In 2008, people would’ve laughed at claims that said the Marvel Cinematic Universe would become the biggest and most successful franchise in the world. Fast forward to 2024, and Robert Downey Jr.’s first appearance in and as Iron Man gave rise to a cinematic juggernaut. Thus, the star is widely regarded as the face of the MCU even after his retirement from the franchise.
Not only did he immortalize the character of the superhero in cinema history, but he also helped the Marvel Studios President, Kevin Feige, to have a shift in perspective for the franchise that changed for the better.
In the past, he revealed that the iconic ‘I Am Iron Man’ line in the first MCU film was improvised by the star, which inspired him to take chances with the narratives and stories of the characters from Marvel Comics and not completely stick to the lore.
How Robert Downey Jr.’s Improv In Iron Man Inspired Kevin Feige
At this point, there are no more praises to be sung about Robert Downey Jr. that haven’t already been sung by the entire film industry.
His portrayal of Iron Man in the MCU for almost a decade is nothing short of a groundbreaking milestone, but few people may know just how impactful he was with the first Iron Man film, and how that impact inspired Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige to take his route with the franchise.
In a past interview with Deadline, the head honcho of the cinematic juggernaut revealed that the iconic ‘I am Iron Man’ line that the Oscar-winning actor delivered towards the end of the first film of the franchise was completely off-script and was him improvising it at the moment. And yet, when Feige heard it for the first time, something clicked for him.
He further revealed that this was the moment he knew that while they were going to follow the lore of these characters from the comics, they were also going to make some minor and major changes to some narratives to further enhance their appeal or spice things up. He said:
“That success inspired us to go further in the trusting ourselves to find balance of staying true to the comics and the spirit of the comics but not being afraid to adapt and evolve and to change things.”
As we see today, the MCU isn’t shy from deviating from the source material to many extents, all of which have been well received by both comic book fans and audiences alike.
How Did Iron Man Become An Icon?
In the simplest terms, the role of Iron Man couldn’t have gone to anyone more perfect than RDJ, who brought the character to life in such a mesmerizing way that his face and the superhero’s image became synonymous.
The excellent character portrayal of Tony Stark in the films was masterfully executed by the Sherlock Holmes star, which further enhanced his appeal as a character outside of his iconic red armor.
This helped the fans connect deeper and deeper with Stark as well as Iron Man as a whole, which was gradually associated with fans’ sentiments. Thus, whenever fans saw Downey Jr. in the MCU, they would prove to be a joyous occasion, making Iron Man the reason for it.
Iron Man, streaming on Disney+.
