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Jon Favreau on replacing Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man: 'I can't imagine how they could'

By Wade Sheridan
Robert Downey Jr. (L) star of the film "Iron Man" and the film's director Jon Favreau appear with their Best Summer Movie So Far award backstage at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards on June 1, 2008. Favreau has stated how difficult it would be to recast another actor as the power suited superhero. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
1 of 3 | Robert Downey Jr. (L) star of the film "Iron Man" and the film's director Jon Favreau appear with their Best Summer Movie So Far award backstage at the 2008 MTV Movie Awards on June 1, 2008. Favreau has stated how difficult it would be to recast another actor as the power suited superhero. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

LOS ANGELES, April 22 (UPI) -- Jon Favreau has explained why he thinks it will be difficult to replace Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man in the future.

Speaking with IGN onThursday, the director, who worked with Downey on Iron Man and Iron Man 2, says he's had a hard time imagining someone else donning the signature red and gold power suit.

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"I can't imagine how they could but that doesn't mean that they can't. I just can't wrap my head around that one," the Jungle Book director said when asked about an Iron Man film being made without Downey.

"To me he's the one element that has unified all of it, and I think kept a consistent tone, and the integrity of his acting ability and his talent really works wonderfully synergistically with the Marvel universe," he continued. "I think that his personality is something which helps define it. That being said, nothing would surprise me, but for me it would be a hard pill to swallow and big shoes to fill."

Downey, who just signed on to reprise his role as Tony Stark/Iron Man in Sony and Marvel's upcoming Spider-Man revival Spider-Man Homecoming, is expected to stay with the character until at least the conclusion of Avengers: Infinity War.

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Recently, Downey praised new Spider-Man actor Tom Holland on Jimmy Kimmel Live! expressing excitement for the new Spider-Man film. "Tom Holland, he's a British actor, you've seen him in other stuff before but he is fantastic," Downey said. "I like this Tom Holland guy, I like him, it's about the person, Jimmy," he continued, responding to Kimmel who joked about a British actor portraying Spider-Man.

Downey will also be seen as Iron Man in Captain America: Civil War, due in theaters May 6. Spider-Man Homecoming swings into theaters July 7, 2017.

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