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

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

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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.

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