Robert Downey Jr. As Iron Man Is Marvel’s Best Casting Decision Ever

Did you know that Marvel originally didn't want Downey to play Tony Stark?

There is little doubt that Marvel Studios has carefully selected the actors who would play the comic book heroes in their films. After all, people believe that Chris Evans is the perfect star to portray Captain America. However, fans insist that the best casting decision that Marvel ever made was choosing Robert Downey Jr. as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Iron Man.

Back in 2006, Iron Man director Jon Favreau decided to cast Downey as Tony Stark in the MCU film. People were initially uncertain about the casting. However, eight Marvel movies (and one uncredited cameo) later, fans can’t imagine what the MCU would have been like without Downey.

People may be shocked to learn that Downey wasn’t the first choice to play Iron Man.

Interestingly, Marvel had opposed Downey’s casting in the 2008 movie due to his troubled history. Downey famously struggled with several addictions and has even served jail time. Nevertheless, Favreau insisted that it was Downey’s past that made him the perfect Iron Man. He said:

“The best and worst moments of Robert’s life have been in the public eye. He had to find an inner balance to overcome obstacles that went far beyond his career. That’s Tony Stark.”

Iron Man would later become the eighth highest grossing film of 2008. Downey then worked on two more Iron Man movies as well as several other MCU flicks like Captain America: Civil War and Spider-Man: Homecoming. Needless to say, people fell in love with the Tony Stark that Downey embodied in the next 11 years.

Evans and Downey face off in ‘Captain America: Civil War’.

Tony Stark in the most devastating scene in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’.

It is clear that the other MCU stars are aware that Downey paved the way for a truly successful franchise. Evans recently celebrated Downey’s 54th birthday with a message that reminded everyone who made the Marvel movies a huge success.

Evans pays tribute to the ‘true original’.

The world is certainly grateful that Downey presented us with an Iron Man that we empathized with. Needless to say, all the love we have for Tony Stark makes us excited and concerned for him in Avengers: Endgame.

Downey returns as Tony Stark/Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame, which hits theaters on April 26.