Despite the clamor of the fans, it seems there is no more chance for Robert Downey Jr. to star in another solo "Iron Man" movie as it is suspected he will be replaced by a younger actor as the next iron-clad superhero.
There is no denying that "Iron Man 4" is one of the most-anticipated movies. After all, Downey Jr. himself revealed in an interview on "The Ellen DeGeneres" show back in 2014 that there is going to be one. However, for the past year or so, rumors about Downey being replaced by another actor to play the role of the iron-clad superhero have persisted.
While it is speculated that Iron Man will eventually be replaced in the movies by Riri Williams, the teenage Afro-American girl who made her own iron suit in the Marvel comic books and was introduced last year, there have also been talks that Ty Simpkins, the young actor who served as Tony Stark's sidekick in "Iron Man 3," would take the role of the new Iron Man. Although Simpkins is only turning 16 years old this August, it is said he will be of the right age when "Iron Man 4" enters production, allegedly, in 2019.
Speculations on Downey Jr. soon hanging up his iron suit has been bolstered by an interview of Chris Evans with USA Today last month, where the "Captain America" actor revealed that his contract with Marvel Studios will expire after the upcoming "Avengers 4."
"Downey is far closer to reaching that point where he may walk away. And I don't know how you replace Downey as Tony Stark. I don't know who else can touch that," Evans told USA Today.
If Evans is set to give up his Captain America/Steve Rogers role after "Avengers 4," and Downey Jr. is set to retire as Iron Man earlier than that, some people can't help but suspect that earlier allegations on Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark/Iron Man character getting killed in next year's "Avengers 3" may be true at all.
In the event that Downey Jr.'s character is killed off, will Simpkins really be the next iron-clad superhero and headline "Iron Man 4?"
Fans can only speculate for now.
