Robert Downey Jr. has been playing coy with the idea of an Iron Man 4 lately and he continued recently telling Chicago TV (via CBM), “This new Avengers may well be the best Marvel movie, and by the way that’s saying a lot, because I thought Guardians of the Galaxy was great, and Iron Man 3 turned out great, and Cap 2 was awesome. And there’ll be some surprises in the next little while too.” Well, said surprises have just been announced as Variety reports Downey will join Chris Evans for Captain America 3. As for the plot:
The deal is significant for the Marvel cinematic universe considering the plot will pit Stark against Captain America’s alter-ego Steve Rogers, played by Chris Evans, as they feud over the Superhero Registration Act, which forces anyone with superhuman abilities to reveal their identities to the U.S. government and agree to act as a police force for the authorities.
Stark supports the program, but Rogers does not, saying it threatens civil liberties, causing sides to be taken and Rogers, among others, to go on the run to avoid arrest. The moral question and battle with his Avengers teammate essentially makes Stark a villain of sorts in Captain America 3, providing Downey with a meaty role he could play out into future Marvel films, including a fourth Avengers.
Apparently this is a plotline told through a “Civil War” series that Marvel just announced they will be rebooting in 2015.
What’s interesting about all of this, however, is that it almost didn’t happen. Originally the idea was for Stark to take a small part in Captain America 3, something that would require only a couple weeks work. Downey allegedly wanted a larger role, which, in turn, would result in a larger pay day and this apparently angered Marvel Chief Isaac Perlmutter, who then asked for Stark to be written out of the sequel entirely.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and Downey’s reps continued to work hard to put the thing together, Feige stressing his vision for extending the life of the Marvel characters over many years, considering the introduction of the Civil War story is seen as a way to drive the plots of sequels and new franchises for the next seven years.
As far as I can tell, this is all about keeping Iron Man in the loop. Downey, as I see it, is the lynchpin to Marvel’s success so far, though Captain America 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy definitely help show a changing trend wherein Marvel rules the blockbuster world.
Downey is in final negotiations to reprise Stark in Cap 3 with production slated to beginin the Spring for a May 6, 2016. He’ll next reprise his role as Tony Stark in Avengers: Age of Ultron on May 1 and speaking of Avengers 4, Badass Digest is reporting a rumor that Joe and Anthony Russo, directors of Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America 3, may take over for Joss Whedon and direct Avengers 3 and 4.
