Robert Downey Jr. Recalls Blacking Out After Breaking His Ankle on *Iron Man 3* Set

Robert Downey Jr. has opened up about a painful accident he suffered while filming *Iron Man 3*, recalling how a badly injured ankle left him in so much pain that he briefly blacked out.

The actor recently discussed the incident during a conversation with author Ayad Akhtar, who was speaking about his new novel *The Radiance*. The discussion turned to unexpected moments that can emerge from experiences that initially seem entirely negative.

Downey recalled a stunt during the production of *Iron Man 3* in 2012 in which he was performing a jump using wires. According to the actor, he landed incorrectly, resulting in a severe ankle injury.

The pain was immediate and overwhelming, Downey said, adding that he quickly realised the accident would have a major impact on the remainder of the production.

He recalled thinking about the consequences of the injury before the pain became so intense that he eventually lost consciousness for a short period.

Once he was able to speak again, Downey joked about the extent of the interruption by referencing the standard announcement crews make when it is time for a lunch break.

"That's lunch, roughly six weeks," he recalled telling the crew.

When Akhtar asked whether the production actually ended up being delayed by six weeks, Downey joked that the disruption lasted considerably longer.

"I am a delicate flower," the actor quipped.

*Iron Man 3*, released in 2013, marked Downey's third standalone outing as Tony Stark/Iron Man. It followed the enormous success of *The Avengers*, released in 2012, which brought together several of Marvel's leading superheroes and helped establish the franchise as a global blockbuster phenomenon.