Robert Downey Jr. Discusses How Long He Plans To Stay In The MCU

The star who helped birth the Marvel Cinematic Universe is putting some thought into when and how he wants to make his exit.

Robert Downey Jr. is playing the role of Tony Stark, the Avenger known as Iron Man, for the seventh time in Spider-Man: Homecoming, but Downey says he won’t be playing Iron Man forever.

“It’s this cyclical thing,” Downey tells News.com.au. “I could have said when the first Avengers came out: ‘It’s never going to get any better than that. Everybody stop’. But to me it’s always about people and opportunities, like the (Avengers directors Anthony and Joe) Russos, who I adore.”

Downey seems to most fans to have been born to play Tony Stark, but Downey says that its always a lot of work and effort and he doesn’t want to grow complacent.

“Everyone says to me it’s like a glove that fits so well,” he says. “I have to start over every time but I am starting over with a pretty solid base. I just never want to blow it for the last six or seven (MCU movies) I have done by dropping the ball because I decided to go do it one more time. I just want to hang up my jersey before it’s embarrassing.”

Downey seems to be playing by the old showbiz adage “always leave them wanting more,” but will Marvel fans ever grow tired of Downey as Tony Stark? Time will tell.

Spider-Man: Homecoming currently has a 4.14 out of 5 ComicBook.com User Anticipation Rating. Let us know how excited you are about Spider-Man: Homecoming by giving the movie your own personal ComicBook.com User Anticipation Rating below.

In Spider-Man: Homecoming, thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, young Peter Parker returns home to live with his Aunt May. Under the watchful eye of mentor Tony Stark, Parker starts to embrace his newfound identity as Spider-Man. He also tries to return to his normal daily routine — distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just a friendly neighborhood superhero. Peter must soon put his powers to the test when the evil Vulture emerges to threaten everything that he holds dear.

Spider-Man: Homecoming is directed by Jon Watts, from a screenplay by Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, Watts and Christopher Ford, and Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. Spider-Man: Homecoming stars Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Jon Favreau, Donald Glover, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Laura Harrier, Tyne Daly, Marisa Tomei, and Robert Downey Jr.

Spider-Man: Homecoming opens in theaters on July 7, 2017.

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