While doing press rounds for the forthcoming “Iron Man 2,” Robert Downey Jr. has confirmed his involvement with Alfonso Cuarón’s 3D space-thriller “Gravity,” a project he was reportedly circling early last month.
“I’m working with Alfonso Cuarón on this 3D space movie about people trying to fix the Hubble telescope,” the actor told Moviehole. “It’s been really inspiring talking to Cuarón–he lives in London, but he’s originally from Mexico City, and there’s a little bit of a language barrier but he’s a brilliant guy and a thoughtful guy.”
The film centers on a team of space travelers — including a female medical engineer, a role previously linked to Angelina Jolie, and a talkative “mile-a-minute” veteran astronaut which Downey Jr. will probably take — who are asked to abandon their mission and reboard ship after a sudden Russian attack has triggered a kind of satellite avalanche in orbit that threatens to hit them imminently. What transpires then is described in our script review as a “streamlined thrill ride” and a nonstop race for our protagonists to get back to earth.
Shooting on the project is supposed to begin this summer in London which sounds like it slots into Downey Jr.’s schedule nicely, but maybe not.
The actor’s reunion with Guy Ritchie, Jude Law and Rachel McAdams on the 3D ‘Sherlock Holmes’ sequel is set to begin in the late summer/early fall also in London and wherever else in Europe the detective’s adventure takes him. But with no lead female cast in “Gravity,” and with the world’s most bankable female action star already passing (Jolie), we’re still not 100% confident this one will be ready to go. It’s also a massive undertaking that could take months to shoot. Not that we don’t want it to shoot, we’d love to see this picture, but we’re just managing expectations.
Downey Jr. also took the opportunity to hype his upcoming road-trip comedy “Due Date” which he describes as “like the second greatest movie I’ve ever done — largely due to Zach Galifianakis, who is crazy good in every scene, and Todd Phillips, who is just one of the great American directors. I guarantee you’re going to love it — I went to the last screening and people were literally saying ‘Oh my god, It’s gotta stop — my face hurts!'”
Doesn’t look like this era’s “it” actor is slowing down any time soon, even if reviews for the “Iron Man” sequel aren’t looking great.