One of the most heartbreaking and divisive moments in Marvel occurred when Robert Downey Jr. exited the franchise after Avengers: Endgame (2019). Something that could have just as easily been depicted as retirement was put to a definitive end with the character’s death as Iron Man. The end not only marked RDJ’s exit from the CBM studio but the closure of the storyline with no capacity for his return.
Even though fans have debated the possibility within a now-prevalent multiversal universe and time travel, Marvel’s godfather has pretty much said his final goodbyes and put up his Iron Man suit for good.
Also read: Robert Downey Jr. Misses Being a Part of the MCU and Lists 4 Reasons Why
Robert Downey Jr. Elaborates the Reason Behind His Exit
In Disney’s D23 Magazine, Robert Downey Jr. in the post-Endgame era declared the reason behind electing to take such a marked and irreversible step in his character’s arc. The actor, mentioning Chris Evans, too, declared,
“We had to get off. We opted to, and knew it was part of the job to get off the bus while it rolled on to other destinations. There’s something very sobering about it. I’m glad he and I will be there to welcome others as they retire their jerseys.”
But when it came to elucidating the irrefutable and indelible mark that he left behind as Marvel’s first leading man and the one who began it all, Robert Downey Jr. falls short of some self-appreciation and claims of his fellow veteran Marvel contemporaries:
“I really don’t need to look any farther than my co-stars. Mark Ruffalo is an activist, Chris Evans is a die hard American and proponent of true democracy. I don’t really have the gumption, the skill set, the drive, or the humility either of those guys do.”
As of the post-Endgame era, when it comes to the original Marvel six, only Mark Ruffalo‘s Hulk, Chris Hemsworth‘s Thor, and Jeremy Renner‘s Hawkeye remain as part of the original Avenger team.
Robert Downey Jr.’s Upcoming Hollywood Projects
Even though the actor’s run at Marvel is over, Robert Downey Jr. is far from done with Hollywood. The actor is currently involved with legendary director Park Chan-wook (Old Boy) for an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen’s novel, The Sympathizer. RDJ’s long-awaited threequel to his Sherlock Holmes franchise is yet to materialize, however, the movie is currently reported to be in development.
Robert Downey Jr. is also set to appear in the star-studded Christopher Nolan film, Oppenheimer that releases The Zodiac actor has also released a poignant documentary film on the late Hollywood filmmaker and his father, Robert Downey Sr. on Netflix subtly titled, Sr. The movie was received with widespread acclaim and has garnered a rating of 98% on the film critic website, Rotten Tomatoes.
Avengers: Endgame is now available for streaming on Disney+.
Source: Looper
