Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man kickstarted the MCU with his first solo film introducing audiences to his witty and sarcastic billionaire character. Audiences loved the character and Downey Jr.’s performance, even calling it perfect casting. The actor and the role would become the defining character in the MCU that would lead the Avengers.
The three Iron Man films, showed the evolution of the character, exploring Tony’s hubris and his relationship with other characters, while also exploring his inner demons. Iron Man 3 provided the perfect example of the character trying to get back up from his traumatic experience in The Avengers. With Harley being a major character in his recovery, a deleted scene would have further intensified their bond.
Deleted Iron Man 3 Rescue Scene Deepens The Tony Stark-Harley Relationship
After battling the Chitauri in The Avengers, Robert Downey Jr. returned as Tony Stark/ Iron Man in Iron Man 3. The film proved to be an interesting diversion from the character’s usual flamboyant personality to Tony suffering from PTSD following the Battle of New York. As his home gets destroyed by the Mandarin, it is assumed that the character died in the destruction.
However, Tony Stark escapes using a prototype suit and stumbles into a teenager Harley (played by Ty Simpkins). The two become close through their interactions and the teen even helps Tony repair his suit. A deleted scene from the film further shows how Harley protects an injured Stark from his bully and even saves Stark’s life later on (via YouTube).
The scene shows Harley’s bully EJ making fun of him spending time with a ‘homeless and inebriated’ looking man. When Harley points out that he is Tony Stark, EJ scoffs at him and declares that “Tony Stark is dead”, after his home was ambushed by the Mandarin. Later on, EJ gets injured when the Extremists attack and destroy a water tower.
Stark is seen saving the bully and using his arc reactor to resuscitate the young boy. While EJ gets up eventually, the removal of Tiny’s arc reactor affects Tony and he suddenly becomes unconscious. Harley jumps in and inserts the arc reactor into Tony’s chest, reviving him.
The deleted scene successfully showed the heroism of both characters, while also showing Harley as Tony’s lifesaver. It would have been a significant addition to the dynamic between the characters and deepened the bond between them. Tony might have died much earlier than Endgame if Harley was not there at that moment.
Robert Downey Jr. Declares Kiss Kiss Bang Bang As His Calling Card to the MCU
Before reuniting in the Marvel universe with Iron Man 3, Shane Black and Robert Downey Jr. worked for the first time in the black comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang in 2005. Downey Jr. played a thief getting involved in a Myedr investigation in the movie industry and followed the chaos that ensues. In an interview with Joe Rogan on the Joe Rogen Experience podcast, Downey Jr. calls the film the best work he’d ever done.
The actor revealed that although the film bombed at the box office, Jon Favreau saw the film and believed that he was a convincing action hero. The film turned out to be his calling card to the Marvel universe for the role of Iron Man. Downey Jr. said,
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, which is, I think, in some ways the best film I’ve ever done. It wound up being a calling card. It came out, and it bombed, but Jon Favreau saw it, and he said, ‘This guy could do an action movie.’ And so that wound up being my calling card into the Marvel Universe.
Downey Jr.’s incredible performance as Harry Lockhart in the film is definitely one of his best and the actor was committed to the intensity and wackiness of the character. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang also starred Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, and Corbin Bernsen. Fans can watch the film on Apple TV+.
Iron Man 3 is available to stream on Disney+.
