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Marvel Studios explicitly told director Jon Favreau that under no circumstances were they prepared to hire Robert Downey Jr. for Iron Man. Favreau fought back, arguing that RDJ's troubled past made him the only actor capable of understanding Tony Stark.

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Marvel told Jon Favreau under no circumstances would they cast Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man (2008), and Favreau pushed back with one line: "The best and worst moments of his life have been public. That is Tony Stark."
2:59

Marvel told Jon Favreau under no circumstances would they cast Robert Downey Jr in Iron Man (2008), and Favreau pushed back with one line: "The best and worst moments of his life have been public. That is Tony Stark."

Best Movie Moments 🍿

891,382 views • 29 days ago

Before Iron Man (2008), Marvel Studios was nearly bankrupt. Robert Downey Jr. was considered “uninsurable” by studios. Jon Favreau fought the studio to cast him anyway because Tony Stark’s flaws mirrored RDJ’s real life. Iron Man didn’t make RDJ iconic. RDJ made Iron Man impossible to replace.
3:10

Before Iron Man (2008), Marvel Studios was nearly bankrupt. Robert Downey Jr. was considered “uninsurable” by studios. Jon Favreau fought the studio to cast him anyway because Tony Stark’s flaws mirrored RDJ’s real life. Iron Man didn’t make RDJ iconic. RDJ made Iron Man impossible to replace.

Every Movie Plug

159,821 views • 7 months ago

Director Jon Favreau said Marvel studios initially had concerns about casting Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, despite recognizing his talent. But Favreau said the doubts disappeared the moment Downey stepped on set, calling it clear he was “locked in” to the role that would help define the Marvel era.
1:06

Director Jon Favreau said Marvel studios initially had concerns about casting Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, despite recognizing his talent. But Favreau said the doubts disappeared the moment Downey stepped on set, calling it clear he was “locked in” to the role that would help define the Marvel era.

CBS Sunday Morning 🌞

13,899 views • 3 months ago

Marvel reportedly wanted anyone but Robert Downey Jr. for IRON MAN (2008). Jon Favreau knew exactly why he was the right choice: “The best and worst moments of his life have been public. That is Tony Stark.”
1:09

Marvel reportedly wanted anyone but Robert Downey Jr. for IRON MAN (2008). Jon Favreau knew exactly why he was the right choice: “The best and worst moments of his life have been public. That is Tony Stark.”

cinesthetic.

74,345 views • 29 days ago

Elon told @Katiemiller they modeled Iron Man after him in the movies. Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau toured SpaceX, met with him, and shot a big chunk of Iron Man 2 right there. That is pretty awesome.
0:59

Elon told @Katiemiller they modeled Iron Man after him in the movies. Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau toured SpaceX, met with him, and shot a big chunk of Iron Man 2 right there. That is pretty awesome.

Mario Nawfal

32,859 views • 6 months ago

IRON MAN (2008) was a huge gamble: a relatively obscure Marvel hero, Robert Downey Jr. trying to rebuild his career, and Jon Favreau coming off ELF. Then they made the movie so good it became the foundation for the entire MCU.
0:21

IRON MAN (2008) was a huge gamble: a relatively obscure Marvel hero, Robert Downey Jr. trying to rebuild his career, and Jon Favreau coming off ELF. Then they made the movie so good it became the foundation for the entire MCU.

cinesthetic.

23,612 views • 1 month ago

Iron Man (2008) took a B-list superhero, an out-of-work lead actor in Robert Downey Jr., and a director known for Elf, Jon Favreau, and somehow launched the MCU with a film far better than anyone expected.
0:21

Iron Man (2008) took a B-list superhero, an out-of-work lead actor in Robert Downey Jr., and a director known for Elf, Jon Favreau, and somehow launched the MCU with a film far better than anyone expected.

cinesthetic.

235,296 views • 7 months ago

Christopher Nolan says casting Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man is ‘one of the greatest decisions in history of movies’ “You look at what that did and where that went with everything. That was Jon Favreau knowing what incredible potential it was from Downey.”
0:37

Christopher Nolan says casting Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man is ‘one of the greatest decisions in history of movies’ “You look at what that did and where that went with everything. That was Jon Favreau knowing what incredible potential it was from Downey.”

Emir Han

879,056 views • 11 months ago

Marvel reportedly wanted anyone but Robert Downey Jr. for IRON MAN (2008). Jon Favreau’s response: “The best and worst moments of his life have been public. That is Tony Stark.” One sentence. One perfect casting argument.
1:09

Marvel reportedly wanted anyone but Robert Downey Jr. for IRON MAN (2008). Jon Favreau’s response: “The best and worst moments of his life have been public. That is Tony Stark.” One sentence. One perfect casting argument.

cinesthetic.

353,368 views • 2 months ago

Robert Downey Jr. is 61 as of today & I’ve found myself revisiting both Iron Man 1 & Iron Man 2. Jon Favreau & RDJ are an outstanding partnership, they definitely have a great chemistry together that I hope is rekindled. I might need to revisit Shane Black’s Iron Man 3 now 🎂.
2:18

Robert Downey Jr. is 61 as of today & I’ve found myself revisiting both Iron Man 1 & Iron Man 2. Jon Favreau & RDJ are an outstanding partnership, they definitely have a great chemistry together that I hope is rekindled. I might need to revisit Shane Black’s Iron Man 3 now 🎂.

Cinema Tweets

18,413 views • 5 months ago

Christopher Nolan says casting Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man was one of the greatest casting decisions in movie history. “When Jon Favreau had the insight to cast him as Iron Man, it was one of the greatest casting decisions in the history of movies.” “You look at what that did and where that went with everything.” “Jon just knew what an incredible actor and what incredible potential there was in Downey.” “And then the movie star charisma that wonderful charisma comes into play.”
0:50

Christopher Nolan says casting Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man was one of the greatest casting decisions in movie history. “When Jon Favreau had the insight to cast him as Iron Man, it was one of the greatest casting decisions in the history of movies.” “You look at what that did and where that went with everything.” “Jon just knew what an incredible actor and what incredible potential there was in Downey.” “And then the movie star charisma that wonderful charisma comes into play.”

Tokyo

80,564 views • 1 month ago

Robert Downey Jr. says this movie is why he became Iron Man. On Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), he’s said it’s “one of the best movies I’ve ever made” — when his career was hanging by a thread. Jon Favreau saw his life witty and vulnerable just like Tony.
1:26

Robert Downey Jr. says this movie is why he became Iron Man. On Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), he’s said it’s “one of the best movies I’ve ever made” — when his career was hanging by a thread. Jon Favreau saw his life witty and vulnerable just like Tony.

Movies Scenes 🎫

425,911 views • 8 months ago

Robert Downey Jr. reveals how close Iron Man was to being overlooked before it changed Hollywood forever. “It was God’s will and a pretty good screen test. But honestly, Jon Favreau and I were both hungry to do something that would make an impact. When Iron Man came out, everyone told me, ‘This will do until The Dark Knight comes out.’ And here we are now.”
0:28

Robert Downey Jr. reveals how close Iron Man was to being overlooked before it changed Hollywood forever. “It was God’s will and a pretty good screen test. But honestly, Jon Favreau and I were both hungry to do something that would make an impact. When Iron Man came out, everyone told me, ‘This will do until The Dark Knight comes out.’ And here we are now.”

Tokyo

618,895 views • 2 months ago

The connection between Elon Musk and Tony Stark is a piece of a Hollywood history. When Director Jon Favreau and Robert Downey Jr. were building the live-action of Tony Stark for the 2008 Iron Man movie, they ran into a problem: the comic book version was a classic Cold War industrialist. To make him feel fresh and modern, they needed a real-life blueprint. RDJ personally requested a meeting with Elon Musk. He spent time with him at the SpaceX facility in California to observe how a contemporary tech billionaire actually speaks, moves, and handles his workspace. RDJ noticed that Musk didn’t act like a traditional, rigid corporate CEO; he had an eccentric, hyper-focused energy and worked right alongside his engineers in the shop. Elon Musk made a brief cameo appearance as himself in Iron Man 2.
1:05

The connection between Elon Musk and Tony Stark is a piece of a Hollywood history. When Director Jon Favreau and Robert Downey Jr. were building the live-action of Tony Stark for the 2008 Iron Man movie, they ran into a problem: the comic book version was a classic Cold War industrialist. To make him feel fresh and modern, they needed a real-life blueprint. RDJ personally requested a meeting with Elon Musk. He spent time with him at the SpaceX facility in California to observe how a contemporary tech billionaire actually speaks, moves, and handles his workspace. RDJ noticed that Musk didn’t act like a traditional, rigid corporate CEO; he had an eccentric, hyper-focused energy and worked right alongside his engineers in the shop. Elon Musk made a brief cameo appearance as himself in Iron Man 2.

Every Movie Plug

79,989 views • 2 months ago

Marvel paid Robert Downey Jr. $500,000 for Iron Man (2008), but CEO Ike Perlmutter later tried to cut him from Captain America Civil War (2016) to save $40M, even though it made $1.15B, a move that nearly made Kevin Feige quit until Bob Iger stepped in and removed Ike’s control.
1:07

Marvel paid Robert Downey Jr. $500,000 for Iron Man (2008), but CEO Ike Perlmutter later tried to cut him from Captain America Civil War (2016) to save $40M, even though it made $1.15B, a move that nearly made Kevin Feige quit until Bob Iger stepped in and removed Ike’s control.

Movie Moments Analyst

2,335,817 views • 4 months ago

Jeff Bridges says making Iron Man felt like working on a "$200 million student film." Bridges says many scenes didn't have finished scripts when the cast arrived on set. > "We would often come to work, and there would be no script for that scene that day." He says he, Robert Downey Jr., and Jon Favreau would gather in his trailer to figure the scenes out together. > "I'd say, 'Rob, you play me, and I'll play your guy.'" Bridges says Favreau would even call writer friends looking for ideas while the crew waited to film. The uncertainty made him anxious until he changed his perspective. > "Jeff, will you please relax?" > "You are making a $200 million student film." He says that mindset helped everyone embrace the improvisation. > "Great stuff bubbled up out of it."
1:48

Jeff Bridges says making Iron Man felt like working on a "$200 million student film." Bridges says many scenes didn't have finished scripts when the cast arrived on set. > "We would often come to work, and there would be no script for that scene that day." He says he, Robert Downey Jr., and Jon Favreau would gather in his trailer to figure the scenes out together. > "I'd say, 'Rob, you play me, and I'll play your guy.'" Bridges says Favreau would even call writer friends looking for ideas while the crew waited to film. The uncertainty made him anxious until he changed his perspective. > "Jeff, will you please relax?" > "You are making a $200 million student film." He says that mindset helped everyone embrace the improvisation. > "Great stuff bubbled up out of it."

J’ae VESper 🩸

753,767 views • 2 months ago

Terrence Howard says Robert Downey Jr made him lose $100,000,000 on the iron franchise ‘When I was doing iron man out of nowhere that gets taking away we did a 3 picture deal with marvel $4,000,000 for the first one $8,000,000 for the second one $12,000,000 for the third we signed it’ ‘They wanted Clive Davis to play Tony stark cause in the series war machine was suppose to take over,I’m like instead of the $4,000,000 you want to give me why not take $1,000,000 and bond Robert Downey’ ‘So Robert gets the part and he was like thank you and all when this other thing happens I’m calling Robert I called him 27 times and I’m like I need the help I gave you I didn’t hear from him until 3 years later’
3:21

Terrence Howard says Robert Downey Jr made him lose $100,000,000 on the iron franchise ‘When I was doing iron man out of nowhere that gets taking away we did a 3 picture deal with marvel $4,000,000 for the first one $8,000,000 for the second one $12,000,000 for the third we signed it’ ‘They wanted Clive Davis to play Tony stark cause in the series war machine was suppose to take over,I’m like instead of the $4,000,000 you want to give me why not take $1,000,000 and bond Robert Downey’ ‘So Robert gets the part and he was like thank you and all when this other thing happens I’m calling Robert I called him 27 times and I’m like I need the help I gave you I didn’t hear from him until 3 years later’

zaza

2,560,329 views • 2 months ago

Robert Downey Jr. worried that 10 years as Iron Man would hurt his acting. But Chris Nolan gave him the confidence for Oppenheimer “Nolan told me, 'Let's work those other muscles, but let's do it while rendering you devoid of your usual go-to things.'"
0:52

Robert Downey Jr. worried that 10 years as Iron Man would hurt his acting. But Chris Nolan gave him the confidence for Oppenheimer “Nolan told me, 'Let's work those other muscles, but let's do it while rendering you devoid of your usual go-to things.'"

Emir Han

496,915 views • 5 months ago

During Tony Stark’s iconic “Jericho” presentation in Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. wasn’t wearing sunglasses just because of the desert sun. He was also using them to hide cue cards, as the dialogue was still evolving and many of his lines were being improvised on set. It became one of the many happy accidents that helped define Tony Stark’s effortless charisma.
1:09

During Tony Stark’s iconic “Jericho” presentation in Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. wasn’t wearing sunglasses just because of the desert sun. He was also using them to hide cue cards, as the dialogue was still evolving and many of his lines were being improvised on set. It became one of the many happy accidents that helped define Tony Stark’s effortless charisma.

Best of Marvel

375,053 views • 1 month ago