Hugh Jackman first brandished his claws as the gruff mutant Wolverine in 2000 in the movie X-Men, which opened the floodgates for Marvel Comics characters to fight their different battles on the big screen.
Jackman went on to portray different stages of Logan’s life in movies like X2 and The Wolverine before deciding to hang up his boots in Logan (2017), where he bid adieu by introducing fans to a more emotionally tormented version of Wolverine. Explaining his decision, the Australian actor said that even though Aussies are not known for leaving the party at the right time, it’s time for him to leave. This very idea also played a key role in Robert Downey Jr.’s departure from Marvel.
Why Robert Downey Jr. Decided to Leave Marvel Cinematic Universe
Having portrayed Tony Stark/Iron Man for nearly a decade, Robert Downey Jr. started to show signs of leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe in early 2018. Even though the actor had firmly established himself as the main pillar of the franchise and was at the time one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, the 58-year-old was wary of overstaying in the Marvel party.
During a Q&A with Entertainment Weekly, Downey Jr. was asked if could he see Iron Man being part of his life and career in 20 years, to which he replied:
“I’m definitely a hang up your jersey before they boo you off the court type guy, just because I still have an appropriate fear of embarrassment.”
The Chaplin star did exactly that and on the back of delivering one of the most successful movies of all time, Avengers: Endgame in 2019, he hung up his jersey (or armor in his case).
Not only did Downey Jr. seemingly take a leaf out of Hugh Jackman‘s book to time his exit, but he also apparently took The Dark Knight’s Harvey Dent quote, “You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become a villain” to the heart, as his character sacrificed himself and died a hero in the fight against Thanos.
Is Robert Downey Jr. Returning to Marvel Like Hugh Jackman?
Having said that, Jackman is now back into the mix and will mark his return as Logan in Deadpool 3 in 2024. Accordingly, if Jackman can return to the party, one cannot rule out Downey Jr.’s comeback as well. After all, anything is possible in the Marvel world of unlimited timelines.
In recent months we have come across plenty of rumors suggesting Marvel Studios are planning to bring back its fallen soldiers amid the franchise’s concerning run at the box office.
Moreover, The Marvels’ ending teased the prospect of building up a young Avengers team. During the scene, Kamala Khan and Kate Bishop talked about the idea and even mentioned Scott Lang’s daughter Cassie Lang. In the event they decide to add Morgan Stark to their team as well, Downey Jr.’s return for flashback scenes can’t be ruled out either.
However, as things stand, there’s no formal word from either Marvel Studios or Downey Jr. regarding his comeback.
