Robert Downey, Jr. was always an acclaimed actor, despite any personal problems that plagued him over the years. Iron Man marked not only his return to mainstream Hollywood, but his leap into box office superstar. Taking that film to San Diego Comic-Con two years ago was big. This year, he had two films at the massive convention. Friday he presented Sherlock Holmes and Saturday, the sequel Iron Man 2.

"It's pretty miraculous, but in the realm of miracles, I think it's probably a two or three because it's a movie industry thing, you know," Downey mused. "Nonetheless, it's mind blowing to me because I'd always felt like I wanted and could do something like this. It's wild."

Still, Downey is careful not to let the success go to his head. "The best thing I can do, and I think this is the thing that's been my saving grace is I consider myself a worker amongst workers. When I deviate from that, things don't turn out so sweet for me."

Downey imagines Holmes and Iron will be he major franchises for the time being, but either of them could continue indefinitely. "I think about rock stars and they always say they're going to retire by this or that age. Then I think about other guys, one of which just starred in a movie and had double franchises going. I think if the material is still good and you still love the people you get to work with, then why not? I wouldn't want to launch anything else but I think Sherlock Holmes in particular has just been such a life changing experience, the act of researching it and making it and Joel [Silver] and I getting to do something big together. I'm down for the cause."

So, Iron Man 19? "By then I'll probably have another kid, maybe a Shetland pony, a non-alcoholic vineyard. I might need to really keep crankin' 'em out."

Image © PR Photos

Story/Interview by Fred Topel

Starpulse contributing writer

(Starpulse in Hollywood): Every week, Hollywood's biggest stars are meeting in the hot spots and Starpulse is there.