If it appears that "Iron Man" aka Tony Stark aka Robert Downey Jr. has been everywhere despite "Avengers: Age of Ultron" still being months away, it's because the actor has another film outside of the superhero franchise, that could put the actor in Oscar contention.

"The Judge," which hits theaters this Friday, pits Robert Downey Jr. opposite Robert Duvall as son and father in a courtroom drama. Critics are already praising the actors for their performances, yet all eyes are on Robert Downey Jr. after his initial announcement that he would not be returning for "Iron Man 4." A new theory has surfaced as to why Downey won't be returning for the fourth installment in the "Iron Man" franchise, and it has to do with money.

In a recent interview with Deadline, Robert Downey Jr. talked about the recent announcement that he's the highest paid actor in Hollywood:

"I've been thinking about how to process surreal information like this, how much merit it has and how it shapes an exterior perception that defines who you are. And even whether it's healthy to have too much of a dialogue about it," he said.

"The Avengers" actor remained humble throughout the discussion of his fame and money, and of course jokes weren't too far away. He also divulged what it was like working with Robert Duvall in their upcoming film "The Judge." This interview is one among many that Downey has completed to promote a film that could potentially lead to an Oscar nomination for the actor.

One of the more hilarious promotions is a new sketch with Jimmy Fallon on the "Tonight Show" that involves an intense staredown. But along with this saturation of the beloved Robert Downey Jr., some have begun to suspect there's something underlying his refusal to confirm "Iron Man 4."

Forbes Magazine recently reported that perhaps the reason the actor continues to mention "Iron Man 4" is to garner attention for "The Judge." The reasoning behind this is that Downey will be able to make the kind of demands that he made for "The Avengers" if he proves that he can garner box office gross even outside of the superhero world.

Whether or not this speculation is true, based on how Robert Downey Jr. is talking these days, fans should expect more films like "The Judge," before he considers doing "Iron Man" again. "The Judge" hits theaters tomorrow on October 10th.