Robert Downey Jr will star as Iron Man in Spider-Man: Homecoming, the masked wallcrawler’s debut solo outing in the Marvel cinematic universe, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Spider-Man, as played by Britain’s 19-year-old Tom Holland, will first be seen in the upcoming Captain America: Civil War. Downey Jr’s Iron Man plays a key role in introducing the young Spider-Man into the wider world of Marvel superheroes in the Russo brothers’ critically acclaimed film, leaving the door open for him to continue as a mentor figure in Homecoming.
Jon Watts’s Spider-Man project has already cast Marisa Tomei as a younger-than-usual Aunt May – the Oscar-winner also appears in Civil War – and pop star Zendaya in a key supporting role, as well as The Grand Budapest Hotel’s Tony Revolori as one of Spidey’s fellow high-school students. But according to Deadline, Birdman’s Michael Keaton will not be taking the part of a villain, as had been expected.
Homecoming is due in cinemas in July 2017, so Watts and Marvel will be looking to complete their cast imminently.
Downey Jr is also signed on for two further Avengers film: Infinity War, parts one and two. The actor also told ShortList that a third Guy Ritchie-directed Sherlock Holmes movie would go into production during 2016. “We’re talking about it right now,” he said. “We can do some preliminary stuff.”
Downey Jr continued: “If we could shoot it on Skype, we could have the whole [movie] done in a week. When we’re making those Sherlock movies it is off the hook. [So] we’ll attempt to make one this year. It really is a big deal to go and do those movies. I’m tired all the time, but I’m so excited about it.”
