Tim Roth was first rejected by Kevin Feige for the character of Emil Blonsky, aka Abomination, in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Feige was pushing for a more well-known actor to play the primary antagonist of the Hulk, but director Louis Leterrier insisted on hiring Roth because he was sure that Roth would steer the movie into something exceptional.
The Incredible Hulk had a mediocre box office run, earning $265 million globally. Considering its $150 million budget, this made it the lowest-grossing movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe at the time, although it was nevertheless seen as a success. Critics likewise gave the movie mixed reviews; some praised its action scenes, while others criticized its lack of depth.
Also read: The Incredible Hulk: How MCU Destroyed The Abomination After Universal Made Him God-Tier
Kevin Feige Was Initially Against the Casting of Tim Roth
At first, Kevin Feige opposed Tim Roth’s casting as Emil Blonsky aka Abomination in the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk. He had his heart set on a more well-known performer for the part, but Roth and director Louis Leterrier convinced him otherwise. Leterrier believed that because Roth could give the character a particular amount of weight and gravitas, he was the ideal actor for the part.
Additionally, he thought that bringing in a character actor such as Roth would keep the movie from going astray. In addition to being genuinely excited about the part, Roth was successful in persuading Feige that he was the best candidate. His portrayal of Blonsky was strong and subtle, which led to The Incredible Hulk being a more genuine and grounded movie.
The movie turned out to be slightly above average in terms of MCU movies, but it was a significant headstone for both Tim Roth and the fans as he embodied the MCU’s second main villain after Jeff Bridges’ Iron Monger in Iron Man. According to The Direct, Feige has even claimed that it was an appropriate decision to cast him for the role as stated,
“I liken the Abomination thing to an independent movie. It was a very big-budget independent movie.”
Since then, Roth has returned to the character of Abomination in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He has grown to be a beloved character by the public, and Marvel Studios is widely regarded as having made one of its greatest casting choices ever.
Kevin Feige Was Against the Casting of Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man
At first, Kevin Feige disagreed with Robert Downey Jr.’s selection to play Iron Man. Feige believed that Downey’s history of addiction made him an excessively dangerous pick and in addition, he was concerned that Downey would be too costly to insure.
But director Jon Favreau insisted that Downey was the ideal performer for the part. He believed that Downey would be an excellent Tony Stark because of his charm, humor, and brilliance. Additionally, Favreau thought that Downey’s own hardships would enable him to give the character more depth and complexity.
Kevin Feige was ultimately persuaded to give Downey a chance, and it proved to be one of his greatest choices to date. Critics praised Robert Downey Jr.‘s portrayal of Iron Man, which propelled the Marvel Cinematic Universe to unprecedented heights.
Kevin Feige has acknowledged that his initial mistrust of Downey was unwarranted. According to him, choosing Downey for the role was one of the best choices ever made in Hollywood history. It’s hard to imagine the MCU without Robert Downey Jr. He was the perfect person to play Tony Stark, and his performance helped to make the franchise a global phenomenon.
