Iron Man 3 might have enjoyed the second biggest opening weekend in US box office history, but with Robert Downey Jr.’s contract now expired, the status of a potential fourth film remains clouded in uncertainty.
Downey is currently thought to be in negotiations over a potential return, although whether that will be in another solo movie or simply another Avengers outing remains to be seen.
“I’d go start another one tomorrow,” said Downey of the Iron Man franchise, “but it’s not tomorrow. And there are a lot of other considerations. But I also don’t like the idea of leaving people hanging or leaving people in the lurch.”
This uncertainty seems at least partly borne out of a desire to do other things, understandable for a man who has been the foundation stone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for quite some time now.
“My intent is to launch another franchise," continued the star, "independent of any that I can even imagine right now. My intent is to dominate the playing field for as long as I can, with my own challenges, with myself.”
Meanwhile, Kevin Feige is confident that the character has a long future on the big screen, regardless of how these contract negotiations are resolved.
“I believe there will be a fourth Iron Man film and a fifth and a sixth and a 10th and a 20th,” says Feige. “I see no reason why Tony Stark can’t be as evergreen as James Bond. Or Batman for that matter. Or Spider-Man. I think Iron Man is a character just like that.”
