Tropic Thunder is one of those meta-films that have a lot going on right under the surface. With a cast of actors who were really committed to the bit of the film, including Robert Downey Jr. Downey was deep in his character for the time the film was being filmed, and nothing shows that more than the particular song that he made up for doing his business.
Danny McBride, who was in the film as an explosives director within the narrative of the movie, talked to GQ about the curious way in which he found out how in character Robert Downey Jr. was when it came to his role as Kirk Lazarus, the Australian method actor who essayed the role of Lincoln Osiris.
In character, Robert Downey Jr. made a song to sing while relieving himself
It is often that co-stars of talented actors regale us with stories of how method actors stay in character between shots. However, it seems that Danny McBride might have the funniest story yet, about Robert Downey Jr. on the set of Tropic Thunder:
“I guess during one of the takes they had left, Downey’s mic was on and so I’m sitting up there and I’m like, ‘Oh shit, I can hear what he’s saying.’ He was talking to people and he was in character the whole time. And then, I even watched him walk back to his trailer and saw it from down there, and he was talking to himself.”
While listening to talking to himself, it would seem that Downey would be singing to himself, as reported by McBride, something along to the tune of “I’m going to go drain the snake, I’m going to go drain the snake.'” This is a song that the Iron Man alum made up for himself, to stay in character with.
Jack Black wants a Tropic Thunder sequel, but is it possible in today’s world?
While a Tropic Thunder sequel might sound great, with Jack Black even dishing out his own ideas to unite with Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr., it seems increasingly unlikely that such a film would ever see the light of day in today’s day and age. As comedy increasingly comes under scrutiny for being politically correct, or incorrect for that matter, the ideas that were so openly discussed and depicted in films like Tropic Thunder are not going to find any relevance in today’s date, especially given how notorious cancel culture has become.
However, there has been a push from conservative audiences for films that are not as ‘sensitive’ as they are, given the tirade of movies that have been turning the mainstream audiences off of theatres and big-budget productions altogether. So perhaps, a Tropic Thunder sequel could happen, but that seems to be a little more ahead in the future.
