Imagine, if you would, that Channing Tatum were chosen to play Tony Stark. What about Hayden Christensen as Sherlock Holmes? Paul Walker as Kirk Lazarus? The world of film would get a lot dimmer without Robert Downey Jr., the comeback man of the decade. He can do drama, he can do comedy and, unlike many of his A-list brethren, he knows how to be discerning when choosing a script. So when he tells Entertainment Weekly that he might not be acting for much longer, it's not only shocking, but a bit upsetting.

In an interview with the aforementioned magazine (which features him in full Sherlock gear on the cover), Downey Jr. said that his current streak has been the best of his career and doesn't want to overstay his welcome, and that he and his wife want to, "begin to be in [their] lives as much as [they] are in [their] jobs." He goes on to say that he understands his talent level -- “I’m f—ing really good at what I do, and have been for a long time" -- but also says that he has already witnessed the start of his decline.

I don't think I would be overselling the situation if I were to say that Downey Jr.'s retirement would be a devastating loss to the movie world. His career was already hampered in the late 90s by substance abuse, but his work since has been some of the best he has done. He does throw in a caveat towards the end of the article, saying that a well-performing Sherlock Holmes could extend his career by 10 years, but it's hard to tell if he is serious or simply trying to turn box office returns into a petition to keep him around. For an actor like RDJ, however, it would probably be worth it either way.