Robert Downey Jr., who played rascally Larry Paul in the Fox sitcom Ally McBeal, has been cast as lead character Tony Stark in the Marvel superhero movie Iron Man.
Downey joined McBeal in the show's fourth season as the boyfriend of lead character Ally McBeal (played by Calista Flockhart). Ratings for the show rose, but Downey was forced to leave when he had real-life trouble with the law--he was sent to prison for possession of heroin.
Marvel Productions president Kevin Feige said Downey's real-life troubles would only add weight to the character of Stark, a man plagued with his own demons.
"The Marvel characters are not just about how high they jump or how fast they fly, they're about their character flaws," Feige said in a statement. "They're about their inner demons. They're about the struggles that they go through between being a man and being a hero."
Dinner for Five host and Friends guest star Jon Favreau is directing the film, which is budgeted at over $100 million. Favreau directed the Will Ferrell film Elf, as well as an episode of Undeclared and the David Arquette pilot In Case of Emergency.
Downey recently starred in the films Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and Good Night, and Good Luck, about CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow.
Comments (22)
Truthfully, I do not believe that Marvel (Stan Lee) made a good choice is having Robert Downey Jr. play the roll of Iron Man. The way it usually goes is- super hero movies have sequels... will Robert D. stay out of rehab long enough to not screw this up? Additionally, it is very clear that many people have a real dislike for Robert D., me included, due to the fact that he is a horrible role model- not someone that kids who are watching their favorite super hero should be associating with. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING!
Mark A.
New Jersey
yeah, if you look at the images, he looks like tony stark!
I think it's gonna be great, I love this actor. Really really want to see it
WOW!!!! I think this will be amazing I've been waiting for the marvel comics to come out on the big screen. In addition I can totally see him as iron man
This is going to be interesting. I like the choice because of Downey's past may help him become the character of Stark...but I don't know if I can see him physically as the character.
Definetly a good choice- the only person I had in mind was Topher Grace...but seeing as he is now Eddie Brock/Venom, probably wasnt going to be Ironman too
I think that Downey is a great choice as Iron Man.
This is going to exciteing...R.D. Jr. is going to do a great job, I have never seen a movie he was in where I didn't like or at least apperciate his acting. Great choice for a star for a superhero million dollar flick.
I don't really think he needs to get too sober, after all isn't Tony Stark an alcoholic, or at least a recovering one?
I don't know ir Robert is the guy for the job. They hust better not screw this movie up, Ironman is one of my favorite superheros.
I think he will play a really good Tony Stark. I don't think the superhero genre has seen it's brightest days pass with the viewing public (including fanboys) yet. I hope this movie does well.
I'm sure he'll be great as Tony Stark, but does the world really need an iron man movie right now? i'm afraid the superhero genre has seen it's brightest days (for now). I'm sure future additions to current franchises will do well (batman, spidey, supes, x-men, maybe Fantastic Four), but i don't see this catching on except with fanboys.
I think he will make an awesome tony stark, have always been a big fan of downey jnr ever since i saw his brilliant performance in 'less than zero' and i agree with aosist, he has done much better work in his career than the ridiculously stupid ally mcbeal
If he can keep himself clean and sober, he will be a brilliant Tony Stark. He is a strong enough actor and character to pull off the dramatic as well as the comedic.
Iron Man isn't a 'young' guy, Downey seems the right age to me.Not sure why this news bullitin keeps going on about Ally Macbeal though... I know this is a TV site, but he's done way more than the bit part on that show.But yeah, I think I can dig him as Iron Man.
They have a great point with "personal demons" however for Stark that happened after being iron man for a few years so we'll have to see when in the ironman timeline the movie takes place. I'm also worried about how he'll look with a mustache and how his voice will sound compared to the voice they already have for the animated movies.
I think he could pull it off, but then again I was a little skeptical that Tobey Maguire could pull off being Spider-Man and look at him now. Downey could presumably take on the mantle but I'd need to see a trailer or something displaying him as being Tony Stark before I'll really make up my mind.
He looks enough like him. I haven't seen his acting enough to judge, though.
that sucks i hate Robert Downey Jr
"Isn't he kinda old?"
Not really, Tony Stark is one of the few superheroes that's nearly middle aged. He's not some young internet millionaire y'know. This is a guy who's been in corporate business for years before becoming a superhero.
.. Why not?.. if he is good I don't see any reason why he shouldn't.. if he is really bad.. well that's another story!
Isnt he kinda old. oh well we will see