It looked like Robert Downey Jr was heading toward suiting up to do a stand-alone Iron Man 4 for Marvel, but he might be stopping into other people’s superhero movies instead. Downey now is headed for Captain America 3, in addition to reprising his Tony Stark/Iron Man role in the next two Avengers sequels. Downey — who is onscreen opposite Robert Duvall in The Judge, which opened Friday — also has other projects lined up for himself, including the one-time Steve McQueen vehicle Yucatan.
The move injects one of the most popular characters in movies into a third Marvel franchise. Marvel declined comment, but the comic book corporation today teased the summer 2015 return of its Civil War: Iron Man crossover storyline. Originally released in 2007, the Civil War miniseries pitted billionaire Tony Stark against Captain America aka Steve Rogers in an ethical face-off over the U.S. government’s Superhuman Registration Act, which requires all superpowered individuals to register their powers and report to S.H.I.E.L.D. In Marvel lore, the split rips the superhero community in two as opposing ranks align under Iron Man and Cappy.
Related: ‘Captain America 3′ Tugs On ‘Batman-Superman’s Cape With May 6, 2016, Release Date
Joe and Anthony Russo, who helmed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, are directing Captain America 3 for a May 6, 2016, release.
CAA also declined comment. Variety was first to report.
