Robert Downey Jr. Reflects on 17 Years as Iron Man: “A Message I’ll Carry Forever”

Robert Downey Jr. is most notably known to MCU fans for his portrayal of Iron Man. He held the role for over a decade, with his on-screen journey culminating in Endgame, where Tony Stark heroically sacrificed himself to save the world from Thanos and his genocidal plan.

Fans continue to look back fondly on Downey’s MCU legacy, and even Kevin Feige has repeatedly stated that Tony Stark’s death and its emotional impact will not be undone.

However, at last summer’s SDCC, it was revealed that RDJ would be returning to the MCU—this time as one of Marvel’s most iconic villains, Doctor Doom. While details about his role remain scarce, the Russo Brothers recently shared that Downey is fully immersed in character study, working on costume design, and refining how he wants to portray the legendary villain.

This news has disappointed many fans, as it raises unavoidable implications—most notably, the concern that Doom may end up being an evil variant of Iron Man. There’s also the lingering question of how the MCU will address why Earth-616’s Iron Man and Doom from whichever reality he hails from look identical.

Downey recently made an appearance during SXSW 2025. The actor took the opportunity to address his time as Tony Stark in the MCU. He reflected on his 17-year journey as Iron Man, expressing gratitude for the character’s lasting impact. He emphasized that beyond being an iconic superhero, Tony Stark opened his eyes to the power of technology for good—something he will carry with him for life.

“It’s the gift that keeps on giving. It’s 17 years of being associated with an iconic superhero, but, you know, it’s the message he represents,” Downey said.

“That’s what I’m grateful for, because Tony opened my eyes wide to the power technology has to impact the world for good, and that’s something that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my days. So thank y’all for making that happen,” he continued.

RDJ is expected to officially debut in his new role in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ which is currently gearing up for production, but some past rumors stated that we can also expect his brief appearance in ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ given his connection to Marvel’s first family.

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