Rumors have circulated about "Iron Man 4" being slated for production; however, the movie may be a prequel, or may incorporate new Marvel Comics character Riri Williams into its plot.
According to Parent Herald, Robert Downey Jr.'s regressing physical condition may be a hindering cause as to why there has not been any official announcement on the production of the movie franchise's fourth installment. If the rumor about the projected 2020 release date is to be believed, then Downey Jr. would be 55-years-old, thus, he will not be physically fit to fulfill the demands of the role. Despite this, an "Iron Man 4" may still be possible if the writing and production team focuses on making the story a prequel, going after the happenings of "Captain America: Civil War."
In a recent interview, Downey Jr. shared that he "had been preparing for Iron Man for a year or so" before he took on the titular role. He was just "training really hard, just trying to get [his] body to a really great place" when the opportunity came.
The actor also shared that although he felt "ready" for the role, he thought that it was "a really physical role," and that although he trained hard. He realized that sometimes an actor trains not to look good aesthetically, but in order for him to "not die" while shooting physical scenes.
Meanwhile, another theory about "Iron Man 4's" possible plot line involves the new character Riri Williams. According to the LA Times, Marvel Comics just rel-aunched the "Invincible Iron Man" this July, and has revealed that the newest person to wear Tony Stark's costume is a woman of color.
Riri Williams is a young genius who matriculates at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at the young age of 15, where she creates her own Iron Man suit - not in a lab, but in her college dorm room. The character was inspired by "young people rising up from street violence," and the character serves as a symbolic contemporary superheroine.
The new character could potentially be incorporated into "Iron Man 4," although official announcements have yet to confirm if this is true.
