It looks like Robert Downey Jr might be taking his role as a Marvel superhero a little too seriously. The Iron Man star has taken it upon himself to hatch a plan to save the planet using robotics and nanotechnology.
He announced the new initiative, called the Footprint Coalition, during the opening keynote address at Amazon's re:Mars conference in Las Vegas earlier this week. Through this, he aims to harness the power of advanced technologies in order to clean up the Earth. We're not exactly sure how yet, though...
"I was at a table with super-smart, impressive, expert folks about six months ago, and the following statement was made: 'Between robotics and nanotechnology, we could probably clean up the planet significantly, if not totally, in 10 years," he said.
"Being essentially a 54-year-old child, I said, 'Let's do it! Let's commit to a process, let's form a coalition.' And that did not inspire the reaction I expected. It was dead silence."
The actor-director didn't let that put him off, however, and leapt head-first into setting up the new organisation.
While details are scant on exactly how the Footprint Coalition is going to be achieving its lofty goals, Downey Jr said that even making a small dent could be the most important thing he had ever done.
A website for the group went live after he left the stage, but it just features the words "coming soon", along with a submission form asking people to sign up to a newsletter.
"Thanks for your interest in the Footprint Coalition, and for caring about Mother Earth," a statement reads. "Sign up for our newsletter and you'll be the first to know about our next steps on this environmental journey."
The initiative will reportedly launch in April 2020.
Despite the lack of details, people are suitably impressed. "This man is literally out here bringing Tony Stark to life," wrote one Twitter user.
"Robert Downey Jr IS Tony Stark and you can't change my mind," said another.
"That's my man. That's my hero. Thank you rdj," added another.
robert downey jr using robotics and AI (inspired by his role as tony stark) to focus on to clean up the earth in the next decade is the real life superhero that earth deserves and needs.
— tiny t⎊ny (@woIvern) June 5, 2019
that’s my man. that’s my hero. thank you rdj. pic.twitter.com/s9lpoWvodR
