Despite an ongoing campaign by fans to bring Iron Man back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Robert Downey Jr. seems to be dead set on moving on from his iconic character and giving other opportunities beyond the MCU a shot. While his first post-MCU film, Dr. Dolittle, failed to impress at the box office, the veteran actor assures fans that there are more exciting projects in store for him in the near future.
In a recent interview with Daniel Roth from LinkedIn, Downey Jr. hinted at "big and fun things coming up" in his schedule, adding that he will be more involved in the decisions that affect his career and its trajectory. It appears that the pandemic has motivated him to be more of a go-getter moving forward. Instead of just laying around in his trailer and waiting for things to happen, Downey Jr. said he will be "on Zooms, and making connections, and doing dinners after work, and calling overseas" to really go after the projects he'd like to be a part of.
"I'm still going to make movies," Downey Jr. told Roth, confirming his plans to continue building his legacy. While the pandemic has convinced many people to re-evaluate their lives and switch gears in pursuit of new goals, Downey Jr. is adamant about sticking to what he knows best: acting and producing. According to his IMDb page, he has several projects in the pipeline, including some film and television titles on which he plans to serve as producer. One of those titles is Netflix's Sweet Tooth, which is currently making waves among viewers.
According to reports, his decision to expand his horizons beyond the MCU was partly influenced by his Iron Man co-star Gwyneth Paltrow, who has, in recent years, been exploring different career avenues. The success of her lifestyle brand Goop helped Downey Jr. realize that there is more to life beyond the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Of course, film and television is still on his radar, with a streaming project that will bring Downey Jr. together with Arrowverse boss Greg Berlanti reportedly in the pipeline.
After his 11-year run at Marvel made him a highly sought-after name in crossover industries, Downey Jr. is ready to venture into new territories himself. While it's disappointing that he will no longer be part of the MCU, especially since he was the one who was there at the very start of it all, at least he won't be stepping away from the camera completely. It may be the end of an era, but it is also the start of a new chapter for Downey Jr., and that's something we can all get excited about.
Iron Man is now available on Disney Plus.
Source: LinkedIn (via CinemaBlend)