Robert Downey Jr
Robert Downey Jr.Reuters

Robert Downey Jr has successfully managed to confuse fans on the future of an "Iron Man 4" movie, after he initially confirmed to such a project being in the works, and then said that the movie isn't happening.

The actor appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on 7 October and admitted that "Iron Man 4" could be happening after all.

"I know there's gonna be a bunch more Marvel movies and...they have big ideas of how to do it best, and we're in the middle of negotiations, and blah blah blah..." Downey said, before trailing off.

"So...'yes'" said DeGeneres, to which the actor replied, "Okay, yes."

However, the actor said that no such movie was happening when he came on to David Letterman's show later that night.

"There's no plans for an Iron Man 4. There's no script for Iron Man 4, but they do have a plan and I think they're going to announce it...they've very secretive about it," Downey said.

When the host pushed him for more details, Downey added that he is involved in other Marvel projects. "I'm going to do other stuff with Marvel. I'm still going to be involved with Marvel and there's gonna be plenty of fun stuff to happen."

It remains to be seen if there indeed would be an "Iron Man 4" movie, but that hasn't stopped fans from speculating about the possible storylines that could be featured in the movie. Based on Twitter chatter, a number of fans believe it could be centered on the possible fall out of making Ultron.

Several websites such as Movie Pilot and Cinema Blend, too, concur, pointing out that the adaptation of "Demon In A Bottle" could be a possibility. The story would follow Tony Stark nose-diving into alcoholism, potentially due to the aftermath of the incidents of "Avengers: Age of Ultron."

Stark created Ultron, a robot with artificial intelligence designed to assess threats and act accordingly, so that the Avengers could retire from saving the world. But things take an ugly turn as Ultron lacks the human emotion required to understand the complexity of human behaviour, and decides Earth would be better off without humans.

"I know you're good people. I know you mean well. But you just didn't think it through. There is only one path to peace... your extermination," Ultron says in the movie.