In 2008, the MCU was launched with “Iron Man”, carried by Robert Downey Jr. in the role of the superhero. A casting choice considered by the big boss of Marvel as “the biggest risk” ever taken by the studio.
Today, the question does not even arise: Robert Downey Jr. IS Iron Man, and impossible to imagine another actor under the armor of the superhero. However, originally, Marvel Studios were, to put it mildly, not really thrilled with the idea of hiring the American to play Tony Stark on screen, a role that had previously attracted sizes like Tom Cruise or Nicolas Cage.
In the mid-2000s, director Jon Favreau strongly wanted Robert Downey Jr. to play Iron Man, convinced that the comic-book fan actor was the ideal man, with a personal road strewn with pitfalls that echoed to the Marvel character. But Marvel, precisely, therefore does not believe at all in the one who, at the time, is at the bottom of the wave.
“Under no circumstances are we prepared to hire Robert Downey Jr., and no matter the cost.” Here is the dry sentence and without an ounce of ambiguity that Marvel studios would have struck at Jon Favreau, in remarks reported by the latter to Rolling Stone. “Listen, I fought, I tried, I did what I could, it’s really a shame, but unfortunately it’s going to end there”, will declare, sheepishly, the filmmaker to the actor. It’s misunderstanding Robert Downey Jr. and his obstinacy pegged to the body.
“With your permission, I will continue to believe”, will answer the Hollywood actor. A tenacity that will encourage Favreau to redouble his efforts so that the role returns to RDJ. The latter will eventually pass tests, then playing a darker and much less charming Tony Stark than the one we know.
The screen-test, which you can discover below, won over Marvel studios and in 2006, Robert Downey Jr. was officially appointed to play Iron Man on screen. The feature film, starting point of the now famous MCU, will be released in theaters two years later.
Last year, at the microphone from the CinemaBlend websitethe American Kevin Feige, big boss of Marvel, returned to the casting of Robert Downey Jr. “I had the chance to work on the first Spider-Man and X-Men movies, but we wanted to do an Iron Man movie”he says. “I still think the biggest risk we took, and it seems outrageous to say that today, was casting Robert Downey Jr. It was both the biggest risk and the most important in the founding of the MCU. Without Robert, we wouldn’t be sitting here today. I really mean it.”
But then, why did Marvel studios hesitate so much before giving Robert Downey Jr. a chance? “He was an incredible actor. Everyone knew her”says Feige. “But at the time, he wasn’t an action movie star. He wasn’t necessarily a first-class star.”
“But quickly, we realized that the risk would in fact be not to hire him”continues the producer. “And then there was Jon Favreau, who had a real vision for this film and for Robert in this role. I think the choice of Robert for the role, and the success of this choice, encouraged us to take more risks and make other choices.” Choices that led to an extraordinary adventure: the Marvel Cinematic Universe, today rich in 28 works including both feature films and series.
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