"Iron Man" cast Robert Downey Jr. has topped Forbes magazine's list of Hollywood's most highly paid actors. According to a CNN report, this is Downey's second year in a row to top the list, and fans of "Iron Man" and "Avengers" hope that it would help convince him to hold on to his popular Marvel role.
Following "Iron Man" cast Robert Downey Jr. on the Forbes list are Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Bradley Cooper.
The Forbes annual feature has computed that "Iron Man" cast Robert Downey Jr. earned roughly $75 million between June 2013 and June 2014.
Forbes credited Downey's successful portrayal of the Marvel hero as part of the reason for the actor's big income, having played Iron Man in three top-grossing feature films plus the 2012 hit ensemble movie "The Avengers".
Downey is expected to again portray Iron Man on 2015 for "The Avengers'" sequel, "Age Of Ultron".
Forbes said that "it would be incredibly difficult for Marvel to continue making "Iron Man" and "Avengers" lms without him."
A report from Entertainment Weekly says that while no official statements have been made regarding rumors that there will soon be a new "Iron Man", Downey has hinted about holding on to the Iron Mask.
"It's that thing of: Why give up the belt when it feels like you can barely get jabbed?" he said.
Listed in second place on the Forbes list is 42-year-old wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. "The Rock" starred in five films in 2013 and made $52 million between June 2013 and June 2014, based on Forbes' estimate.
"The Hangover" star Bradley Cooper landed on third place with $46 million earnings over the same period. The actor also received Oscar nominations for his roles in Silver Linings Playbook and American Hustle.
Fourth on the Forbes list is Leonardo DiCaprio, with an estimated $39 million. Downey's "Avengers" co-star Chris Hemsworth, who made around $37 million over the past 12 months primarily for his portrayal of Marvel hero "Thor", landed on 5th place.
