MCU superstar Robert Downey Jr. may play a billionaire who uses an AI assistant in the popular superhero franchise, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a fan of the tech in real life, as he recently had some choice words for Marvel should the studio ever try and pull a fast one long after he’s gone. Downey first embodied Tony Stark in 2008’s Iron Man, utilizing J.A.R.V.I.S. to his full advantage. He’s since reprised the role in eight more feature films, with his last appearance coming by way of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.
Appearing on the On With Kara Swisher podcast, Downey discussed the current landscape of Hollywood, which has been morally struggling with AI being used in big budget productions. While some have immediately embraced the technology as something to harness, many others have been outspoken about its use, calling for strict regulations to be put in place that protect those in the industry from having their likeness used without permission. When asked if he believes anyone at Marvel would go to such lengths for something like an Iron Man reboot, Downey didn’t hesitate to say that’s the furthest thing from his mind right now.
I am not worried about them hijacking my character’s soul. They would never do that to me, with or without me.
Of course, one of the big concerns is that studios will use AI to recreate the likeness of deceased celebrities, as was the case in this year’s smash hit, Alien: Romulus, which used a bit of digital necromancy to bring back Ian Holm, who appeared in the original 1979 film and passed away in 2020. Speaking to that possibility, Downey replied that he wasn’t afraid to get litigious should future Marvel execs ever have the audacity to try such a thing after he’s gone. “I would like to here state that I intend to sue all future executives just on spec,” he commented. When it was pointed out that he would, in fact, be dead, Downey added: “But my law firm will still be very active.”
How Does Robert Downey Jr. Really Feel About AI?
Though Tony Stark may have been killed off at the end of the aforementioned Avengers: Endgame, Downey is set to return to the franchise in a surprising twist that saw him announced to take on the role of Victor von Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. We’re still not entirely sure how all that’s going to work, but we at least know it won’t be through AI, since the actor is still very much alive. Lawsuits aside, when it comes to how he really feels about the burgeoning tech, Downey said it’s not something he spends a lot of time thinking about.
“There’s two tracks. How do I feel about everything that’s going on? I feel about it minimally because I have an actual emotional life that’s occurring that doesn’t have a lot of room for that. I don’t envy anyone who has been over-identified with the advent of this new phase of the information age.”
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Interestingly enough, it was recently reported that Disney (who owns Marvel) is set to expand their use of AI even further with a new initiative that will see it being used more and more in future projects. As such, Downey might have no choice but to eventually get off the sidelines and make room for the issue if he’s serious about his litigious threats should the House of Mouse ever try and pull a fast one without his permission.
