If you thought Robert Downey Jr.’s time as Iron Man was behind him, think again. Though his iconic portrayal of Tony Stark/Iron Man closed a significant chapter in Avengers: Endgame (2019), the actor’s involvement with the MCU is far from over — but in a completely unexpected way.
Robert Downey Jr. Takes on Stark Flight Lab
At the Future of World-Building panel at SXSW, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and Walt Disney Imagineering President Bruce Vaughn revealed a major update for the expanding Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park. This time, it’s not about movies — it’s about the latest addition to the park: Stark Flight Lab, an immersive new ride that brings guests into the world of Iron Man.
The biggest surprise came when Robert Downey Jr. himself appeared on stage, dressed in the trademark sharp suit and glasses of Tony Stark.
With fans in awe, Downey praised the creative team behind the attraction, saying, “The curiosity, the passion, the inventiveness, the occasional flair for the dramatic — most of all a drive to put something good out into the world to make life better, at the minimum more fun by a mile. It’s the privilege of a lifetime to be invited to participate.”
The ride will feature “gyro-kinetic pods” that glide along a track before being lifted into the air by a robot arm, offering high-speed maneuvers inspired by Iron Man’s incredible flight abilities. “Transferring from a track to a robot arm and then back again — nothing like this has ever been done before in a theme park,” said Vaughn. “Usually, we hide all the tech behind the scenes so you can focus on the story. Here, the tech is the story, so we’re putting it front and center.”
This groundbreaking attraction, which will take guests on an exhilarating ride through the skies alongside Iron Man and other Avengers, also features a familiar face: DUM-E, Stark’s robotic assistant from the Iron Man films. Downey himself had a hand in this, noticing the robot arm’s resemblance to DUM-E and encouraging Imagineering to bring the character into the experience. Motion capture technology will bring DUM-E to life, delivering the same charm fans remember from the films.
Avengers Campus Expands Beyond Iron Man
The Stark Flight Lab is just one part of the bigger picture. Disney is also doubling the size of Avengers Campus, bringing more immersive experiences for fans.
This expansion will include a new attraction called Avengers: Infinity Defense, where guests will travel across multiple universes on a mission to stop King Thanos. Along the way, they’ll encounter iconic destinations from the MCU, including Asgard, Wakanda, and New York City, all while teaming up with Avengers such as Iron Man, Ant-Man, The Hulk, and Black Panther.
With Downey Jr.’s presence at the park, Marvel fans may find themselves with more than just new attractions to look forward to — they’ll get a taste of the MCU’s future, both in theme parks and on the big screen.
The actor made it clear that his participation at Avengers Campus is just the beginning, telling Feige and Vaughn, “Even after we finish with the Flight Lab, I want to stay with you all for the long haul. This isn’t a one-time deal. You need more me.”
Fans of Iron Man can take that as a promise for even more iconic moments in the future.
Are you ready for more Stark, or will you be rushing to experience Avengers: Infinity Defense first?
