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Robert Downey Jr. wants to quit Iron Man role “before it’s embarrassing”

July 3, 2017 by Gary Collinson

This week sees Robert Downey Jr. making his eight appearance as Tony Stark (if you include his cameo in The Incredible Hulk) as the star dons the Iron Man armor once again for Marvel and Sony’s Spider-Man: Homecoming.

We know we’ll be getting at least two more outings from Tony Stark in Avengers: Infinity War and its as-yet-untitled sequel, but with Kevin Feige suggesting that the two-part superhero epic will mark the “final chapter” for certain Marvel heroes, Downey has now suggested that the end may be in sight as he wants to call it a day “before it’s embarrassing”.

“Everyone says to me it’s like a glove that fits so well,” said Downey in an interview with News Corp Australian Network. “I have to start over every time but I am starting over with a pretty solid base. I just never want to blow it for the last six or seven [Marvel movies] I have done by dropping the ball because I decided to go do it one more time. I just want to hang up my jersey before it’s embarrassing.”

Downey also went on to explain what drew him to Homecoming, stating that: “It’s this cyclical thing. I could have said when the first Avengers came out: ‘It’s never going to get any better than that. Everybody stop.’ But to me it’s always about people and opportunities, like the Russos, who I adore. [On Spider-Man: Homecoming] I felt like we were literally back in the writer’s room on the first Iron Man. So there was a real sense of a homecoming toward this — not experimental, because there is so much more data now and the process is so much more streamlined — but I didn’t feel like I was being asked to just fit in somewhere. They wanted us to bring our own little thing.”

SEE ALSO: Robert Downey Jr. explains why Tom Holland is a perfect Spider-Man

Would you like to see Robert Downey Jr. extending his time in the MCU before the Infinity War movies? Or is it almost time for him to hang up the armor? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.

Spider-Man: Homecoming sees Tom Holland and Marisa Tomei reprising their roles from Captain America: Civil War as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Aunt May, alongside Marvel veterans Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan, Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts and Chris Evans as Captain America. New additions to the cast include Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Donald Glover, Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Bokeem Woodbine, Tyne Daly, Michael Barbieri, Abraham Attah, Hannibal Buress, Kenneth Choi, Angourie Rice, Michael Chernus, Michael Mando, Logan Marshall-Green and Jennifer Connelly.

Originally published July 3, 2017. Updated November 30, 2022.

Filed Under: Gary Collinson, Movies, News Tagged With: Iron Man, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Robert Downey Jr., Spider-Man: Homecoming

About Gary Collinson

Gary Collinson is Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Flickering Myth. He is a film, television and digital content writer and producer, whose work includes the gothic horror feature The Baby in the Basket and the suspense thriller Death Among the Pines. He is also the author of Holy Franchise, Batman! Bringing the Caped Crusader to the Screen.

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