Iron Man 4 might not happen, according to Marvel franchise star Robert Downey Jr.

No 'Iron Man 4'?

Downey seemed to suggest that the Iron Man franchise might end with Iron Man 3 in a recent interview, worrying fans of the franchise that they may have seen the last of the actor as Tony Stark. “There isn’t one in the pipe,” Downey is quoted as saying in an interview with Variety. “No, there’s no plan for a fourth Iron Man.”

At the Toronto International Film Festival promoting The Judge, Downey was forced to address not only the well-received father/son film in which he costars with Robert Duvall, but the future of the superhero flick that reignited his Hollywood career.

“It’s down to Kevin [Feige] and Ike [Perlmutter] and Disney to come to us with what the proposal is, and that’s on us to agree or disagree,” Downey told Entertainment Weekly, speaking of the two Marvel executives. “When things are going great, there’s a lot of agreement … Right now, this has just been swell, hasn’t it?”

Downey hinted that if Marvel wanted to push forward with more Iron Man films he’d be on board, though stopped short of stating anything definitely. “It’s that thing of: Why give up the belt when it feels like you can barely get jabbed?” he said, before adding, “Most people are saying that right when they get knocked out. The future is, as usual, uncertain."

Whether or not Downey – who was paid $50 million for the last Iron Man film – will return as Iron Man/ Tony Stark, Feige is of the belief that Iron Man is an enduring character in the Marvel franchise that could have second, third, fourth lives and so on.

“I believe there will be a fourth Iron Man film and a fifth and a sixth and a 10th and a 20th,” the Marvel producer told EW. “I see no reason why Tony Stark can’t be as evergreen as James Bond. Or Batman for that matter. Or Spider-Man. I think Iron Man is a character just like that.”