While Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige hopes that Robert Downey, Jr. will play Tony Stark and his alter-ego Iron Man for years to come, Feige says he understands the reality that at some point, Downey may have to be replaced.
After starring in four movies featuring the hero, Downey’s contract will be up and the cost to secure his services for features beyond that could be too high.
If and when that happens, Feige says he’s not ready to reboot Iron Man, but instead to take a page from another long-running franchise.
“I think Bond is a good example. Let’s put it this way: I hope Downey makes a lot of movies for us as Stark. If and when he doesn’t, and I’m still here making these movies, we don’t take him to Afghanistan and have him wounded again. I think we James Bond it,” Feige says.
So, the series could continue with the same continuity, but just a new face behind the Iron Man mask.
Would that make you happy? Or would you rather see a reboot? Or should Marvel end the series when Downey, Jr. decides to hang up the metal suit?
I would personally prefer that they “James Bond” it. They already did it when they brought in Don Cheadle. 🙂
I’m good with this approach. I’m tired of reboots so unless they do something stupid with the RDJ movies that needs a reset, Bond it up!
Yeah, I’m good with Bonding it up too. The thing about these characters is that they’re, for the most part, meant to be ageless. You don’t own the role…you simply inherit it and borrow it for a little while.
If when they mean “James Bond” it by just replacing the actor, but assuming that it’s the same character (a la Brandon Routh replacing Christopher Reeve) then I say YES!
I hate the idea of the reboot because it means starting over instead of continuing to build on what is already there. Just re-cast the part, but have it be the same continuity which has already been established since the first Iron Man movie.
I’m good with James Bonding it. Reboots are unnecessary, unless somewhere in the Ironman movies, someone pulls a Batman and Robin and completely screws a sequel.