Robert Downey Jr. says newly-minted Oscar status won’t prevent him from returning to Marvel Cinematic Universe if called upon

Robert Downey Jr. may have an Oscar, but he’s not ditching his Iron Man suit just yet.

The Oscar-winning actor, 59, who has played Iron Man/Tony Stark in several films since 2008’s Iron Man, said Esquire On Monday, he wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The A-list actor said he would “joyfully” return to the MCU again based on his confidence in Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.

“It’s too integral to my DNA,” Downey said. ‘That role chose me. And look, I always say, “Never bet against Kevin Feige.” It’s a losing bet. He is the house. He will always win.’

Downey, who won his first-ever Academy Award last month for playing Lewis Strauss in the summer blockbuster Oppenheimer, was last seen playing Iron Man in the 2019 film Avengers: Endgame.

The Oscar-winning actor has played the role of Iron Man/Tony Stark in several films since 2008’s Iron Man

While Iron Man met his end in that movie, Variety reported that the storyline “has never stopped rumors from swirling that Marvel is trying to bring Downey back into the fold” in the wake of unsatisfactory returns on 2023 releases including The Marvels and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania .

Feige, who spoke last December with Vanity fairsaid that afterwards the studio had no plans to change what it considered an essential cinematic moment.

“We’re going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again,” Feige said. “We’ve all worked very hard for years to achieve that, and we wouldn’t want to magically undo it in any way.”

Downey, appearing on Rob Lowe is literal! podcast was asked earlier this year about possible projects with the studio and said, “Not yet.”

The feature piece with Esquire also included sentiments from Gwyneth Paltrow, 51, who has played Pepper Potts in the MCU opposite Downey in multiple films.

Paltrow spoke about the creative process of working with Downey on Iron Man, when the publication reported that the actress at one point stopped studying her script, knowing that changes would be in store between Downey and filmmaker Jon Favreau.

“There would be a process where Jon Favreau and Robert and I go into Jon’s trailer in the morning and Robert says, ‘I’m not saying these lines’ and throws them away,” Paltrow told the outlet. ‘And then improve it live in the trailer or on set.

“I think for Robert to make something feel alive, it has to feel fresh, and he makes it fresh by making it feel like it was just invented.”

The revered actor was pictured backstage at the Oscars in LA in March, holding his statuette

Downey, who won his first-ever Academy Award last month for playing Lewis Strauss in the summer blockbuster Oppenheimer, was last seen playing Iron Man in the 2019 film Avengers: Endgame.

(L-R) Louis D’Esposito, Jon Favreau, Downey Jr. and Kevin Feige were photographed in Hollywood last year. Downey said he would “happily” return to the MCU again based on his trust in Feige. Pictured last year in Hollywood, California

Downey also addressed the minor controversy in the interview caused by the show’s host, Jimmy Kimmel, who alluded to the actor’s past battles with addiction in his monologue.

Downey made it clear he took no offense to the late night host’s comments and continues to hold him in high regard

Paltrow added that “so many of those famous lines were written ten minutes before we said them.”

Downey also addressed the minor controversy in the interview caused by the show’s host, Jimmy Kimmel, who alluded to the actor’s past battles with addiction in his monologue.

Kimmel said, “This is the highest point of Robert Downey Jr.’s long and illustrious career. Well, one of the highest points.’

Downey made it clear that he took no offense to the late night host’s comments and continues to hold him in high regard.

“I don’t care,” Downey said. ‘I love Jimmy Kimmel. I think he’s a national treasure.’