Iron Man 3 star Robert Downey Jr. has hinted that he may step away from his iconic Tony Stark character in three years, when he turns 50. Asked about his on-set injury last year while filming Iron Man 3, the actor hinted that he is "retiring" from superhero movies altogether.

"It got me thinking about how big the message from your cosmic sponsor needs to be before you pick it up. How many genre movies can I do? How many follow-ups to a successful follow-up are actually fun? Because, as quiet as it's kept, I come from a family of very innovative writers and directors and actors and artists, and the circle of friends they were in were the people I heard having pun-offs playing poker at two in the morning, and it was just the most comforting aspect of my childhood. So there's this kind of legacy of souls from what I consider to be a very particular time in entertainment, and I'm sensing a return to that...it's what me and the missus are doing next. It's not unlike: I heard (Tom) Brady signed on for three more years with New England, and then he's done being a QB, because he'll be 40. I'm 47, and I'll be 50."

When asked if he will stop playing superheroes at age 50, he revealed that he isn't under contract at this time.

"I don't know. I don't know. Right now I don't have a contract to do anything, and I did for the last five years."

With The Avengers 2 currently slated for release in 2015, that would fall under the three-year period the actor spoke of, but it seems he may have to negotiate a new deal to return as Tony Stark, since he isn't under contract.