"Avengers" Assembles to Honor Robert Downey Jr.'s at MTV Awards Night

MTV has announced Thursday that Robert Downey Jr. will be receiving the "MTV Generation Award" during the 2015 MTV Movie Awards from his Avengers: Age of Ultron co-star Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Jeremy Renner.  They will also be showing an exclusive 90-second clip from their upcoming Marvel film that will show in theaters beginning May 1st.

"If you have to ask 'Why Robert?,' said MTV at its website, "then you must have been living inside a cave toiling away at a highly sophisticated suit of armor for the last seven years. Downey is as responsible as anyone for the Marvel Studios takeover of the superhero scene, his work as Iron Man right at the heart of why The Avengers are some of the mightiest and most recognizable pop culture icons on Earth right now. Need we say more?"

The MTV Generation Award is the successor to the MTV Lifetime Achievement Award, though it is more serious than its predecessor. The recipient of the award is celebrated for great achievement in movies. As said by MTV president Stephen Friedman in his press statement: "Throughout his career, Robert Downey Jr. has mesmerized audiences by capturing the humanity in larger-than-life characters like Charlie Chaplin, Sherlock Holmes and Tony Stark. He's a brilliant actor and a Hollywood icon, and we are proud to recognize his tremendous passion and talent with this year's Generation Award."

Downey joins previous MTV Generation Award-winners Mark Wahlberg (2014), Jamie Foxx (2013), Johnny Depp (2012), Reese Witherspoon (2011), Sandra Bullock (2010), Ben Stiller (2009), Adam Sandler (2008), Mike Myers 2007), Jim Carrey (2006), and Tom Cruise (2005).

Downey Jr. will be honored alongside "Comedic Genius" recipient Kevin Hart and "Trailblazer Award" recipient Shailene Woodley. Hosted by Amy Schumer, the awards show which airs live on Sunday, April 12, at 8:00 pm ET/ 5:00 pm PT from Nokia Theater L.A. Live in Los Angeles, will also be featuring appearances by Miles Teller, Reese Witherspoon, Vin Diesel, Sofia Vergara and Jimmy Kimmel.