Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man inAvengers: Infinity War(2018).Photo:Marvel/Disney/Kobal/ShutterstockWill we see more ofRobert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man in the future? Maybe — but it’s all in Marvel Studios PresidentKevin Feige’s hands.“I always say, Never, ever bet against Kevin Feige,” Downey, 59, said in a cover interview for the April/May issue ofEsquire. “It is a losing bet. He’s the house. He will always win.“The newly mintedOscarwinner starred in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first film, 2008’sIron Man, and reprised the billionaire playboy/philanthropist/tech-genius/superhero Tony Stark in nine more movies, ending with the character’s death inAvengers: Endgame(2019).Asked whether he’d return to the MCU as Tony/Iron Man — who, as fans know, sacrifices himself to save the world from supervillain Thanos (Josh Brolin) inEndgame— Downey said, “Happily. It’s too integral a part of my DNA. That role chose me.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Robert Downey Jr. for the April/May 2024 issue ofEsquire.Norman Jean RoyEarlier this year, Downey chatted withRob Lowefor the latter’sLiterally!podcast, where he opened up about how despite thinking he “did some of the best work I will ever do,” in the MCU, “it went a little bit unnoticed because of the genre.“Specifically talking about why his badly reviewed 2020 filmDolittle"didn’t work,” theOppenheimeractor went on to say he “did myself a favor” withDolittle.As Downey explained, that “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.““And the crazy thing is they say when the student is ready, the[Christopher] Nolanwill come,” he added of hisOppenheimerdirector, 53. “I mean, the teacher will come. And that’s what happened.“In a January interview withW Magazinefor its Best Performances issue, Downey said there have been only “three times” during his career “where I became completely obsessed with the prep and/or the possibility of playing a role” — one of those three being Tony Stark.Robert Downey Jr. on the April/May 2024 cover ofEsquire.Norman Jean RoyDespite his appreciation for and dedication to the character, Feige, 50, said in December 2023 thatDowney’s chapter as Iron Man is remaining closed.“We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again,” he toldVanity Fairwhen asked if Downey would return to the role in the MCU.“We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way,” Feige added.Regardless of whether he will ever revisit Tony Stark, Downey is celebrating a huge career achievement afternabbing his first-ever Oscarin March, in the Best Supporting Actor category, for his performance as Lewis Strauss inOppenheimer.And he’s nowhere near the finish line. “I got a couple othertricks up my sleeve,” Downey quipped to PEOPLE following his big win.
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man inAvengers: Infinity War(2018).Photo:Marvel/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock
Marvel/Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock
Will we see more ofRobert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man in the future? Maybe — but it’s all in Marvel Studios PresidentKevin Feige’s hands.“I always say, Never, ever bet against Kevin Feige,” Downey, 59, said in a cover interview for the April/May issue ofEsquire. “It is a losing bet. He’s the house. He will always win.“The newly mintedOscarwinner starred in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first film, 2008’sIron Man, and reprised the billionaire playboy/philanthropist/tech-genius/superhero Tony Stark in nine more movies, ending with the character’s death inAvengers: Endgame(2019).Asked whether he’d return to the MCU as Tony/Iron Man — who, as fans know, sacrifices himself to save the world from supervillain Thanos (Josh Brolin) inEndgame— Downey said, “Happily. It’s too integral a part of my DNA. That role chose me.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.Robert Downey Jr. for the April/May 2024 issue ofEsquire.Norman Jean RoyEarlier this year, Downey chatted withRob Lowefor the latter’sLiterally!podcast, where he opened up about how despite thinking he “did some of the best work I will ever do,” in the MCU, “it went a little bit unnoticed because of the genre.“Specifically talking about why his badly reviewed 2020 filmDolittle"didn’t work,” theOppenheimeractor went on to say he “did myself a favor” withDolittle.As Downey explained, that “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.““And the crazy thing is they say when the student is ready, the[Christopher] Nolanwill come,” he added of hisOppenheimerdirector, 53. “I mean, the teacher will come. And that’s what happened.“In a January interview withW Magazinefor its Best Performances issue, Downey said there have been only “three times” during his career “where I became completely obsessed with the prep and/or the possibility of playing a role” — one of those three being Tony Stark.Robert Downey Jr. on the April/May 2024 cover ofEsquire.Norman Jean RoyDespite his appreciation for and dedication to the character, Feige, 50, said in December 2023 thatDowney’s chapter as Iron Man is remaining closed.“We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again,” he toldVanity Fairwhen asked if Downey would return to the role in the MCU.“We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way,” Feige added.Regardless of whether he will ever revisit Tony Stark, Downey is celebrating a huge career achievement afternabbing his first-ever Oscarin March, in the Best Supporting Actor category, for his performance as Lewis Strauss inOppenheimer.And he’s nowhere near the finish line. “I got a couple othertricks up my sleeve,” Downey quipped to PEOPLE following his big win.
Will we see more ofRobert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man in the future? Maybe — but it’s all in Marvel Studios PresidentKevin Feige’s hands.
“I always say, Never, ever bet against Kevin Feige,” Downey, 59, said in a cover interview for the April/May issue ofEsquire. “It is a losing bet. He’s the house. He will always win.”
The newly mintedOscarwinner starred in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first film, 2008’sIron Man, and reprised the billionaire playboy/philanthropist/tech-genius/superhero Tony Stark in nine more movies, ending with the character’s death inAvengers: Endgame(2019).
Asked whether he’d return to the MCU as Tony/Iron Man — who, as fans know, sacrifices himself to save the world from supervillain Thanos (Josh Brolin) inEndgame— Downey said, “Happily. It’s too integral a part of my DNA. That role chose me.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.
Robert Downey Jr. for the April/May 2024 issue ofEsquire.Norman Jean Roy
Norman Jean Roy
Earlier this year, Downey chatted withRob Lowefor the latter’sLiterally!podcast, where he opened up about how despite thinking he “did some of the best work I will ever do,” in the MCU, “it went a little bit unnoticed because of the genre.”
Specifically talking about why his badly reviewed 2020 filmDolittle"didn’t work,” theOppenheimeractor went on to say he “did myself a favor” withDolittle.
As Downey explained, that “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.”
“And the crazy thing is they say when the student is ready, the[Christopher] Nolanwill come,” he added of hisOppenheimerdirector, 53. “I mean, the teacher will come. And that’s what happened.”
In a January interview withW Magazinefor its Best Performances issue, Downey said there have been only “three times” during his career “where I became completely obsessed with the prep and/or the possibility of playing a role” — one of those three being Tony Stark.
Robert Downey Jr. on the April/May 2024 cover ofEsquire.Norman Jean Roy
Despite his appreciation for and dedication to the character, Feige, 50, said in December 2023 thatDowney’s chapter as Iron Man is remaining closed.
“We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again,” he toldVanity Fairwhen asked if Downey would return to the role in the MCU.
“We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way,” Feige added.
Regardless of whether he will ever revisit Tony Stark, Downey is celebrating a huge career achievement afternabbing his first-ever Oscarin March, in the Best Supporting Actor category, for his performance as Lewis Strauss inOppenheimer.
And he’s nowhere near the finish line. “I got a couple othertricks up my sleeve,” Downey quipped to PEOPLE following his big win.
source: people.com
