“I have no set plans for my future,” says Robert Downey Jr., who plays the titular detective in the upcoming film Sherlock Holmes (due Dec. 25), directed by Guy Ritchie (Snatch). “I’ve never had it this good — this is my day in the sun — and I certainly don’t want to look a gift horse in the molars. But [my wife] Susan and I want to begin to be in our lives as much as we are in our jobs. I’d love just to sit here and say, ‘What movie’s playing tonight?’ I’d love to finish the new book about D-day I’m reading. I love painting, I love music.”
The actor, who got his comeback in Iron Man in 2008 and will reprise the role in next summer’s Iron Man 2, isn’t even sure he wants to keep acting. “I’m f—ing really good at what I do — and have been for a long time, so I don’t waver on that,” he says. “But here’s the thing: I can only be a guy on a call sheet probably, I don’t know, maybe a couple more times. It’s something I’m so grateful to have in my palm, and yet I already see its inevitable decay.” Or not. Then again, he says with a weary smile, “If Sherlock Holmes performs well, I could be busy for the next 5 or 7 or 10 years.”
For more of our interview with Robert Downey Jr., plus inside scoop on the making of Sherlock Holmes, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly, on stands November 20.
Comments (1-15) of 77 Add your comment
Uh oh…
I wonder if the wagon is calling again?
“Iron Man” wasn’t “his comeback”.
I’d say “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” was.
I’d agree with you on that. Iron Man just cemented it, is all.
I loved Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, but it was not a hit. Iron Man was most definately his comeback.
I would say Zodiac was a major factor as well
I’m with gwen. I didn’t even know he was in “Kiss Kiss…”
i doubt it’s alcohol, the man just wants to live his life with his wife, i don’t blame him
Hollywierd is a different world. They just don’t live in the same reality as the average person.
Working hard, getting tired, and wanting to retire to enjoy time with family . . . those weirdos.
Working hard? They work a few months a year and make millions. How about the Dads and Moms that work 2 jobs to put food on the table. They have a right to complain, not fatcat RDJ
Good point, But you could say the
same thing about us. Its getting
weird out there….
Crawl back under your rock. It isn’t safe out here for you.
Michael Cera said the same thing and keeps putting out lame movies
That boy’s been typecast in the worst way possible. I wonder if he’ll ever break out of it.
I just hope he makes the AD movie even though he claims it’s holding him back as an actor.
Michael Cera is completely over-rated. He’s a terrible actor incapable of showing any emotion besides awkward and confused.
But man he does those two well
Agreed.
ANd RDJ is a great actor, I hope he doesn’t burn out after Sherlock Holmes.
He seems to be getting towards that annoying status like will ferrell where he’ll play the same role over and over again. If he were to pick a completely opposite role and abandon the akward schtick, he could really show us his range.
And the reason he hasn’t is probably because he can’t anything else besides awkward and confused.
Nice change EW! Instead of a boring close-up with a white background, we get a semi-interesting close-up with a BLUE background.
Oh well… one step at a time I guess.
I think EW may have lost a couple of their prized photographers recently.
They must have. I am trying to pay attention to this, and to some of the sources of the really bad repeated Melrose Place, Gossip Girl and 90210 stories that flood EW and this site.
I am trying to get a better idea of where the real problems are with this mag.
I think a large part of the problem is that they seem to want to be more like Cosmo, and less like classic EW.
I hate it, because I love classic EW, but I am hopeful that things will turn around.
Has HAHAHAHAHAHAHA made a coherent comment yet?
BTW- thank EW, two great covers in a row. Or does that make me (and the rest of us who don’t take ourselves so seriously) losers because we’re entertained?
Oh go count the hairs on Pattinson’s unibrow, you lazy house frau!
It does not make you a loser, Elizabeth. As a matter of fact you are probably the exact demographic (as well as teeny boppers) that the last two covers have been aimed at.
The problem I have is that the covers lately have been very similar.
Would you really want a close-up of an actors face on EVERY issue of EW? If you do, you are not a loser… just possibly boring.
please dont ever quit acting RDJ!!! you are an amazing actor!!
I second that motion! We missed out seeing him all those years he was doing the drug thing, I think his carrier should be viable for a VERY long time. as long as he stays clean this time around!
RDJ also knows, perhaps better than any actor aside from Mickey Rourke, how quickly it can all be taken away. I think he’ll keep riding this wave for awhile.
Maybe riding the wave is what has left him beached over and over again in the past, so he wants to hop off the board while he’s still in the water.
Rich I don’t think Mickey Rourke realizes he has anything, or lost anything… like being in touch with some sort of reality.
RDJ is a great actor, stoned or sober!
Kudos to him — frankly, I never understood why more successful actors don’t feel this way. I understand that they love their jobs but it’s still work at the end of the day. Personally speaking, should I ever stumble across a multi-million dollar payday that would be my last day of work. Period. Plus, if more actors cashed their chips in earlier there would be more turnover/fresh faces coming out of h’wood. A win-win for all…
RDJ Looks HOT on the cover, minus the creepy hand… but my scissors will be chopping off the nastiness above the Entertainment Weekly header. Gross.
I want him to take the time to care for himself….love his work.
kiss kiss bang bang was awesome