'Iron Man 4' Cast & Release Date: Robert Downey Jr. No Longer Iron Man, Reportedly Done With The Franchise

Mega-blockbuster hit franchise "Iron Man" might have its fourth movie installment already in the works. The past three movies of "Iron Man" raked it hundreds of millions worldwide and it has become one of the biggest superhero movies in Hollywood.

Robert Downey Jr., who takes the role of billionaire Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man, is slated to be in the new Marvel Universe movie "Captain America: Civil War" together with his new fellow Avengers. However, rumor has it that Downey Jr. will not be reprising his role as Iron Man in "Iron Man 4".

This might seem a little odd for the Downey Jr. after all Marvel helped him get back in the Hollywood A-lister club with the "Iron Man" franchise. The "Iron Man" movies made Downey Jr. one of the highest-paid Hollywood actors for three consecutive years, according to Forbes, so it really is a questionable act from Downey's side.

Reports said that Marvel is trying to negotiate with Downey Jr. for playing Iron Man in "Iron Man 4" and is even willing to pay the actor $100 million to reprise his role. However, Downey Jr. is said to have grown weary and tired of the franchise already and thinks that he will be too old for the Iron Man role.

Marvel  announced last year that it has over 11 films to be released until 2019 as part of Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and it starts with "Captain America: Civil War". The last three films in the release date calendar of Marvel are mystery movies and are planned to be released by 2020.

Fans are hoping that the one of those last three films would be "Iron Man 4" since it seems like Marvel has chosen not to include the "Iron Man" franchise to be part of it Phase 3. Still, it is uncertain whether "Iron Man 4" will happen despite being a blockbuster hit.