Robert Downey Jr. Says 'No Plans' for IRON MAN 4

When you think of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you can’t help but think of Tony Stark and his Shellhead alter ego. Jon Favreau’s IRON MAN kicked off the MCU concept back in 2008, with Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man going on to become the poster boy of the Avengers team. Fast forward a few years down the line and Shane Black’s IRON MAN 3 would go on to take home a whopping $1.2 billion across the globe; a chunk of change that even Tony Stark himself would be impressed with. And so here we are, wondering if Downey Jr. will return for a fourth IRON MAN movie. It appears, for now at least, that that will not be the case.

When recently asked by Variety on whether IRON MAN 4 is now on the table, RDJ responded, “There isn’t one in the pipe. No, there’s no plans for a fourth IRON MAN.”

Simple, to the point, but of course those plans could change. Downey Jr. has done an impressive job on Marvel Studios and Disney. Whilst the initial payday for the initial few Iron Man appearances were relatively small in the world of Hollywood, Downey Jr. made the cinematic Tony Stark an extension of himself. So much of RDJ is in Stark that Marvel Studios would find it near-impossible to replace the actor with somebody else at this stage of the game. That means that RDJ has some pretty heavy bargaining chips on his side, such as how he was firmly in control of his deal when Marvel wanted him to sign on for more movies once his initial contract came to an end after IRON MAN 3. As such, the actor will be taking home a hefty wedge for his upcoming appearances in AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON and THE AVENGERS 3.

Whether Downey Jr. returns for any further IRON MAN movies remains to be seen. Marvel and Disney apparently have their movie slate booked up right until 2020, meaning that if there is no current plan for a fourth IRON MAN then maybe you’d have to be looking at 2020 and beyond. At 49 years of age already, RDJ is no spring chicken. Still, you’d have to believe that if Downey Jr. wanted IRON MAN 4 then Marvel and Disney would switch their plans around to accommodate the movie. In a world run by numbers, they couldn’t ignore the ridiculous IRON MAN 3 box office.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark can be seen next in AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, set for an April 24th UK release.

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