While it hasn't been confirmed that Marvel Studios' will indeed make an "Iron Man 4," there has been enough speculation that's leaning towards 'Yes.' However,  loyal "Iron Man" fans might not be thrilled with some rumored cast changes for the fourth installment.

Can you imagine an "Iron Man" flick without the treasured Robert Downey Jr., a.k.a. Tony Stark, and Gwyneth Paltrow, who plays Pepper Potts, Stark's personal assistant-turned-love interest?

Well, neither can we, and we hope that's not the case, but it may be in 2019.

Soon after the release of "Iron Man 3," the rumor mill was spinning despite the fact that an "Iron Man 4" wasn't on the official release schedule that Marvel Studios unveiled at Comic-Con 2014, the Inquisitr pointed out.

"Iron Man 3" was directed by Shane Black and starred Downey Jr. and Paltrow, Ben Kingsley, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Jon Favreau, Rebecca Hall, William Sadler, James Badge Dale and the voice of Paul Bettany.

"With the arc reactor technology, which powered the Iron Man suits, no long [sic] in Tony Stark's chest, and Robert Downey Jr.'s initial contract with Marvel Studios ending, fans worried that the third 'Iron Man' outing would be the last," the Inquisitr added.

Yet to Downey Jr. fans' relief, he signed an extension of his contract, allowing him to continue to take on the role of Tony Stark and Iron Man for a few more flicks.

While the "Iron Man" franchise doesn't seem complete without Downey Jr., the actor himself, who recently starred in the touching film, "The Judge," seemed pretty sure that a fourth installment wasn't in the cards for him.

"There isn't one in the pipe. No, there's no plan for a fourth 'Iron Man,'" he reportedly said.

Paltrow has also reportedly replied to questions about her role of Pepper Potts, saying: "I don't know, I'd like to do it. But they might swap me out for an 18-year-old Pepper Potts or something."

Whether or not this is a case of out with the old and in with the new, Downey Jr. isn't oblivious to character evolutions and cast changes.

"[Recasting] would probably be the best thing in the world for me," he said in an earlier interview, Screenrant reported. "You know, ego...but sometimes ego just has to be smashed. Let's see what happens. I take the audience very seriously -- I feel bad when I see folks doing movies and the audience is like, 'Don't do that anymore.' I don't have to overstay my welcome..."

The Marvel universe will still embrace Tony Stark, so no worries -- Downey Jr. will sport the "Iron Man" suit again in "Avengers: Age of Ultron" in 2015 and "Avengers: Infinity War Part 1," which is slated for 2018. He is also expected to appear in "Captain America: Civil War," which is due out in 2016.

The next scheduled "Avengers" movie, "Avengers: Infinity War Part 2," is due for release May 3, 2019, but there is no confirmation of whether or not Downey Jr. will be cast.

Reportedly, "Iron Man 4" will hit theaters in 2019, after Marvel Phase 3 is complete.

There are also rumors that Ty Simpkins might replace Downey Jr.

"Ty Simpkins is no newcomer to the Marvel universe," the Inquisitr added. "He appeared as Harley Keener, the young boy with whom Tony Stark bonds in Iron Man 3. In 2019, Simpkins will be 17, maybe just old enough to play a very young heir to the Iron Man suit."

Check out Downey Jr. in "Avengers: Age of Ultron," which also stars James Spader, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Aaron Taylor, Johnson, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Elizabeth Olsen, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner and Lou Ferrigno, among others.

Marvel's "Avengers: Age of Ultron" hits theaters May 1, 2015.