At the age of five, Robert Downey Jr. made his film debut in 1970’s “Pound,” directed by his father, the famed independent filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. Robert’s acting career has been nothing but a rollercoaster ever since. His life story, which includes spending time in prison and rising to become the highest-paid actor in the world, is occasionally more unbelievable than the plots of the films in which he has appeared. Robert has had a diverse career as an actor. One of the most recognisable faces on the planet, he portrays Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
But limiting Robert to Iron Man and the Marvel flicks he has worked on is unfair. He has worked with two of the most talented directors of his time, David Fincher and Christopher Nolan, to produce the powerful performances in “Oppenheimer” and “Zodiac.” In Guy Ritchie’s eyes, he assumed the persona of Sherlock Holmes. He changed into Richard Attenborough’s portrayal of Charlie Chaplin before all of these films. Robert’s films are usually worth the wait, and after seeing him as Lewis Strauss in “Oppenheimer,” our readers would be curious about what to expect from him going forward. Here is a list of Robert Downey Jr.’s current and upcoming film and television projects.
All-Star Weekend (TBA)
The central characters of Jamie Foxx’s Academy Award-winning film “All-Star Weekend,” Malik (Foxx) and Danny (Jeremy Piven), who idolise LeBron James and Stephen Curry, respectively, are basketball players. The two truck drivers’ lives are turned upside down when they depart to watch the NBA All-Star Game and find themselves in a dire situation. Among the many celebrities who appear in the movie are Robert Downey Jr., Gerard Butler, Benicio del Toro, DJ Khaled, and Snoop Dogg. The actor’s portrayal of a Mexican in the film is based in part on Kirk Lazarus, a character he played in Ben Stiller’s “Tropic Thunder.” Although the movie’s production was finished years ago, it’s probably been shelved without a release date.
Average Height, Average Build (TBA)
After ‘Oppenheimer,’ Adam McKay’s ‘Average Height, Average Build,’ which he also directed for ‘Don’t Look Up,’ will include Robert once more as a key member of an outstanding ensemble cast. The main character of the movie is a serial murderer who hires a lobbyist to modify the legislation so that he can commit murder more easily. Robert will portray a former police officer who investigates the crimes carried out by the serial killer. The serial killer and the lobbyist will be portrayed by Robert Pattinson and Amy Adams, respectively. Forest Whitaker (‘The Last King of Scotland’) and Danielle Deadwyler (‘Till’ and ‘The Harder They Fall’) are also featured in the cast.
The ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike is now causing a delay in the movie’s production. The project, which is being produced by McKay and the director’s co-producer Kevin Messick, has been picked up by Netflix. The movie is anticipated to be released in 2024, though it has not yet been formally announced.
Play Dirty (TBA)
“Play Dirty” is based on the “Parker” novels by Donald E. Westlake and centres around professional burglar Parker, who has an exceptional work ethic. Parker is an extremely skilled craftsman who is more than just a thief. Robert will portray the infamous robber who is a master at stealing money and getting away with it. In addition, the actor collaborated once again on the production of the Amazon film with Joel Silver (‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ and ‘Sherlock Holmes’). The movie is being directed by Shane Black, who previously oversaw “Iron Man 3” and made his directorial debut with “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.” The movie’s script was co-written by Anthony Bagarozzi (of “The Nice Guys”) and Chuck Mondry. The movie is a part of a franchise based on the Amazon-created book series.
Sherlock Holmes 3 (TBA)
The third entry in Guy Ritchie’s ‘Sherlock Holmes’ franchise has been in development for what seems like more than a decade. The movie was even scheduled for December 2021 release, but the production never got off the ground. After a while, the movie’s director Dexter Fletcher (‘Rocketman’ and ‘Ghosted’) even acknowledged that it is ‘on the back burner’. Despite this, fans of Robert’s portrayal of the classic role might not be doomed to despair. The actor’s wife and co-producer Susan Downey recently made it plain that the movie hasn’t been put on hold.
“So, yeah, ‘Sherlock Holmes 3’ is now in the works. It is a priority for the business and a priority for Robert, but we’ll do it when the time is perfect and with the appropriate people, Susan said on ‘UnWrapped.’ The destiny of the movie is in Robert’s hands, according to Ritchie, who also helmed the first two films in the series. Well, to be really honest, I gave Robert the reins on ‘Sherlock Holmes 3’. Robert therefore desired to oversee this. He is in control of everything because the ball is in his court, even the script. The director told Collider, “I’ve moonwalked out of that until there’s a time for me to get engaged.
The Sympathizer (2024)
The Sympathiser, a historical series centred on the Captain, a North Vietnam plant in the South Vietnamese army, will probably be Robert’s next publication. When the Captain is forced to flee to the United States, he settles among a group of South Vietnamese refugees where he later turns them into spies for the Viet Cong. Robert performs a number of villainous characters throughout the series. The series, which is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s eponymous Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, was co-developed by Park Chan-wook, whose previous work includes “Oldboy,” “The Handmaiden,” and “Decision to Leave,” and Don McKellar (“The Grand Seduction”).
Producing the show for the network was a collaboration between HBO, A24, and Rhombus Media, along with Cinetic Media and Moho Film. Additionally, Robert is an executive producer. Although a specific date has not yet been revealed, the historical drama is anticipated to debut in 2024. The show’s official teaser may be seen here.
