Will Robert Downey Jr. Return to The MCU?
Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige recently confirmed that the charismatic Robert Downey Jr. won’t be donning the iconic Iron Man suit again in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This decision isn’t a random twist but a foreseen move to preserve the impactful farewell Tony Stark bid in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ in 2019.
In a recent interview, Feige underlined the significance of Stark’s final moments, stating, “We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again.” He emphasized the hard work and dedicatiopoignantating that poignant scene and expressed, “We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to undo it imagically.”
Robert Downey Jr. kick-started his ‘Iron Man’ journey in the 2008 film of the same name, faced scepticism initially due to his past legal troubles, including a 1996 arrest for possession of intoxicants and an unloaded gun. Despite reservations, Feige and director Jon Favreau championed Downey for the role.
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Recalling the Marvel board’s initial nervousness, Feige mentioned, “It purely came down to the Marvel board being nervous at putting all of their chips in their future films on somebody who famously had those legal troubles in the past.”
However, Feige, known for his persuasive tactics, wasn’t ready to take no for an answer. He explained, “I try to figure out ways to make it clear to other people why we should head in a certain direction. And that’s when the idea of a screen test came up.”
Former Marvel Studios president David Maisel played a pivotal role in convincing the board to choose Downey over another candidate, Timothy Olyphant. Despite initial doubts about entrusting the company’s future to someone with a history of addiction, Maisel emphasized Downey’s suitability for the role and expressed confidence in his sobriety.
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Over 11 years and nine Marvel films, Robert Downey Jr. left an indelible mark on the MCU. Feige reflected on Downey’s supportive role behind the scenes, noting how he became a mentor and cheerleader to his Marvel co-stars. The actor’s positive influence extended beyond acting, creating a collaborative and encouraging atmosphere on set.
The decision to retire Iron Man isn’t just a plot twist; it reflects Marvel’s commitment to narrative integrity and respecting the emotional weight of character arcs. Closing this chapter on Iron Man underscores the studio’s dedication to maintaining the cohesiveness and authenticity, signalling a new phase for the iconic cinematic universe.
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Feige emphasized this dedication, stating, “We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again. We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.”
In addition, the ‘Avengers: Endgame’ directors Anthony and Joe Russo shared that Downey Jr. was “reluctant” to re-shoot a single line of dialogue after officially wrapping his scenes. Joe Russo mentioned, “We promised him it would be the last time we made him do it — ever.”
Anthony Russo added, “That was a difficult thing for him to do, to come back to pick up that line. When he did come back, we were shooting on a stage directly opposite where he auditioned for Tony Stark. So his last line as Tony Stark was shot literally a couple hundred feet from his original audition that got him the role.”
