Well this is one hell of an exciting match-up. As we saw last weekend,Robert Downey Jr.just began filmingthe massive Marvel sequelAvengers: Infinity Warand its untitled follow-up down in Atlanta, but the actor is staying busy with non-Marvel films as well. Downey Jr. is set to star in an untitled feature for Annapurna Pictures withBoyhoodandBefore SunrisefilmmakerRichard Linklaterdirecting. The film is based on the episode “Man of the People” from Gimlet Media’sReply Allpodcast, which aired on August 05, 2025—so this project came togetherfast.
In what sounds like incredibly timely material, the podcast episode “tells the true story of charlatan Dr. John Brinkley who scams his way to fame and fortune using fake medicine, populism, and the newest technology of the time: radio. As Brinkley’s fame grows, he gets the attention of Dr. Morris Fishbein, editor of the AMA who begins a decade long quest to take him down.” Downey Jr. will produce the film alongsideSusan Downeyand Annapurna’sMegan Ellison, with Linklater co-producing.
Linklater and Ellison most recently teamed up on the filmmaker’sBoyhoodfollow-up,Everybody Wants Some!!, a terrific and immensely entertaining slice-of-life “hangout movie” with jokes, camaraderie, and profundity to spare. Linklater is one of our best American filmmakers, and Downey Jr. is obviously a force to be reckoned with onscreen, so this pairing is mighty exciting.
While Downey Jr. has certainly ventured outside the MCU with films likeThe JudgeandDue Date, he’s been kept busy with Iron Man duties over the last couple of years. AfterCaptain America: Civil Warcame a supporting role inSpider-Man: Homecoming, and he’s now back at it again onInfinity War. If this Linklater movie comes together soon, it could mark Downey Jr’s first non-Marvel movie since 2014’sThe Judge.
Linklater, meanwhile, most recently wrapped filming on the comedy sequelLast Flag Flying, a follow-up to theJack Nicholson-frontedThe Last Detail. That movie starsBryan Cranston,Steve Carell, andLaurence Fishburne, and Linklater is also attached to direct the in-development adaptationWhere’d You Go Bernadette?for Annapurna.
Listen to the podcast episode that will serve as this film’s source materialright here.
