Robert Downey Jr. Is “Surprisingly Open-Minded To The Idea” Of Returning As Tony Stark/Iron Man

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Robert Downey Jr. is the biggest star of the most commercially successful movie franchise of all-time. His breakout role as Tony Stark and the titular superhero in 2008's Iron Man launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite totally sticking the landing in Avengers: Endgame and effectively bowing out from the character that launched his career and many others into a whole different stratosphere, Downey might not be done just yet. Fresh off a critically acclaimed Max miniseries, The Sympathizer, and an Oscar-winning turn in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, the legend known as RDJ is floating the idea of returning as Iron Man sometime down the road. In a conversation with Jodie Foster on Variety's "Actors on Actors" series, Foster teed up the tantalizing question, and Downey delivered a most compelling response:

"I've said this before, it's just like it's crazily in my DNA. Probably the most like-me character, strangely, that I've ever played — even though he's way cooler than I am. And again, speaking of renaissance and coming full circle, I've become surprisingly open minded to the idea."

https://twitter.com/Variety/status/1797652713087627437 Downey really is born to play Tony Stark. The self-described genius billionaire playboy philanthropist went on an epic journey across myriad smash-hit movies, transforming from a conscience-free arms dealer to the literal savior of the universe. Hard to top that, right? Speculation has swirled about Downey suiting up as Iron Man again ever since Marvel launched its Multiverse Saga. It's fully possible that he could pop up again as an alternate-universe variant, or hell, if he pulled a "somehow Palpatine returned" on us and came back via some means of magic or time travel shenanigans, I doubt there would be a lot of complaints. Any excuse to see Downey continue as Iron Man is good enough for me — but it really needs to be a worthy story. Avengers: Endgame gave Downey the perfect sendoff. Kevin Feige's big-picture vision for the MCU includes another Avengers flick inspired by the comic books' Secret Wars mass crossover event. In that story, all of Earth's mightiest heroes and villains from all different corners of the multiverse come together for what is essentially one big WWE SmackDown match on a planet called Battleworld. Anyone from Hugh Jackman's OG Wolverine to Tom Hardy's Venom to Downey's iconic Iron Man to Chris Evans' Captain America could very well show up in the eventual Secret Wars blockbuster. Not to mention, we have the whole Spider-Verse to consider! Madame Web, anyone? Just kidding. Do you want to see RDJ make an Iron Man comeback? I believe, unlike Thanos in Endgame, Downey's return will indeed be inevitable once Secret Wars rolls around. He could ask for the moon. Marvel would give it to him, and deservedly so. What better way for the MCU to really get back on track than for Downey to roar back — with an Oscar in tow to boot? If nothing else, at least he's clearly leaving the door ajar on the possibility. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNAgFhh1ji4