In an interview with Jodie Foster for Variety, Robert Downey Jr. revealed that being Tony Stark/Iron Man is “crazily” in his DNA, and he’s “surprisingly open-minded” about an MCU return.
Not only this time, together with his comments on Esquire, seem to suggest he might return as Iron Man, marking a significant shift from his “retirement” from superhero roles 5 years ago.
However, there are still many uncertainties behind this announcement, which cannot be predicted in the MCU’s future projects for sure.
Return Announcement Back-and-Forth Is Always A Thing
After the release of “Avengers: Endgame,” Robert Downey Jr. publicly expressed his intention to move away from Marvel movies.
Robert Downey Jr. won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in “Oppenheimer,” yet he is still defining his post-Marvel career.
Undoubtedly, Downey Jr.’s return could be influenced by the broader industry and the potential for continued commercial success.
Besides, Robert’s case is not the only “recall announcement” in superhero franchise movies.
Similar to Downey Jr., Hugh Jackman announced his retirement from his iconic role as Wolverine with the movie “Logan,” which was intended to be his final portrayal of the character.
Both actors’ decisions highlight how personal and professional factors, including audience expectations and the enduring popularity of the characters, can lead to reversals in their retirement announcements.
However, unlike Jackman, Robert is now engaged in his next 2 projects: HBO’s “The Sympathizer” and Shane Black’s “Play Dirty,” indicating he has no immediate desire to return to Marvel.
Yet, another crucial factor that could determine his future in the MCU is money.
Financial Aspect Could Be A Burden for His Iron Man Return
To provide some perspective, Robert Downey Jr.’s total MCU payout exceeds $340 million, including about $75 million each from “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame,” due to his back-end deal.
Even in “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” Robert earned himself $10 million for only four scenes, clearly indicating that his escalating costs might be too burdensome for Disney’s future projects.
Additionally, Marvel and Disney are transitioning to a new team of Avengers featuring newer, less expensive actors as part of a strategy to manage the soaring costs associated with the original cast.
The Russo Brothers also shared in an interview: “We closed that book (the original Avengers), so it would be up to them (Marvel & Disney) to figure out how to reopen it.”
However, given the ambitious scope of “Avengers: Secret War” and Phase 6, Marvel might bring Iron Man back to boost franchise appeal and reinvigorate the MCU.
In this scope, Robert might return as a different version of Tony Stark from another timeline, offering a fresh take without undermining his previous arc.
The forthcoming updates from both parties will ultimately determine whether Robert Downey Jr. returns as Iron Man.
What do you guys think? Do you expect Robert Downey Jr’s Return as our beloved Tony Stark/Iron Man? Share your thoughts!