(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Robert Downey Jr. thinks "it's almost irresponsible" if he doesn't direct a movie soon.

On Friday Robert will receive the 25th American Cinematheque award which honours his work in cinema.

However, the star believes that he still has plenty more to contribute and hinted that he may get behind the camera in the future.

Robert remembered working with Mel Gibson just before he directed Hamlet.

"I remember him [Mel Gibson] telling someone on the set, 'I would never be a director, it's a terrible idea,' and three years later he couldn't not direct," Robert explained to LA Times. "That's kind of where I'm heading towards now. I feel it's almost irresponsible learning what I've learned and having the influences and relationships I've had to not try to infuse that with movies more as a director."

The actor famously reinvented his career after stints in rehab and arrests on drug charges made him notoriously difficult to work with.

2007's Iron Man was Robert's comeback movie. The film and his performance as millionaire Tony Stark, who became the superhero Iron Man, were acclaimed by critics and audiences alike.

"The first one changed everything for me," he confessed. "To me, Tony Stark's story is a karma story and a technology story. I love a good action movie."

However the 46-year-old was less impressed with Iron Man 2. The 2010 film was a sequel to the original, but it didn't receive the same praise.

"There were certain aspects that were dissatisfying and disappointing to me but at least they lit me right," he joked.

The actor has not given up hope on the series though. He will take on the role of Tony Stark again in upcoming movies The Avengers and Iron Man 3. (C) Cover Media