downey Jr. dedicated 11 years to the role, concluding his journey with the character in the 2019 film Avengers: Endgame. His remarks offer a glimpse into the challenges and perceptions that actors may face in the realm of superhero storytelling, even when delivering what they consider to be some of their best performances.

Iron Man Actor Talks About His Possible Return to Marvel

Last month, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige emphasized that he wouldn’t approach Robert Downey Jr. to reprise his role in the MCU, respecting the emotional closure of Tony Stark’s character in Avengers: Endgame. He stated, “We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.” Despite this stance, persistent rumors continue to circulate, suggesting Marvel’s eagerness to bring Iron Man back, possibly aiming to revitalize the MCU following box office challenges in the past year, marked by underperforming films like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels, the latter being the lowest-grossing MCU movie to date.

During the “Literally!” podcast recording, Robert Downey Jr.’s phone unexpectedly rang, leading Rob Lowe to humorously inquire, “Is that some Marvel stuff? Are you going to break some stories here?” The lighthearted moment hinted at the perpetual interest and speculation surrounding Marvel-related topics.

“Not just yet,” Downey Jr. replied, leaving the door open for future revelations or discussions about Marvel-related matters.

“You know what I say. That phone will ring, baby, and I want to be on that call. I want to be negotiating for you,” Lowe added to the conversation about Downey Jr.’s potential return to Marvel. “I know what your deal is. Here’s what you do. You go, ‘I’ll come back and I’ll play Tony Stark for you guys again since you fucked everything up. But I want a gazillion dollars. I know what that number should be, and I want first dollar gross of every ensuing movie. That’s what I would do.”

Downey Jr. laughed off Lowe’s suggestion and jokingly remarked, “That sounds quite hostile!” The exchange added a touch of humor to the speculation surrounding the actor’s possible return to Marvel.

Robert Downey Jr. Talks About His Post-Marvel Experience

Image via Marvel Studios

Following the conclusion of his Marvel journey, Robert Downey Jr. ventured into the $175 million family-oriented film, Dolittle. Unfortunately, the movie turned out to be an infamous box office flop upon its January 2020 release, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also garnered some of the harshest reviews of Downey Jr.’s career. He co-produced the film with his wife, Susan Downey, under their Team Downey Productions banner. Downey Jr. candidly acknowledged to Lowe that the movie “just didn’t work” and admitted that it humbled him a bit after his successful tenure in the Marvel universe.

“I felt so exposed after being in the cocoon of Marvel where I think I did some of the best work I will ever do, but it went a little bit unnoticed because of the genre,” Downey Jr. shared. He reflected on the challenges of transitioning from the superhero genre to other projects. “I did myself a favor because the rug was pulled so definitively out from underneath me, and all the things that I was leaning on as opposed to what my understanding of confidence and security was, boy did they evaporate. And it rendered me teachable.”

Currently engaged in the Oscar campaign for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, for which he won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, Downey Jr. is anticipated to receive an Oscar nomination for his performance. This marks a significant chapter in his career post-Marvel, showcasing his versatility as an actor beyond the superhero genre.

Featured Image Via Marvel Studios