There are just too many rumors going around about “Iron Man 4” on the internet even though Marvel Studios has yet to confirm whether there is going to be one or not.
As such, much of the speculation about the supposed fourth installment of the “Iron Man” film franchise are anchored on what actor Robert Downey Jr. has to say about his Tony Stark and Iron Man role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe during interviews.
What seems clear at this point is that assuming that an “Iron Man 4” movie is greenlit by Marvel Studios, the earliest it could come out is in 2020.
Marvel Studios has three mystery movies in 2020 – one to be shown in May, one in July and the third one in November. Given the history of the first three “Iron Man” movies and the “Avengers” film, where Iron Man appears to be the lead character as well, it seems very likely that “Iron Man 4” will take the May 2020 mystery movie, assuming the film is a go.
Assuming again that “Iron Man 4” is given the green light, speculations are rife in saying that it could officially become the last film of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark and Iron Man.
While the Iron Man character has brought back his career from the doldrums all the way to the top and catapulted him to the status of the highest paid actor in the world four times in the last five years, Robert Downey Jr. almost certainly knows that he has to give up the character eventually.
A matter of choice
It will just be a matter of choice for him towards the end as he shall be 55 years old by 2020. He may still be 54 during its filming but at 55, the actor already knows that he is already past his action prime since he is not an action star in the first place in the mold of Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In a recent interview, Robert Downey Jr. said that he is going to wear the Iron Man suit for as long as he can but it would just only be for a few years from now, notes Yibada.
Assuming that “Iron Man 4” is a go, critics believe that it will be the last for Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man and Tony Stark. However, if the movie is shelved, it is likely that “Avengers: Infinity War Part 2” to be released in 2019 will be the last Marvel Studios movie where Robert Downey Jr. shall wear the iron suit.
However, everything at this point with regards to “Iron Man 4” is mere speculation pending the confirmation from Marvel Studios so all information and reports should be taken with a fine grain of salt.
Will not be as successful
It can be recalled that Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark and Iron Man started the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the first “Iron Man” movie released in May 2008.
Since then, the actor has appeared in six of the 13 movies in three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe including “Iron Man” in 2008, “Iron Man 2” in May 2010, and “Marvel’s The Avengers” in May 2012 for Phase 1; “Iron Man 3” in May 2013 and “Avengers: Age of Ultron” in May 2015 for Phase 2; and the recently shown “Captain America: Civil War” to start Phase 3.
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark and Iron Man shall appear every year until 2019 beginning with “Spider-Man: Homecoming” next year, “Avengers: Infinity War Part 1” in 2018, and “Avengers: Infinity War Part 2” in 2019.
This means that the actor shall be appearing in nine of the total of 22 movies from Phase 1 to Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe ending with “Avengers: Infinity War Part 2” in May 2019.
There have been rumors saying that it is also possible that Robert Downey Jr. may finally decide to give up the role of Tony Stark and Iron Man to another actor because of his age.
Some of the names that have made the rumor mill include the young Ty Simpkins, who played Harley Keener in “Iron Man 3,” Leonardo DiCaprio, and lately Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff, also known as the Black Widow.
According to latest albeit absurd rumors, the Black Widow shall be donning the iron suit for “Iron Man 4.”
The speculation is based on events that happened in Marvel’s “Ultimates” line of comic books. In the comic books, Tony Stark made Natasha her very own Iron Man armor as a present when they were dating each other. But their relationship soured because Natasha turned out to be the traitor working against the Ultimates. In fact, it was Natasha who killed Tony’s beloved butler, Jarvis.
The move to make the Black Widow the new Iron Man will also allow Marvel Studios to fulfill its promise to give the character her own stand-alone film without having to take any kind of financial risk in the box-office, reports Game & Guide.