Robert Downey Jr. Won’t Quit MCU Until It’s in “Good Shape”
The upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming might mark the beginning of the end of Iron Man’s time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But, don’t freak out just yet. Actor Robert Downey Jr. has said that he only wants to hang up his suit of Iron Man armor when the franchise is in great shape.
In an interview that aired on July 5 on Good Morning America, Downey Jr. spoke about his enthusiasm for Spider-Man: Homecoming and the potential for when he might retire as Iron Man.
“It’s like with a team if you’re going to hang up your jersey,” Downey Jr. said, “you want to make sure the team is in good shape and they can still compete at a high level,because ultimately that’s what made the whole thing worth doing anyways.”
The MCU is already estimated to have grossed over $10 billion at the box office, so it’s safe to say emerging heroes like Spider-Man are already competing at a high level. With at least eight more confirmed films in the MCU pipeline, the franchise’s success is only expected to grow.
Tony Stark and Peter Parker in 'Spider-Man: Homecoming.'
In many ways, Spider-Man: Homecoming is slated to function as a passing of the torch as Tony Stark continues to mentor Peter Parker. Iron Man, who kicked off the MCU back in 2008, recruited Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in Captain America: Civil War. Spidey’s role in the MCU seems like it’ll get bigger and bigger.
Downey Jr. explained that in Civil War, “Peter Parker proves himself a worthy addition to the team, provided you got some training wheels on him.” That’s where Parker’s at in Homecoming, trying to be a hero under Tony Stark’s “training wheels.”
“I just keep thinking it’s about when your 16-year-old says, ‘Well I have a license now I can drive,’ and you want to put a tracker in their car and you want to be able to deactivate it,” Downey Jr. said. Homecoming will depict Peter Parker earning the right to be called a superhero.
If Spider-Man prove himself when Spider-Man: Homecoming releases on July 7, then maybe Robert Downey Jr. might just “hang up” that Tony Stark “jersey” by the end of the untitled Avengers 4 movie.
