Robert Downey Jr. Tells Ellen Yes, Letterman No, on an “Iron Man 4”
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ABC/Ida Mae Astute(LOS ANGELES) — While Robert Downey Jr. will appear as Iron Man in the upcoming Marvel film Avengers: Age of Ultron and its 2018 three-quel, it wasn’t clear whether or not he’d don his alter-ego Tony Stark’s fancy suits — both the business kind and the metal kind — for a fourth Iron Man standalone film.
Two different chat show interviews, however, saw two very different answers.
In a preview clip from his upcoming appearance on Thursday’s Ellen DeGeneres Show, the actor seemed to confirm that he will be back. “Will there be a fourth Iron Man?” Ellen asks the actor, whose new movie The Judge opens on Friday. “Uh, I know there’s gonna be a bunch more Marvel movies and they have big ideas of how to do it best,” he replied evasively. “And, y’know, we’re in the middle of negotiation…blah blah blah.” Ellen pressed: “So yes,” to which Downey admitted, “Okay…yes!”
“Okay, good!” said Ellen, to wild applause from the audience.
However, hours after that snippet made headlines, Downey taped Tuesday night’s installment of the Late Show with David Letterman, and was back to being evasive, until pressed by Letterman, who the comic hero dubbed his “stepfather” for Dave’s tough love when the once-troubled actor “didn’t really have it together.”
Circling back at the end of the interview, Letterman asked ultimately, “You’re not under oath, but let’s just pretend that you are…Are you going to make another one of those Iron Man deals?” The chat show host implied his “stepfather” status compelled clarity from the actor.
“Just between us: ah, No,” Downey answered affably, before revealing, “But I’m going to do other stuff with Marvel. I’m still going to be involved with Marvel and there’s going to plenty of fun stuff to happen.”
It’s not known whether Downey was referring to his Avengers sequels or other projects.
Iron Man 3, released in 2013, grossed an estimated $1.2 billion. Avengers: Age of Ultron hits theaters May 1, 2015.
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