After working together in the 2019 MCU project that witnessed the end of Iron Man, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downey Jr. went separate ways in their careers. But years later, with the 96th Academy Awards knocking at the door, the two actors made headlines for competing against each other for the Golden Statue.
Appearing in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Downey Jr. mesmerized his audiences with his riveting performance as the bad guy, just like Ruffalo did for Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things. And now, according to reports, Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr. have been nominated for the Best Supporting Actor category at the 2024 Oscars, for their respective performances.
Robert Downey Jr. Receives Oscar Nod for Oppenheimer
Although Robert Downey Jr. revived his career and catapulted his fame with his 2008 MCU movie Iron Man, which later led him to reprise his role in the Avengers films, the actor broke records with his 2023 drama. Appearing in Christopher Nolan‘s summer blockbuster Oppenheimer, alongside Cillian Murphy, Downey Jr. stunned the audiences with his riveting role of Lewis Strauss.
Portraying the uber-political antagonist in Nolan’s World War 2 drama, Robert Downey Jr. earned quite the fame and recognition for his work. Thereafter, his supporting role was appreciated by the Academy Awards committee, who then nominated the star for the Best Supporting Actor category at the 96th Academy Awards.
Counting this current Oscar nod, Robert Downey Jr. has a total of 3 nominations to his name. But unfortunately, he is yet to win his career’s first Academy Award. Meanwhile, even his Avengers co-star Mark Ruffalo got nominated for the same category for his supporting role in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things, starring Emma Stone.
Robert Downey Jr. to Fight Mark Ruffalo for His First Oscar
According to the Oscars, alongside Robert Downey Jr.’s role as Lewis Strauss, that got nominated, Mark Ruffalo’s role as Duncan Wedderburn, was nominated for the same category. Appearing in Yorgos Lanthimos’ representation of a feminist world without prejudices of society, Ruffalo bagged the nomination that added to his previous 3 Oscar nods.
Also read: Movies With Highest Number of Oscar Nominations in 2024: Emma Stone Has Done It Again
Unfortunately, much like Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo has yet to win his first Oscar. Now it seems the two Avengers will compete against each other to win the Golden Statue. Although there are three other actors, Sterling K. Brown, Robert De Niro, and Ryan Gosling, under the Best Supporting Actor category, Ruffalo and Downey Jr. are the two MCU stars fans are excited to see them fight for their first win.
The 96th annual Academy Awards is set to be held on March 10, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. This year again, Jimmy Kimmel has been hired to host the ceremony, following his 2017, 2018, and 2023’s flawless execution.
