'Iron Man 4' Update: Robert Downey Jr. To Leave Franchise?
Fans of the "Iron Man" franchise are in for some bad news as several reports indicate that the main star, Robert Downey Jr., may no longer return for a fourth installment. According to a report by Master Herald, "Iron Man 4" is still to be confirmed.
But if it does get the green light, there's a possibility that Downey will not reprise his role as the billionaire and genius inventor Tony Stark. Downey has played the role since the first film in 2008 and has made a total of five appearances already in five released films. He will be playing the role as well in "Captain America: Civil War," which is scheduled to release this May. He may also be appearing in the upcoming two part film "Avengers: Infinity War," which is slated to hit theaters this 2018.
It's no wonder why Downey has become one of the highest paid actors in Hollywood for the last three years and it's partly because his role as Iron Man just never seems to end. But will the fourth film be his last? According to Youth Health, the actor is said to have grown "weary and tired" of the franchise already. It's also mentioned that Downey thinks he might be too old for the role by then.
Downey will be turning 51 this year so by the time they start shooting "Iron Man 4," which is expected be sometime in 2019, he will be 54 then. He wouldn't be as agile anymore as he was when he began shooting the franchise. With that, rumors about him being replaced by a younger actor and turning the film into a reboot are emerging.
There were reports saying that the franchise could begin the movie with a different story and different characters. But until Marvel makes an official announcement, fans will just have to wait for updates about the future of "Iron Man."
