Robert Downey Jr. to make Broadway debut this year as lead in ‘McNeal’

Robert Downey Jr. accepts the award for best performance by an actor in a supporting role for “Oppenheimer” during the Oscars on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Robert Downey Jr. will hang his “Iron Man” suit for a while as he announced that he’s taking his act to Broadway this year after more than 40 years to play the lead in Pulitzer Prize-winner Ayad Akhtar’s new play titled “McNeal.”

The “Avengers” actor shared the news on his Instagram, saying that he’s been reading the playscript and he wanted to play the lead in “McNeal,” to be directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher.

“I am making my Broadway debut,” he wrote. “I knew I wanted to do Ayad’s new play before I was done reading it, and then hearing Bart would be directing sealed the deal.”

The play revolves around the story of writer and Nobel Prize candidate Jacob McNeal struggling with his “estranged son, a new novel, old axes to grind and an unhealthy fascination with Artificial Intelligence.” As Broadway puts it, “Akhtar’s new play is a startling and wickedly smart examination of the inescapable humanity – and increasing inhumanity – of the stories we tell.”

Downey was last seen on stage in 1983 for the off-Broadway production “American Passion” alongside Jane Krakowski, and this will mark his much-awaited comeback.

“It’s been 40 years since I was last on “the boards,” but hopefully I’ll knock the dust off quick. ‘McNeal’ is a timely and important story about the future of creatives, and I intend to do it justice,” added the Hollywood star.

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In March of this year, Downey achieved a milestone in his career after winning his first ever Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role in “Oppenheimer,” 31 years after his first Oscar nomination. He also took home the best supporting actor plum at the Screen Actors Guild Awards for the same movie.

Despite his last appearance as Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, in Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)’s “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019, the “Dolittle” actor recently shared that he’s willing to return to his iconic role that enabled him to revive his career into becoming a mainstream name in entertainment.

“It’s too integral a part of my DNA,” Downey told Esquire in a new interview. “That role chose me. And look, I always say, never, ever bet against Kevin Feige. It is a losing bet. He’s the house. He will always win.”

Meanwhile, “McNeal” is set to run from September to November at the Lincoln Center Theater. Downey is the first actor to be announced in the cast. More details are expected to be unveiled soon.

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