Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr.‘s Next Big Role: Director?

 
enlarge
  • Robert Downey Jr. on Esquire’s December cover
  • Robert Downey Jr. leaves the set of Guy Richie’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’ in London on August 18, 2009
  • Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Iron Man 2’
  • Robert Downey Jr. takes the stage at the ‘Iron Man 2’ panel at Comic-Con in San Diego on July 25, 2009
  • Robert Downey Jr. gets hyped up for ‘Sherlock Holmes’ at Comic-Con in San Diego on July 24, 2009
  • Robert Downey Jr. returns as Tony Stark in ‘Iron Man 2’
  • Robert Downey Jr. and Gwenyth Paltrow return to the big screen in ‘Iron Man 2’
  • Robert Downey Jr. speaks onstage at Spike TV’s 2009 Guys Choice Awards held at the Sony Studios on May 30, 2009 in Los Angeles

1/8

  • Esquire

    Robert Downey Jr. on Esquire’s December cover

  • Getty Images

    Robert Downey Jr. leaves the set of Guy Richie’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’ in London on August 18, 2009

  • Paramount Pictures

    Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Iron Man 2’

  • Getty Images

    Robert Downey Jr. takes the stage at the ‘Iron Man 2’ panel at Comic-Con in San Diego on July 25, 2009

  • WireImage

    Robert Downey Jr. gets hyped up for ‘Sherlock Holmes’ at Comic-Con in San Diego on July 24, 2009

  • Francois Duhamel

    Robert Downey Jr. returns as Tony Stark in ‘Iron Man 2’

  • Merrick Morton

    Robert Downey Jr. and Gwenyth Paltrow return to the big screen in ‘Iron Man 2’

  • Getty Images

    Robert Downey Jr. speaks onstage at Spike TV’s 2009 Guys Choice Awards held at the Sony Studios on May 30, 2009 in Los Angeles

FIRST PUBLISHED: November 11, 2009 11:04 AM EST
LAST UPDATED: November 11, 2009 11:13 AM EST

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Robert Downey Jr. is at the top of his acting game with the success of “Iron Man,” it’s planned sequels and the upcoming “Sherlock Holmes,” but is the actor looking to make an exit from the big screen?

“I will not be able to remain happy and sedate being whatever – being an increasingly hirable actor type,” Robert told Esquire magazine in its December issue. “I think the best thing I could do for my soul and my own development would be to direct.”

The 44-year-old actor said his time left on the big screen is uncertain – but that a role behind the camera is something he foresees happening.

“I’m not sure exactly how things are going to shake out, because it’s really easy for me to do landgrabs with my day job, and I still have a lot of passion for it,” he continued. “But if I had to guess, that would probably be my next move.”

Robert said he got the directing bug from his dad, Robert Downey Sr.

“It’s in my blood from my dad and it’s—there are a bunch of other things I’ve always wanted to do that remain very, very much unrequited,” he told the mag. “And no matter how you slice it, I am still executing the wishes, thoughts, themes, titles, and stories coming from elsewhere. I feel like they’re mine, because I really invest myself in them—but there are some interesting things out there.”

Downey’s “Sherlock Holmes” hits theaters on Christmas Day.

Copyright 2009 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Keep your Access to everything in Hollywood! Breaking news and personal commentary from Nancy, Billy, Tony, Shaun, Maria & all of our producers! Follow us on and now!

John Slattery Talks ‘Iron Man 2’

AccessHollywood.com’s Laura Saltman catches up with John Slattery at the “Mad Men” premiere in Hollywood where he talks about playing Tony Stark’s father, Howard Stark in the “Iron Man” sequel.

Rate this video:

 
 

More Articles

More Videos

 

Featured Poll

Who has the best abs in Hollywood?

  • Access Exclusive: Taylor Lautner’s ‘New Moon’ Transformation
     
  • Access Exclusive: Taylor Lautner’s ‘New Moon’ Transformation
     
  • LL Cool J attends the world premiere of Showtime’s ‘Nurse Jackie’ at Directors Guild Theatre on June 2, 2009 in New York City
     
  • Zac Efron arrives at the premiere of Warner Bros. ‘17 Again’ held at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on April 14, 2009 in Hollywood, California
     
  • Ryan Reynolds shirtless in “Blade Trinity”.
     
  • Will Smith working out in “I Am Legend”
     
  • Robert Pattinson in ‘New Moon’