Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. recently shared his sentiments on his Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) journey during a conversation with Rob Lowe on the “Literally!” podcast.
The actor, known for his iconic portrayal of Tony Stark, expressed that his remarkable performance in the superhero genre went “unnoticed” due to its nature. Currently, on the waiting list to receive an Oscar nomination for his performance in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer,’ for which he recently won a Golden Globe in the category of Best Supporting Actor.
Robert Downey Jr. On His Marvel Comeback
In the podcast, Robert Downey Jr. shares the thought that his work as Tony Stark for Iron Man marked some of the best acting of his career. However, he felt that the superhero genre led to his work being overshadowed. He stated, “It went a little bit unnoticed because of the genre.”
The actor dedicated 11 years to the MCU, culminating in his exit with the 2019 movie, ‘Avengers Endgame.’
Breaking every Iron Man fan’s heart, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige had previously mentioned that Downey Jr. wouldn’t be asked to return to the MCU. It was said that it is to preserve the emotional conclusion of Tony Stark’s character arc. Despite this statement, rumors persist about Marvel’s desire to bring back Iron Man after the recent box office failures.
During the podcast, Lowe playfully teased Downey Jr. about potential Marvel-related news. When the actor’s phone started ringing, Lowe suggested a humorous negotiation strategy for Downey Jr. if it was Marvel calling him up for a return.
“I know what your deal is. Here’s what you do. You go, ‘I’ll come back and I’ll play Tony Stark for you guys again since you fucked everything up. But I want a gazillion dollars. I know what that number should be, and I want first dollar gross of every ensuing movie. That’s what I would do,” Suggested Lowe.
Downey Jr. laughed off the proposal, calling it “quite hostile”. The banter highlighted the ongoing speculation about the actor’s potential return to the MCU and the playful camaraderie between the two stars.
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Downey Jr. On The Challenges Outside The Marvel’s Secure Universe
After bidding farewell to Marvel, Downey Jr. faced challenges with the $175 million box office flop ‘Dolittle’ in 2020. Downey Jr. produced the film with his wife, Susan Downey, under their Team Downey Productions banner.
Taking in some of the worst reviews of any movie Robert’s any film ever gotten the actor acknowledged the film’s shortcomings. He described it as something that “just didn’t work“. Reflecting on his post-Marvel phase, Downey Jr. admitted feeling exposed after the security of the superhero genre.
“I felt so exposed after being in the cocoon of Marvel… it rendered me teachable,” Robert said.
Despite the difficulties, Downey Jr. maintained humility, acknowledging the potential for personal growth and learning in the aftermath of his Marvel career. The transition from Marvel’s secure universe made him more receptive to new experiences.
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