In some news that will please many Marvel fans (and Joss Whedon, who feared he may have to do re-write), Marvel has confirmed that Robert Downey Jr. will return as Tony Stark/Iron Man in 2015’s The Avengers 2 and its sequel The Avengers 3.
The statement reads:
“I am Iron Man.”
Tony Stark’s famous closing line to the very first Iron Man film takes on new life today as Marvel is pleased to announce the signing of Robert Downey, Jr. to reprise the role of the “billionaire, genius, playboy, philanthropist.”
Under the two-picture agreement, Downey will star as Tony Stark/Iron Man in “Marvel’s The Avengers 2” and “Marvel’s The Avengers 3.” Downey is represented at CAA by Bryan Lourd, Jim Toth and Matt Leaf and by his attorneys Tom Hansen and Stewart Brookman of the firm Hansen Jacobson.
Downey, Jr.’s last two Marvel films, 2012’s “Marvel’s The Avengers” and this year’s “Iron Man 3,” rank as two of the top five grossing films of all time, collectively earning over $2.7 billion worldwide to date.
“Marvel’s The Avengers 2” is being written and directed by Joss Whedon. Featuring favorites from the first Avengers film and new Marvel characters never before seen on the big screen, “Marvel’s The Avengers 2” is slated to begin production in March 2014 and open in theaters May 1, 2015.
So, with this announcement, it seems clear that Iron Man 4 is off the cards for Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What do we think folks? Are we happy to see Robert Downey Jr. suiting up again as Ol’ Shell Head?
Originally published June 20, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
