With Iron Man 3 about to start principal photography in a few weeks, it seems strange to imagine anyone else besides Robert Downey Jr. playing Tony Stark. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige recently said that, in the event Robert Downey Jr. leaves the franchise, it will not be rebooted. Here's what the executive had to say, likening the Iron Man series to James Bond.

"I think Bond is a good example. Let's put it this way: I hope Downey makes a lot of movies for us as Stark. If and when he doesn't, and I'm still here making these movies, we don't take him to Afghanistan and have him wounded again. I think we James Bond it."

The actor will almost certainly return as Tony Stark in the inevitable sequel The Avengers 2. After that, it isn't clear how many other movies, if any, Robert Downey Jr. is signed on for at Marvel Studios. Kevin Feige also spoke out about the negative connotation attached to the word "reboot," and how it shouldn't apply to The Amazing Spider-Man.

"I think the term reboot has got to go. I think it's like after the Star Wars movies nobody likes the idea of prequels, and reboots have turned into the same thing. It means 'Oh they've run out of ideas! It's bad.' I've seen The Amazing Spider-Man. It's awesome. It's totally fresh and unique."