In a recent interview with Esquire magazine, Robert Downey Jr., the actor who brought Iron Man to life in 11 films over the course of 11 years, hinted at a possible return to the role. Despite his character’s death in Avengers: Endgame, the 58-year-old star suggested that this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the last we’ll see of Tony Stark.

Downey Jr. expressed his deep connection to the character, stating, “It’s too integral a part of my DNA. That role chose me.” He also expressed his faith in Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, saying, “Never, ever bet against Kevin Feige. He is the house. He will always win.”

However, Downey Jr.’s co-star Gwyneth Paltrow, who played Pepper Potts, revealed that she often struggled with learning her lines due to Downey Jr.’s tendency to improvise on set. She explained that the script was often changed last minute, with Downey Jr. insisting on “throwing out” his lines and coming up with new dialogue on the spot.

Despite Downey Jr.’s comments, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige has previously stated that there are no plans to bring Iron Man back to life in future films. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Feige said, “We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again. We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.”

It remains to be seen whether Downey Jr. will indeed reprise his role as Iron Man in future Marvel films. However, fans can rest assured that the studio values the integrity of the character’s story and will not bring him back without careful consideration.