Robert Downey Jr. Talks Jon Favreau's Departure From 'Iron Man 3'

After director Jon Favreau departed the "Iron Man" franchise but before Shane Black ("Kiss Kiss Bang Bang") became the front-runner to helm the third installment of the superhero-movie series, MTV News sat down with Robert Downey Jr. and asked the actor how it would feel to play Tony Stark without Favreau behind the camera.

"It is weird. I think there's always a closure to everything," he said, adding, "This will all come to an end one day, and I think the thing is to just really enjoy it while you have it."

No bad blood exists between the two men and, as Downey told us, he remains friendly with Favreau and is looking forward to his next directorial effort. "He's up to great stuff with 'Cowboys & Aliens' coming up," the actor said. "I just spoke with him a few weeks ago and we were quite friendly."

Before Downey begins "Iron Man 3," which isn't due in theaters until May 2013, he'll be joining the highly anticipated superhero all-star flick, "The Avengers." The picture will bring Downey's metal-suited Stark together with the likes of Chris Evans' Captain America, Chris Hemsworth's Thor and Mark Ruffalo's Hulk. "The Avengers" will begin filming later this year, after Downey finishes work on "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows," which he was shooting when we caught up with him in January. Ever the jokester, Downey said he won't have to do much preparation to make "Avengers" a winner.

"You grow a moustache and maybe do something with the hair. That's how easy it is," he laughed. "It's going to be great, once I tell them what to do."

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