Robert Downey Jr. Could Have Been a Marvel Villain Before Becoming Iron Man

ByHrvoje Milakovic Posted on
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Before he became iconic as Tony Stark in ‘Iron Man’, Robert Downey Jr. was in the running to play a villain in the Marvel universe. Jon Favreau, the director of ‘Iron Man’, shared during a 15th-anniversary look back at the film that Downey Jr. had previously auditioned for the role of Doctor Doom in ‘Fantastic Four’ (2005). This part, however, ultimately went to Julian McMahon, known for his roles in ‘Nip/Tuck’ and ‘Charmed’.

Favreau recalled the moment he knew Downey Jr. was perfect for the role of Tony Stark. He mentioned that there was a certain spark in Downey Jr.’s eyes during their meeting in Kevin Feige’s office, which made it clear he was the right choice. According to Favreau, casting Downey Jr. made everything else fall into place, as his portrayal brought the character to life and attracted other actors to the project.

Kevin Feige, the Marvel boss, also emphasized how crucial the dynamic between Favreau and Downey Jr. was to the success of the MCU. He pointed out that the tone they set in ‘Iron Man’ helped shape the future of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Feige also reflected on the challenging times during later films, crediting Downey Jr. with the foundational success that led to the creation of their studio.

Downey Jr.’s journey as Iron Man included appearances in ten movies, concluding with ‘Avengers: Endgame’ in 2019. In this film, his character makes a significant sacrifice, a moment Feige has expressed a desire to preserve without alteration, despite fan hopes for a return. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Feige stated their intention to honor this pivotal scene without revisiting it.

Interestingly, Downey Jr. ended up sharing the screen with Chris Evans, who played Captain America and was also part of the ‘Fantastic Four’ cast as the Human Torch. Their collaboration brought together two pivotal characters from different Marvel backgrounds, highlighting the interconnected nature of the MCU.

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