Robert Downey Jr. Will Not Return to MCU Iron Man Role
By Movieguide® Contributor
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed that Robert Downey Jr. and his iconic Iron Man character will not return to the MCU.
In a profile on Downey from Vanity Fair, Feige said, “We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again. We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.”
Downey Jr. last appeared in 2019’s AVENGERS: ENDGAME, where his character sacrificed himself to save the universe.
Although fans hoped Tony Stark would somehow return, the actor decided to hang up the suit.
ENDGAME director Joe Russo explained, “We’d already said tearful goodbyes on the last day of shooting. Everybody had moved on emotionally. We promised him it would be the last time we made him do it—ever.”
Anthony Russo, the movie’s co-director, added that it was “difficult” for Downey Jr. to say his final line as the superhero.
“When he did come back, we were shooting on a stage directly opposite where he auditioned for Tony Stark. So his last line as Tony Stark was shot literally a couple hundred feet from his original audition that got him the role,” Anthony explained.
While Downey Jr. as Iron Man is synonymous with the MCU, Feige explained that it took persistence to land the actor the job.
“It purely came down to the Marvel board being nervous at putting all of their chips in their future films on somebody who famously had those legal troubles in the past,” Feige expressed. “I wasn’t very good — and I’m still not great — at taking no for an answer. But I also don’t pound my chest to try to get my way. I try to figure out ways to make it as clear to other people why we should head in a direction. And that’s when the idea of a screen test came up.”
Downey Jr. secured the role of Tony Stark and starred in 10 movies for the MCU.
Movieguide® previously reported on what AVENGERS co-star Chris Evans thinks about reprising his role as Captain America:
While rumors continue to circulate about the original Avengers getting back together, Chris Evans revealed that he has yet to hear any real news of a reunion.
“You know, I always see those reports too, and it’s news to me,” Evans told THE VIEW. “I think every couple months someone says that they’re getting [Robert] Downey [Jr.] and [Chris] Hemsworth and Scarlett [Johansson], and everyone’s coming back! No one’s spoken to me about it.”
2019’s AVENGERS: ENDGAME wrapped up the stories of most of the original team. Johansson’s Black Widow and Downey Jr.’s Iron Man died, potentially making a return difficult.
Evan’s character – Steve Rogers/Captain America – received a happy ending, returning to his own era to live the life with Peggy Carter he longed for throughout the series. While he would “never say never” to a return to the role, it would take something particularly special to bring him back.
- Content: +1Share:
- Content: +4