Robert Downey Jr.’s Son Indio Lands First Lead Role in ‘Love In Vein’

Indio Downey, the eldest son of Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr., is set to play his first leading role in the upcoming independent film ‘Love In Vein’, a story exploring addiction, love and self-destruction.

According to Deadline, the film is written and directed by Will De Los Santos and is based on the novel ‘Wasting Talent’ by the late author Ryan Leone. Indio, 33, will portray Damien, a character navigating addiction, complicated relationships and the challenges of life in Los Angeles.

The film will be produced by Muse Productions in association with ArtHouse Gooning. Filming is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles in March and April 2027, while casting for the remaining roles is currently underway.

The production team includes Chris Hanley, known for producing films such as ‘American Psycho’, ‘Spring Breakers’ and ‘The Virgin Suicides’. He will produce the project alongside Orson Oblowitz, Tricia van Klaveren and Ben D. Wallace. Jeffrey Gliwa is financing the film through Blue Shark Pictures and will also serve as an executive producer.

Speaking about the project, De Los Santos said he wanted to remain faithful to Leone’s original work and preserve its unfiltered portrayal of addiction and life in Los Angeles. He added that the author's death had given the adaptation a deeper emotional significance, motivating him to honour Leone’s voice without softening the novel’s raw themes.

Indio is a musician and the eldest of Robert Downey Jr.’s three children. Although he has previously appeared in films, including ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’, which starred his father, ‘Love In Vein’ marks his first opportunity to headline a feature film.

Robert Downey Jr. has also spoken publicly about his past struggles with addiction. He subsequently rebuilt his career and established himself as one of Hollywood’s most prominent actors. Indio’s new project now brings a deeply personal subject to the screen while marking a significant milestone in his own acting career.