It seems that as long as Marvel keep making well-crafted films, Robert Downey Jr. will keep coming back to play Iron Man. The relationship between RDJ and the MCU has been very symbiotic for the past decade. The actor's presence and skills led to a pitch-perfect adaptation of Tony Stark and provided Marvel Studios with a star. But as Downey Jr.'s career was still on the rebound, the opportunity also allowed him to re-up his Hollywood clout and enter a new phase in his career.

Since the first Iron Man movie arrived in 2008, RDJ has maintained his spot on the A-List and reaped considerable benefits—and paychecks—from his various MCU appearances. Marvel, meanwhile, have been able to turn films like Captain America: Civil War into an Avengers-sized hit, thanks in part to Iron Man's inclusion. With Spider-Man: Homecoming, the hope has long been to do the same. Story-wise, Peter Parker is provided with a mentor both in his civilian and superhero guises. Fans, meanwhile, are still hoping to see RDJ return for a fourth Iron Man. And while there's no evidence that such a film is in the works, it's not out of the question.

Robert Downey Jr. spoke to Cinema Blend and other outfits at a press conference for Spider-Man: Homecoming and had this to say about his continued involvement with Marvel Studios:

"What happens to me is that things are presented to me that are really well thought out by folks that have been doing this correctly for a really long time, and I go like, 'Check.'"

While RDJ's statement doesn't guarantee that he'll be sticking around in the MCU past Avengers 4, it certainly leaves it open. Like Chris Evans, Hemsworth, and Pratt, RDJ owes a lot of his success to the MCU. It's also a credit to Kevin Feige and the other creatives that they continue to generate stories the actors are excited about. All in all, it seems that if Marvel presented a compelling idea to RDJ for an Iron Man sequel, he'd be on board—assuming the money was right.

Of course, we know not everyone will be making it out of Avengers: Infinity War alive. We also know Iron Man won't be back for Homecoming 2, though his presence and legacy will continue to be felt. Luckily, there's no reason why RDJ can't continue to work with Marvel.

Unlike other superhero actors, Downey, Jr.'s portrayal of Iron Man isn't exactly tied to age. While many actors will eventually get too old to play the physically fit and ageless heroes they pioneered, there's no reason Tony Stark can't continue using technology to assist him as a hero. Meanwhile, all RDJ really needs to be able to do is act in his civilian guise and do some green screen work for the interior of his suit. Add in the digital de-aging that's becoming more and more common, and the actor could keep playing Tony for years to come if the story and demand are there. For now, we'll get to enjoy RDJ very soon as Tony Stark in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

NEXT: Every Superhero Movie Arriving in 2018

Source: Cinema Blend

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