Robert Downey Jr. Vows to ‘Sue All Future Execs’ Who Use AI to Recreate His Iconic Tony Stark Role

In his warning against the use of artificial intelligence to replicate his Tony Stark role, Robert Downey Jr. said he would sue future Marvel executives for permitting such a development, even after his death.

They would never do that to me, with or without me, Downey stated, adding, "I am not worried about them hijacking my character's soul because there are like three or four guys and gals who make all the decisions there anyway."

Eventually, those executives would be replaced, Swisher said.

"You're correct," Downey remarked. "Just on spec, I would like to state that I intend to sue all future executives."

“You’ll be dead,” Swisher said.

Downey replied: “But my law firm will still be very active.”

A request for comment was not immediately answered by Downey's or Marvel Studios representatives.

The conversation takes place during the Hollywood video game actors' strike, which started in July when talks with the biggest players in the game business broke down over artificial intelligence protections over more than 18 months of discussions for a new interactive media deal.

Last year's four-month film and television strikes were sparked by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which has described AI as an existential crisis for performers. Citing California's new legislation that forbids unlawful reproduction without approval, SAG-AFTRA has inked an agreement demanding informed consent for digital replicas.

Downey remarked, "I don't feel sorry for anyone who has become overly attached to the arrival of this new era of the information age." "It is a fallacy to think that it somehow belongs to them because they have these incredibly large start-ups."

The podcast episode examined the play's themes of truth and power in the AI era, as well as whether or not there is a "social contract" around AI use.

Downey will return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2026 when he plays Doctor Doom in "Avengers: Doomsday."