There's no denying that Robert Downey Jr. is one of the primary reasons that Marvel got a big boost as far as their films are concerned, but it was Marvel's choices in filmmakers and actors that have kept the momentum going in a big way. Downey Jr. is more than aware of this fact, and it's actually one of the big reasons that he's willing to share the load as far as CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR is concerned. Tony Stark's character has changed over the course of the films he's been featured in, and his arc is far from complete. You can check out the entire interview Empire did with Robert Downey Jr. here, but I've included some of his input regarding the progression to CIVIL WAR below.
Robert Downey Jr. on why he's willing to do CIVIL WAR:
I’m crazy about Evans. I really am. I don’t know why or how to explain this particular kinship we have. By the way, he hasn’t called me in six months. It was the Russos and Chris who, I think, really hit the line drive and won the series. I remember glancing through [the script treatment for CIVIL WAR] going, “Wow, that’s a different way to go”. They said, “If we have you, we can do this or Cap 3 has to be something else”. It’s nice to feel needed.
On why he's not hanging up his gear just yet:
At this point it ceases about being about announcements of contracts and deal points and Forbes and all that. And to see Chadwick being announced for Black Panther, I go, ‘Wow, man, Marvel is making all the right moves and they’re not doing it because it’s PC, they’re doing it because it’s exciting’. So why would I be the one to go, ‘I’m not going on the road. I don’t get along with the keyboardist’. Who cares?
Regarding how Tony Stark could become the antagonist of CIVIL WAR:
The main thing to me is, and this is where I think the Russos are quite brilliant and where Kevin backed the play, is what sort of incident could occur and what sort of framework could we find Tony in? The clues are in ULTRON about where we might find him next. But what would it take for Tony to completely turn around everything he’s stood for, quote-unquote, because he was the right-wing guy who could still do his own thing. When the first Iron Man came out the liberals and conservatives were both like, ‘You’re our guy’. Yes! Score! But the idea of Tony being able to march into Washington and say, ‘I’ll sign up’, wouldn’t have made sense if the political climate in the real world hadn’t shifted the way it has. You have to figure, ‘Were you to ask the question, what would the American government do if this were real? Wouldn’t it be interesting to see Tony doing something you wouldn’t imagine?’
Downey Jr./Iron Man is one of the most charismatic super heroes of all time and while it's not a done deal yet, CIVIL WAR will provide audiences with one ridiculously compelling story. More so than anything else we've seen thus far, especially with the inclusion of Spider-Man. The Russo's have proved they can mix political intrigue and fantastic action, and CIVIL WAR will tell us whether or not that was a fluke. The fact that Robert Downey Jr. is on board and excited with the story and direction is all I need to guarantee my ass is in a theater seat on opening day. It almost makes you wonder how the third Avengers flick could even compare!
CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR is set to hit theaters May 6, 2016.