After over a decade of portraying Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Robert Downey Jr. will not be returning to the role, according to Marvel Studios president, Kevin Feige.
In a recent Vanity Fair cover story on the beloved actor, Feige addressed the possibility of bringing back Iron Man after his character’s emotional demise in “Avengers: Endgame.”
“There are no plans to resurrect Iron Man in any way,” Feige stated. He went on to explain that the decision not to bring back Iron Man was a result of wanting to honor the character’s final moments as Stark sacrificed himself to save the universe.
“We all worked hard to get to that moment and we would never want to undo it,” Feige said.
Downey Jr. made his Marvel debut as Iron Man in 2008’s “Iron Man,” a role that almost didn’t happen due to his previous legal troubles. In April 1996, the actor was arrested for possession of heroin, cocaine, and an unloaded gun.
Feige recalled how the Marvel board was initially hesitant about casting Downey Jr. due to his past, but he was determined to have the actor take on the iconic role. He convinced the board to have a screen test with Downey Jr., ultimately convincing them that he was the right choice.
Kevin Feige says they will not resurrect Iron Man — “We are going to keep that moment & not touch that moment again.”
“We all worked very hard for many years to get to that. We would never want to magically undo it in any way.”
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— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) December 3, 2023
“I wasn’t very good at taking no for an answer,” Feige admitted. “But I also don’t pound my chest to get my way. I try to figure out ways to persuade others to head in a certain direction.”
According to Feige, Downey Jr. was not only a fantastic actor but also a supportive and encouraging colleague. He took his younger co-stars under his wing and became a mentor to them.
“We used to joke and say that Robert was the head of the acting department because everyone looked up to him,” Feige shared. “He took them all under his wing, not in a subservient sense, but as their cheerleader.”
Even before Feige’s recent comments, former Marvel Studios president David Maisel claimed that he played a significant role in convincing the board to cast Downey Jr. as the titular superhero. Maisel revealed that the board had initially considered casting Timothy Olyphant for the role, but ultimately trusted Maisel’s belief in Downey Jr.
Feige also expressed his gratitude towards Downey Jr. for his contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, stating that the actor helped shape the entire franchise and its success.
Fans of the franchise may be disappointed to hear that Downey Jr. will not be returning as Iron Man, but they can still catch him in previous Marvel films. Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Iron Man is undoubtedly iconic and will be remembered for years to come.
