Robert Downey Jr. Learns To Say Goodbye To Iron Man

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Tony Stark is Iron Man is Robert Downey, Jr., and nothing can really change that.

He kickstarted the success of the entire Avengers franchise in 2008.

But somehow we have to say goodbye to Downey Jr.'s turn as one of the biggest faces of the Marvel Comics Universe, and so does Downey.

The actor had an interview with The Off Camera Show to talk about Tony Stark and to encapsulate that entire stage of his life.

Downey says while he was extremely happy with what he accomplished, he's looking forward to what the future might bring.

“I had an incredible 10-year run that was creatively satisfying. It was very, very, very hard work and it dug very deep, but I have not been forced to explore the new frontier of what is my creative and personal life after this.”

Downey Jr. has a plan for moving on and finding the next character to give him satisfaction in his career.

"Well, here’s the thing. First thing you learn in theatre arts: aesthetic distance. I am not this play I’m doing. I’m not a character in The Fantasticks. I’m not Will from Oklahoma. Aesthetic distance. It’s job one. I’m not my work. I’m not what I did with that studio. I’m not that period of time that I spent playing this character."

And he says he wants to stay a "fit father, husband and citizen," so that he's ready for the next transition of his life.

"You gotta put eyes down the road and say 'I'm being responsible if I don't start, saying, you know, what is after that?' "