RDJ's 5 to 7 percent first-dollar slice of the $1.22 billion-grossing Iron Man 3 was again worth around $50 million; for non-Tony Stark roles he makes closer to $15 million, according to one source. In the past year he's gotten paid for shooting The Judge and a little movie called Avengers: Age of Ultron -- and he's due for another jackpot when the backend on the latter comes in.
Robert Downey Jr. appears ready to put on his metal suit yet again, which could throw a wrench into his other prospective projects.
Downey is in negotiations to join the cast of Captain America 3, with Captain America: The Winter Soldier directors Joe and Anthony Russo set to helm. Marvel has no plans at the moment for a fourth Iron Man film.
It’s unclear where this would leave Downey’s multitude of other possible films, which are in varying stages of development. He recently wrapped work on Avengers: Age of Ultron.
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Downey, whose dramedy The Judge opened to $13.1 million this weekend, has been in talks to star in Sherlock Holmes 3, as well as a big-screen take on the classic TV series Perry Mason. Neither has been given the green light yet, but Downey suiting up for Captain America 3 would significantly push them back.
Meanwhile, his and wife Susan Downey‘s Team Downey production company have been developing Yucatan, an adventure film about a treasure hunt through the Mayan ruins. The actor has also long had his heart set on starring as Geppetto in a live-action Pinocchio.
Sources say Downey could collect more than $40 million backend for Captain America 3, which may focus on Marvel’s popular “Civil War” event series from 2006 to 2007.