In a recent interview, while talking about his role as Tony Stark in Captain America: Civil War, Robert Downey Jr. cautioned fans against confusing it for the next instalment of Iron Man.

Jeff Bridges Coming Back For Fourth Instalment Of Iron Man? 

Speaking to Empire magazine, the actor revealed that he had a pretty substantial role to play in Civil War and it seems like Stark will be one of the primary characters. But that being said, Downey Jr. felt the need to emphasize that it is not a continuation of the Iron Man franchise in anyway.

"Ultimately it's Steve's story; it doesn't say 'Iron Man 4: Civil War'. I think that's great too," he said. "I think Chris [Evans] has been hungry to bring even more of an underside and some shadow to that. I remember the comics - on the surface you got the sense that Cap was baseball and apple pie, but underneath there was all this churning stuff of being a man out of time. Now we know he's made his peace with that. What's the bigger issue? It can have a little something to do with the past, but it can be about someone becoming more modernized in their own conflict."

Downey Jr. has also been clear about exiting the Iron Man franchise in the recent past. In fact, recent reports are setting off the rumor that a young child might be the main star in Iron Man 4.

Air Herald believes that the child who assists Stark in the third movie, Harley Keener, might take over the mantle of the Iron Man.

Things have dramatically changed since last year, whenDowney Jr. sounded more positive about being part of a fourth film in the action movie franchise, in an interview with Ellen.

Watch Downey Jr.'s interview with Ellen:

Tags: Iron Man 4 Captain America: Civil War Robert Downey Jr Movies