Robert Downey Jr. has a couple of projects lined up post-MCU, and they will be a reminder of how good of an actor he is beyond being Iron Man.
Robert Downey Jr.‘s upcoming post-Marvel Cinematic Universe projects are great reminders of just how good of an actor he is beyond playing Iron Man. Best known for playing Tony Stark, the actor wrapped up his arc in the comic book franchise via Joe and Anthony Russo’s Avengers: Endgame in 2019. Since then, Downey has been focused on moving forward with his career, lining up a couple of very interesting projects that will allow him to flex his acting muscles.
Many were skeptical about Downey’s Iron Man casting, considering his history of substance and alcohol abuse. Thanks to director Jon Favreau’s insistence, Marvel Studios eventually relented and awarded him the role. Their big gamble paid off eventually when Downey proved to be the best man for the job, resulting in a magnificent 11-year stint as the Avenger and face of the MCU. As great as he was as Iron Man, however, seeing his next big and small screen roles is very exciting because they’re very different from his Marvel Studios gig.
Oppenheimer & The Sympathizer Could Be RDJ’s Best Non-MCU Roles In Years
Throughout Downey’s Iron Man MCU stint, he also occasionally starred in other projects, most notably the Sherlock Holmes films. While he was good, it wasn’t really that different from playing Tony Stark and didn’t really challenge him. Now, however, he’s set to star in two very different projects following his superhero stint with the much-anticipated biological film Oppenheimer from Christopher Nolan, where he will play Lewis Strauss, and the TV series, The Sympathizer, with his character still unknown. The variety of roles will allow Downey to show off his acting skills, reminding the public of how good of an actor he really is beyond the wise-cracking Stark.
It’s easy to forget that Downey was a critically-acclaimed actor long before his time in the MCU. He was in the Brat Pack, composed of up-and-coming actors. At just 26 years old, he starred in the acclaimed Chaplin biopic as the titular character. His performance earned him an Academy Award Best Actor nomination and a BAFTA award. Interestingly, even as he battled substance abuse, he continued to deliver, as proven by Downey’s brief but great Ally McBeal stint. When he finally got clean, he starred in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Zodiac, and the action comedy Tropic Thunder, where he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
It’s Good Robert Downey Jr. Is Taking On More Challenging Roles Again
Downey will likely always be synonymous with Iron Man. This could be tricky for him as he leaves his superhero days behind and move forward with his career. However, starring in Oppenheimer and The Sympathizer allows him to easily transition out of the MCU while also giving him the opportunity to show off his acting skills beyond playing a sarcastic and charming character like the Avenger or Sherlock Holmes. There is no doubt that he has range as an actor considering his pre-MCU projects, so it’s exciting to see Robert Downey Jr. doing something different that could mark the next phase of his illustrious career.
