Roughly a year since the "Iron Man 3" movie release, fans of the metal-clad superhero already can't wait to hear the latest rumors regarding its next installment, "Iron Man 4", which is set to likely be released prior to 2018 and after "Avengers."

While several rumors regarding the fourth installment of the franchise are crowding the Internet, one has particularly dampened the spirits of the fans - the death of their favorite Marvel Comic character.

The Movie Pilot says, "Tony Stark (portrayed by Robert Downey Jr.) could be killed in 'Avengers: Age of Ultron," as the character has depleted his stock of suits in 'Iron Man 3'." Another, more daunting report, says that Robert Downey Jr., age 49, may not feature in as Tony Stark - the "Iron Man."

Robert Downey Jr. has portrayed "Iron Man" for nearly a decade and is confirmed appear in the upcoming "Avengers" movie titled "Avengers: Age of Ultron." However, it is yet to be solidified whether or not he will also feature in the fourth installment of "Iron Man."

This means that some other actor may take over the role and, if rumors are to be believed, Colin Farrell appears to be the favorite to be cast as Tony Stark.

In a recent interview with Variety, Robert Downey Jr. has said, "The smart money is you have to look at everybody's age. I'll put myself at the top of the list. Sooner or later, they've got to start over and get somebody young. I'm not there with them yet."

While this comment sparked some speculation about his continuity toward the role of Tony Stark, several media organizations have already begun considering likely choices for the role. According to Movie Pilot, which undertook a casting survey for "Iron Man 4," Colin Farrell is the best choice for the role. They put together a list of 16 actors, including Edward Norton, Matt Damon, and George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Jamie Dorman, Robert Pattinson and others and asked the fans to select the most suitable, no pun intended.

Metro has also producted the names of five actors that could possibly replace Robert Downey Jr. in "Iron Man 4." The list included Colin Farrell, James Franco, Bradley Cooper, Jon Hamm and Elon Musk.