Every once in a while, a star comes along in such a trailblazing glory that it blinds itself to anyone who might care to listen. Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man was a similar figure of monumental pop culture significance. With the comeback star of the early 2000s finally living his dream, Downey rode the wave of success like no other movie star in Hollywood.
![Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man [Credit: Marvel Studios]](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/28143548/Robert-Downey-Jr-2-10-1024x683.jpg)
But like every story, the narrator can feel often feel subtle shifts in its plot and pacing. Despite a strong overall narrative achievement arc, the history of the actor was mired in darkness. Perhaps, it was the same darkness that helped Robert Downey Jr. rise to the occasion and make Tony Stark his own.
Robert Downey Jr. Auditions to Become Tony Stark
With the rise of Kevin Feige as Marvel’s pit boss in 2007, the cinematic experience soon began to take a different shape. An interconnected universe would be launched in the fray that would connect every story with a single thread that would then reel them all in together against one common enemy. But a dream as big as this needed a strong leader.
![Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man [Credit: Marvel Studios]](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/28143619/Robert-Downey-Jr.-as-Iron-Man-1024x576.jpeg)
In the long and ardent search for an actor worthy and capable enough of pulling this off, Marvel came across numerous names including that of Hollywood’s most in-demand A-lister Tom Cruise in the mix as Iron Man. But soon after watching a certain audition tape from the forgotten star of the 90s aka Robert Downey Jr., there was a shift in the atmosphere.
The infamous audition tape that had long been rotting in the vaults of Marvel Studios has finally come to light. And it’s as magical as we always imagined.
Whatever fate, divine intervention, or simple human will pushed the actor to audition for that role, it led to the greatest casting story in all of Hollywood. With Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, history was being made right in front of Kevin Feige himself. And the fans were allowed to enjoy the MCU in all its glory for 11 blessed years before all that legacy went to waste.
Robert Downey Jr.’s Legacy as Tony Stark/Iron Man
![Tony Starkʼs funeral scene in Avengers: Endgame [Credit: Marvel Studios]](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/28143521/Iron-Man-funeral-scene-in-Avengers-Endgame-Credit-Marvel-Studios-1024x512.jpg)
Not long after the sensation of the century aka Avengers: Endgame took over every theater ever, an essential truth came to light. Almost like Logan’s absence was slowly killing Earth-10005 due to the loss of its Anchor Being, the absence of Iron Man has somehow deeply affected the MCU.
However, it is not the reality of the MCU but Marvel Studios that is in question. Despite the studio’s recent descent into low-grade projects, once upon a time, Marvel used to rule the box office industry. And all of its glory and success was built on a single man’s back: Robert Downey Jr.
The story of the actor’s past did help him nail the role of a lifetime. But more importantly, Downey Jr. mirrored a quality that was somewhat similar to Tony Stark himself. The identities of the actor and the character soon merged into one, almost like Ryan Reynolds and Deadpool.
Robert Downey Jr.’s honest approach to life – throughout all of its ups and downs, dark corners, and giddy successes – ultimately helped mold his character of Tony Stark into a globally and universally beloved one.
Iron Man is streaming on Disney+
