Robert Downey Jr. Promises to Sue 'All Future Executives' Who May Try to Replicate His Likeness Using AI

Mar. 15, 2025

Robert Downey Jr. on May 23, 2024.Photo:Kevin Winter/Getty

Kevin Winter/Getty

Robert Downey Jr.is making it clear he does not want his likeness to be recreated via artificial intelligence in the future.While Downey Jr., 59, appeared on the Monday, Oct. 21 episode of theOn with Kara Swisherpodcast with hisMcNealplaywright Ayad Akhtar and director Bartlett Sher to discuss hisrecent Broadway debut, the actor quipped that he “intend[s] to sue all future executives on spec” for any attempts to create a digital replication of him for movies in the future.“I will say this — there’s two tracks," he said, when asked how he feels about the idea of digital recreation using AI and how it applies toMcNeal, which revolves around a character obsessed with the technology.“One is — how do I feel about everything that’s going on, and my answer is I feel about it minimally because I have an actual emotional life that’s occurring that doesn’t have a lot of room for that,” Downey added. “And to go back to the MCU, I’m not worried about them hijacking my character’s soul because there’s 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.“When host Swisher, 61, asked about future executives who may not seek his permission, the actor said, “Well, you’re right, and I would like to here state that I intend to sue all future executives just on spec.“Robert Downey Jr. (left) and Susan Downey on Sept. 30, 2024.Ilya S. Savenok/Getty"I know, but my law firm will still be very active,” he added, after the host said Downey Jr. could be dead when and if this happens.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Downey Jr.’s playMcNealfollows theAvengersstar as a character named Jacob McNeal, described in anofficial synopsisfor the production as “a great writer, one of our greatest, a perpetual candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature.““But McNeal also has an estranged son, a new novel, old axes to grind and an unhealthy fascination with Artificial Intelligence,” the synopsis adds.Robert Downey Jr. on Sept. 30, 2024.Ilya S. Savenok/GettyDowney Jr. intends to return to the big screen with Marvel Studios for the upcomingAvengersmoviesDoomsdayandSecret Warsas the villainDoctor Doom, which heannouncedwith Marvel at the San Diego Comic-Con back in July. Those movies are due in theaters May 1, 2026, and May 1, 2027, respectively.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!For the moment, Downey Jr,’s playMcNealis currently set for a limited engagement through Nov. 24 in New York City.

Robert Downey Jr.is making it clear he does not want his likeness to be recreated via artificial intelligence in the future.

While Downey Jr., 59, appeared on the Monday, Oct. 21 episode of theOn with Kara Swisherpodcast with hisMcNealplaywright Ayad Akhtar and director Bartlett Sher to discuss hisrecent Broadway debut, the actor quipped that he “intend[s] to sue all future executives on spec” for any attempts to create a digital replication of him for movies in the future.

“I will say this — there’s two tracks,” he said, when asked how he feels about the idea of digital recreation using AI and how it applies toMcNeal, which revolves around a character obsessed with the technology.

“One is — how do I feel about everything that’s going on, and my answer is I feel about it minimally because I have an actual emotional life that’s occurring that doesn’t have a lot of room for that,” Downey added. “And to go back to the MCU, I’m not worried about them hijacking my character’s soul because there’s 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.”

When host Swisher, 61, asked about future executives who may not seek his permission, the actor said, “Well, you’re right, and I would like to here state that I intend to sue all future executives just on spec.”

Robert Downey Jr. (left) and Susan Downey on Sept. 30, 2024.Ilya S. Savenok/Getty

Ilya S. Savenok/Getty

“I know, but my law firm will still be very active,” he added, after the host said Downey Jr. could be dead when and if this happens.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Downey Jr.’s playMcNealfollows theAvengersstar as a character named Jacob McNeal, described in anofficial synopsisfor the production as “a great writer, one of our greatest, a perpetual candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature.”

“But McNeal also has an estranged son, a new novel, old axes to grind and an unhealthy fascination with Artificial Intelligence,” the synopsis adds.

Robert Downey Jr. on Sept. 30, 2024.Ilya S. Savenok/Getty

Downey Jr. intends to return to the big screen with Marvel Studios for the upcomingAvengersmoviesDoomsdayandSecret Warsas the villainDoctor Doom, which heannouncedwith Marvel at the San Diego Comic-Con back in July. Those movies are due in theaters May 1, 2026, and May 1, 2027, respectively.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

For the moment, Downey Jr,’s playMcNealis currently set for a limited engagement through Nov. 24 in New York City.

source: people.com