Robert Downey Jr steels himself for fourth Iron Man

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/oct/08/robert-downey-jnr-steels-himself-for-fourth-iron-man

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Robert Downey Jr has confirmed he is in negotiations for a fourth Iron Man film, effectively ending speculation that the 49-year-old actor might be stepping down from the role that made him a Hollywood superstar.

The Oscar-nominee broke the news in an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, having previously hinted there were doubts about another outing as the Marvel Studios power-suited superhero after next year’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Asked by DeGeneres if there would be another Iron Man film, the actor replied: “I know there’s going to be a bunch more Marvel movies, and they have big ideas of how to do it best, and we’re in the middle of negotiations.”

His interviewer then interjected: “So, yes,” with Downey Jr swiftly confirming: “OK, yes. Yes.”

The actor had recently said that there were doubts over whether he would return to star in a fourth Iron Man movie, even though the superhero saga has helped to make him the highest-paid actor in the world. Last year’s Iron Man 3 took more than $1.2bn (£747m) at the global box office en route to becoming one of the five highest-grossing films in history (it has since been overtaken by Frozen). “There isn’t one in the pipe,” he told Variety last month. “No, there’s no plan for a fourth Iron Man.”

However, Downey Jr appeared to be wavering over a return as Tony Stark/Iron Man in an interview with Deadline last week, joking that he would sign up for a fourth solo outing – The Avengers movies are ensemble affairs with Iron Man joining The Hulk, Thor and Captain America to defend the Earth – if his friend Mel Gibson were to be given the director’s chair.