Zodiac, the 2007 masterwork of director David Fincher, is a spine-tingling thriller that grips viewers from beginning to end. However, did you know that there was a long and winding casting process before Robert Downey Jr. was cast as journalist Paul Avery, one of the main characters?
Yes, the director, known for his meticulous attention to detail and dark brooding style (Alien 3, The Game), had set his sights on Brad Pitt for one of the lead roles in his $84.7 million film. However, Pitt wasn’t available at the time, leaving Fincher in a bit of a predicament. Not one to settle for second-best, the latter began searching for another actor who was able to portray the complex character of Paul Avery.
The director’s list continued with none other than Daniel Craig, the James Bond star, who seemed like a fitting choice on the part of the valiant journalist. However, for unknown reasons, he did not accept the role, leaving Fincher scrambling to find the ideal candidate.
Fincher eventually settled on the talented Iron Man star!
The Zodiac Casting Conundrum: Brad Pitt, Daniel Craig, or Robert Downey Jr.?
Robert Downey Jr. is best known to younger moviegoers for his flawless portrayal of Iron Man. Even though he deserves all the praise for starting the Marvel Cinematic Universe on its upward trajectory in 2008, he has a number of other roles that likely more accurately show his versatility.
His most recent Oscar came for his portrayal of Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s highly regarded Oppenheimer, but his first Academy Award should have gone to him for his work with David Fincher.
His performance as Paul Avery in the 2007 psychological thriller Zodiac is one of his most underrated roles, coming a year before he would take the movie world by storm in his ground-breaking role as Iron Man. Despite having a $65 million production budget, it brought in over $84.7 million worldwide.
Surprisingly, Fincher did not even have Downey Jr. as his second choice before the actor finally got the role of Avery. The director reportedly hoped to cast actor Brad Pitt as Paul Avery, as we learned from All The Right Movies. Fincher had to find Pitt’s replacement, though, as he was unable to accept the role due to a possible scheduling conflict.
Before Fincher decided to collaborate with Downey Jr. to make his vision a reality, he apparently considered British heartthrob Daniel Craig. Things again didn’t work out. Ultimately, Fincher made the choice to move forward with the gifted Marvel star. And we can’t deny the fact that Oscar winner Downey Jr. gave an outstanding performance as Paul in Zodiac.
It is exciting to speculate about what Zodiac might have looked like if Craig or Pitt had played Paul Avery, but it is safe to say that Downey Jr. gave the character something very unique.
Robert Downey Jr. Took Home First Oscar For Oppenheimer
Finally, this year’s Best Supporting Actor Oscar went to Robert Downey Jr. for his work in Christopher Nolan’s film Oppenheimer. The actor completed an awards season sweep on Sunday night with his Oscar win, capping off wins for Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Globes and BAFTA Film Awards.
The Less than Zero actor, 53, started off his speech with a joke, saying (via Variety):
“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy — in that order. I’d like to thank my veterinarian — I meant wife, Susan Downey over there. She found me a snarling rescue pet and you loved me back to life. That’s why I’m here.”
Along with expressing gratitude to Nolan, and co-stars Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt, who were also nominated for Oscars, Downey Jr. also acknowledged his Oppenheimer team.
“Here’s my little secret. I needed this job more than it needed me. Chris knew it. Emma made sure that she surrounded me with one of the great casts and crews of all time — Emily, Cillian. It was fantastic…”
Downey Jr. deserves this Oscar win because he has mesmerized audiences for decades with iconic roles in movies like Chaplin, Sherlock Holmes, and Iron Man. This award is a worthy celebration of his extraordinary talent, as his range as an actor knows no bounds.
Zodiac can be streamed on Paramount+. Also, Oppenheimer is available on Peacock Premium.
