LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥 Robert Downey Jr. doesn't think Marvel executives would ever recreate his portrayal of Tony Stark using artificial intelligence. But if they did, he would lawyer up 鈥 even posthumously.
On a recent episode of the 鈥淥n With Kara Swisher鈥 podcast, the Oscar-winning actor said he intends to 鈥渟ue all future executives鈥 who allow an AI-created version of him. Speaking about his role as Iron Man, Downey said he does not want his likeness recreated by AI technology.
鈥淚 am not worried about them hijacking my character鈥檚 soul because there鈥檚 like three or four guys and gals who make all the decisions there anyway and they would never do that to me, with or without me,鈥 Downey said.
Swisher noted that those executives would eventually be replaced.
鈥淲ell, you鈥檙e right,鈥 Downey said. 鈥淚 would like to here state that I intend to sue all future executives just on spec.鈥
鈥淵ou鈥檒l be dead,鈥 Swisher said.
Downey replied: 鈥淏ut my law firm will still be very active.鈥
Representatives for Marvel Studios and for Downey did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The discussion comes amid the Hollywood video game performers鈥 strike, which began in July after more than 18 months of negotiations over a new interactive media agreement with game industry giants broke down over protections.
Leaders of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have billed the issues behind the labor dispute 鈥 and AI in particular 鈥 as an existential crisis for performers. Concerns about how movie studios will use last year鈥檚 film and television strikes by the union, which lasted four months. SAG-AFTRA requiring productions to get the informed consent of actors whose digital replicas are used.
A spokesperson for SAG-AFTRA said that Downey has the right to deny any digital replica uses in film because of California's new law prohibiting the unauthorized replication of a dead performer's likenesses without prior consent. That law, signed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom in September, was sponsored by the union.
Downey made his Broadway debut this month in 鈥淢cNeal,鈥 a one-act play by that delves into themes of artificial intelligence, artistic integrity, plagiarism and copyright infringement. The 59-year-old actor plays the titular character, Jacob McNeal, an acclaimed novelist whose battles with alcoholism and mental illness culminate at a crucial juncture in his career.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 envy anyone who has been over-identified with the advent of this new phase of the information age,鈥 Downey said. 鈥淭he idea that somehow it belongs to them because they have these super huge start-ups is a fallacy.鈥
The podcast episode explored questions the play raises about truth and power in the age of AI, and whether there is a 鈥渟ocial contract鈥 related to the use of AI.
Downey's upcoming role as Doctor Doom in 鈥淎vengers: Doomsday鈥 will bring him back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2026.
