A new documentary does a dive into the life of Robert Downey Sr. and the official trailer has just been released. Simply settled Sr., the doc also features the late actor's son, Robert Downey Jr., who produced the film in addition to being featured in footage with his dad. The movie will be released on Dec. 2, 2022, and you can get an early peek by watching the below trailer.
As noted in the trailer, the film was spearheaded by the younger Downey who wanted more people to know about the story of his father and namesake. The doc even includes footage of RDJ convincing others to check out his father's work, even telling his own children they need to watch grandpa's "awesome" movies. THere is also plenty of exclusive footage of the Downeys speaking on life, love, and family, in addition to the various career accomplishments.
Chris Smith directed Sr. and served as a producer alongside RDJ, Susan Downey, Kevin Ford, and Emily Barclay Ford. You can read the official synopsis for the documentary below.
From documentarian Chris Smith (American Movie) comes a lovingly irreverent portrait of the life, career, and last days of maverick filmmaker Robert Downey Sr., whose rebellious spirit infused decades of counterculture movie-making. Sr. widens the lens from Downey’s art to the life with which it was deeply intertwined, including an intimate examination of his relationship with son Robert Downey, Jr. Shot over the course of three years, the film truly honors Senior’s nonlinear, outlaw-life approach, including capturing his decision to embark on his own concurrent and final film project. Smith’s portrait of a family and an artist is a meditation on life that’s as surreal as it is sentimental, a celebration of making art with no rules that tosses out its own rulebook along the way.
Robert Downey Sr. Wasn't Able to See the Finished Film
The senior Downey made many films over the decades along with appearing in a variety of movies and TV shows; his final role was in the 2011 comedy Tower Heist. Sadly, Robert Downey Sr. died during production of the new Netflix documentary. He passed in July 2021 due to complications from Parkinson's disease shortly after turning 85 years old. At the time, RDJ posted a message of tribute acknowledging his father's death. He also mentioned in the joke heard at the start of the Sr. trailer made by his stepmother Rosemary that they'd been married for thousands of years.
"Last night, dad passed peacefully in his sleep after years of enduring the ravages of Parkinson’s," RDJ said. "He was a true maverick filmmaker, and remained remarkably optimistic throughout. According to my stepmoms calculations, they were happily married for just over 2000 years. Rosemary Rogers-Downey, you are a saint, and our thoughts and prayers are with you."
Sr. will start streaming on Dec. 2, 2022, on the Netflix app and at Netflix.com.