Actor Robert Downey Jr. suffered an injury on the set during production of the latest “Iron Man” film, bringing production to a halt, Reuters reports.

Disney-owned Marvel Studios said Downey injured an ankle.

Reuters reports: “Downey, 47, who plays billionaire playboy-turned-superhero Tony Stark in the ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Avengers’ movies, hurt his ankle while performing a stunt during filming of ‘Iron Man 3’ in Wilmington, North Carolina, Marvel Studios said in a statement.”

The statement added: "There will be a short delay in the production schedule while he recuperates.”

Reuters notes: “The actor became an unexpected action hero in 2008 when the first ‘Iron Man’ film made $585 million at the worldwide box office, followed by ‘Iron Man 2’ two years later, which took $623 million globally.”

"Iron Man 3," which will also feature Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, John Favreau and Ben Kingsley, is due for release in 2013.