# RDJ signed for next 2 Avengers movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 20, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510 "2013-06-20T21:34:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/1 "2013-06-20T21:34:52Z")
[http://marvel.com/news/story/20786/robert\_downey\_jr\_to\_return\_as\_marvels\_iron\_man](http://marvel.com/news/story/20786/robert_downey_jr_to_return_as_marvels_iron_man) \*\* Robert Downey Jr. To Return As Marvel’s Iron Man RDJ inks new Marvel deal Posted Jun 20, 2013 1:30 pm Updated Jun 20, 2013 1:30 pm “I am Iron Man.” Tony Stark’s famous closing line to the very first Iron Man film takes on new life today as Marvel is pleased to announce the signing of Robert Downey, Jr. to reprise the role of the “billionaire, genius, playboy, philanthropist.” Under the two-picture agreement, Downey will star as Tony Stark/Iron Man in “Marvel’s The Avengers 2” and “Marvel’s The Avengers 3.” Downey is represented at CAA by Bryan Lourd, Jim Toth and Matt Leaf and by his attorneys Tom Hansen and Stewart Brookman of the firm Hansen Jacobson. More on [Marvel.com](http://Marvel.com): [http://marvel.com/news/story/20786/robert\_downey\_jr\_to\_return\_as\_marvels\_iron\_man#ixzz2WnKZ6crB](http://marvel.com/news/story/20786/robert_downey_jr_to_return_as_marvels_iron_man#ixzz2WnKZ6crB)\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/2 "2013-06-20T22:44:51Z")
I’m guessing he’s no longer just playing the part of a billionaire. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/3 "2013-06-20T23:00:14Z")
I know the game’s not over yet, but can you think of any other celebrity who pulled this kind of come-back? It was barely 12 years ago the last time he was arrested for drugs, wandering around Culver City barefoot. He was the Death Pool center square for a decade. Now he’s shits out hundred dollar bills every time he farts. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/4 "2013-06-20T23:04:10Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m guessing he’s no longer just playing the part of a billionaire. Yeah, he’s the star of their most successful franchise, so I’m guessing he just wrote down a number and they said okay. He’s good in the role, and since he seems to be enjoying himself I can’t imagine why he’d quit. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/5 "2013-06-20T23:16:03Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I know the game’s not over yet, but can you think of any other celebrity who pulled this kind of come-back? It was barely 12 years ago the last time he was arrested for drugs, wandering around Culver City barefoot. He was the Death Pool center square for a decade. > > Now he’s shits out hundred dollar bills every time he farts. He better have his head screwed on REEEEAAAALLLY fuckin’ tight, 'cause I can’t imagine massive public recognition & adoration plus metric fucktons of money is anyone’s recipe for overcoming substance abuse problems. Still, he hasn’t gone off on a chemical holiday and played Goldilocks to some strange family’s Three Bears since his big splash in Iron Man, so he might just make it. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/6 "2013-06-20T23:57:42Z")
Part of the reason he’s worth the big bucks, aside from his personal appeal and talent, probably IS his backstory. Sometimes the public seems to be the crowd screaming ‘JUMP!’ but other times we’re looking for that Inspirational Figure. And this guy delivers. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/7 "2013-06-21T00:15:00Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > He better have his head screwed on REEEEAAAALLLY fuckin’ tight HE KNOWS WHO HE IS! He’s the dude _PLAYIN’_ the dude, disguised as _ANUTHA_ dude! ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/8 "2013-06-21T00:15:45Z")
The fact that Tony Stark has had an alcohol problem (and may still do) makes the choice of Mr. Downey a very intriguing one. I can imagine a scene (I have only seen Iron Man and The Avengers) where Stark is depressed and goes on a bender. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/9 "2013-06-21T00:19:32Z")
I wonder if that means Marvel has [also reached agreements with the other cast members?](http://www.deadline.com/2013/05/robert-downey-jr-avengers-marvel-negotiations-fight/) ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/10 "2013-06-21T00:41:13Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > The fact that Tony Stark has had an alcohol problem (and may still do) makes the choice of Mr. Downey a very intriguing one. I can imagine a scene (I have only seen Iron Man and The Avengers) where Stark is depressed and goes on a bender. Have you seen IM3? The story goes that director Jon Favreau wanted to go down this road, and Marvel and RDJ came down against it; Favreau was replaced as director, but since they had a 3-picture deal for him, Paltrow and Downey, they kept him in the movie soap opera style - he’s injured in the opening and in a coma until it’s over. I agree with them. A critic once wrote “who goes to a Spider-Man movie to see an old lady agonize over having her house repossessed?” (and how the HELL do Aunt May and Uncle Ben _still_ have a mortgage at their age?) and a similar rule applies - I don’t go to an Iron Man movie to watch Celedbrity Rehab with Robert Downey, Jr. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/11 "2013-06-21T00:44:46Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > I can imagine a scene (I have only seen Iron Man and The Avengers) where Stark is depressed and goes on a bender. Come back when you’ve seen Iron Man 2. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/12 "2013-06-21T01:43:28Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > Yeah, he’s the star of their most successful franchise, so I’m guessing he just wrote down a number and they said okay. He’s good in the role, and since he seems to be enjoying himself I can’t imagine why he’d quit. Heck, he can buy mansions and yachts off his Sherlock Holmes money and put the Iron Man money in the bank. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/13 "2013-06-21T02:08:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Heck, he can buy mansions… He probably should avoid anything in the Malibu area. ---
**Author:** ![blue\_infinity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_infinity/32/2817_2.png) [@blue\_infinity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blue_infinity)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/14 "2013-06-21T02:50:46Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m guessing he’s no longer just playing the part of a billionaire. Method acting, baby! ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/15 "2013-06-21T02:54:45Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > HE KNOWS WHO HE IS! He’s the dude _PLAYIN’_ the dude, disguised as _ANUTHA_ dude! Sometimes I forget this movie exists, then I’m reminded and I laugh. I have to rewatch it again soon. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/16 "2013-06-21T03:39:37Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > A critic once wrote “who goes to a Spider-Man movie to see an old lady agonize over having her house repossessed?” (and how the HELL do Aunt May and Uncle Ben _still_ have a mortgage at their age?) and a similar rule applies - I don’t go to an Iron Man movie to watch Celedbrity Rehab with Robert Downey, Jr. Eh? The “Superhero deals with real life problems” stuff is kinda the point of Spiderman. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/17 "2013-06-21T07:19:48Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Eh? The “Superhero deals with real life problems” stuff is kinda the point of Spiderman. It was actually the point of Marvel under Stan Lee - comics where everyone wasn’t Zorro: someone from the upper classes who deigned to help the little guy as a hobby. But Spidey’s troubles were always sit-com style troubles - getting home in time for curfew, dealing with that bully Flash Thompson. Marvel has always gone too far with it though, trying to be topical, starting with Harry Osborne become addicted to heroin to teach kids the evils of drug abuse. :rolleyes: In the 80s, when Stark was first revealed as an alcoholic, it could be dealt with seriously. The movies are set in a different era, where celebrities like Stark battle addiction like wise-cracking gladiators in a cable tv arena. The PTSD angle was a better way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/18 "2013-06-21T07:55:18Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Now he’s shits out hundred dollar bills every time he farts. I know this is my second reply to your post(sorry for that), but I just realized that’s the first “gambled and won” description I’ve ever heard about in relation to a fart. ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/19 "2013-06-21T14:47:31Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Sometimes I forget this movie exists, then I’m reminded and I laugh. I have to rewatch it again soon. Seriously. _Tropic Thunder_ kills, and RDJ is a lot of the reason. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510/20 "2013-06-21T14:53:40Z")
> [@FlyingDragonFan](#): > > Seriously. _Tropic Thunder_ kills, and RDJ is a lot of the reason. “Man, just because it’s a theme song don’t make it not true.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rdj-signed-for-next-2-avengers-movies/661510.md?page=2)