Actor Robert Downey Jr. is eager to share his theory of why superheroes are now so prominent and popular at cinemas across the United States.
"Young kids turn on the news and see all these real-life supervillains," he tells The Japan Times. "Like the terrorists, those guys who — in the name of their religion — go around blowing up innocent people of other religions. Maybe the kids act blase about it, but that's acting, trying to be cool. It's a tough, mean old world out there — old religions, old hatreds."
Downey, 47, says his new film, "The Avengers," uses a sure-fire formula that alleviates the fear from all this real-life villainy: Take the heroes from the Marvel films of the past few years and bring them together for a guaranteed blockbuster. It's like the Traveling Wilburys of action flicks.