Robert Downey Jr. says he and Cillian Murphy coined 'ROMO' after missing The Odyssey
Downey told The Nerd Wire he and Murphy invented the term for relief of missing out after neither was cast in Christopher Nolan's film.
Robert Downey Jr. has revealed that he and Cillian Murphy coined the term ROMO, meaning the relief of missing out, after both actors missed out on roles in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. Downey discussed the anecdote in an interview with The Nerd Wire.
In the interview, Downey also questioned why Nolan never considered him for The Odyssey. He explained that he and Murphy jokingly came up with the term together.
The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan, was released in July 2026 and earned $1.8 billion worldwide.
Downey and Murphy both appeared in Nolan's 2023 film Oppenheimer, which grossed $986.2 million worldwide and won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Nolan, Best Actor for Murphy and Best Supporting Actor for Downey.
Murphy is set to appear in A Quiet Place Part III, scheduled for release on July 30, 2027, while Downey will appear as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, due out on December 18, 2026.
Quick answers
What does ROMO mean?
ROMO stands for relief of missing out, a term Robert Downey Jr. said he and Cillian Murphy coined after both missed roles in The Odyssey.
When did The Odyssey come out?
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey was released in July 2026.