Robert Downey Jr. Cautions MCU Executives on the Use of AI for Iron Man’s Return

Main Points

Robert Downey Jr. opposes the use of AI by Marvel to resurrect Iron Man posthumously.
His legal representatives stand ready to take legal measures if his likeness is misused.
The actor’s return to the MCU will see him portray Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

Robert Downey Jr., renowned for his role as Iron Man, has made it clear that he does not support Marvel Studios’ idea of employing artificial intelligence to bring back Tony Stark after his passing. The acclaimed actor has even devised a strategy to prevent efforts to resurrect him digitally in the future.

In Avengers: Endgame, audiences witnessed Downey Jr.’s Iron Man make the ultimate sacrifice, using the six Infinity Stones to vanquish Thanos and his forces, which ultimately led to his demise. Despite his heroic exit from the franchise, speculation has circulated about the possibility of Downey Jr. reprising his iconic character in forthcoming MCU installments, such as Avengers: Secret Wars. While it’s conceivable that Marvel could rely on AI to recreate Iron Man without Downey Jr.’s consent, the actor disclosed that his legal team is poised to respond if his image is utilized without authorization.

Recently, Downey Jr. joined the On With Kara Swisher podcast, where he talked about his Broadway role in the play McNeal, which examines the implications of AI. When prompted about his views on AI-generated recreations, he remarked, “There are two perspectives. My feelings about the situation are limited because I am currently preoccupied with an authentic emotional experience that doesn’t leave much room for that.”He also expressed assurance that the current leadership at Marvel Studios would not attempt to utilize AI to recreate his portrayal of Iron Man without proper consent.

“As for my return to the MCU, I’m not concerned about them manipulating the essence of my character,”he stated. “There are only a handful of people making decisions within the studio, and I trust they would never do that to me, regardless of my presence.”

Swisher also broached the subject of future Marvel executives potentially seeking to resurrect Iron Man with AI assistance. Downey Jr. responded playfully, stating, “I’d like to declare right now that I plan to sue all future executives, just to cover my bases.”When Swisher pointed out that he may not be around then, he replied, “But my law firm will still be very much in business.”

Although it seems unlikely that Downey Jr. will portray Iron Man again in the near term, he is set to return to the MCU in a fresh capacity. At the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con, he announced that he would take on the role of Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. During the reveal, the Russo brothers, who are directing both Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, referred to his character as “Victor von Doom,”indicating that Downey Jr. will not be playing an evil counterpart of Tony Stark. Some fans see this casting decision as a desperate measure by Marvel Studios following the challenges both the studio and Downey Jr. have faced since his Iron Man days, while others hold optimism that he will deliver a remarkable performance suited for a villain as legendary as Doctor Doom.

The Iron Man series is currently available for streaming on Disney Plus.

Source: On With Kara Swisher

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Image Credit: Gamerant.com