Robert Downey Jr. is one of the main actors that helped build the MCU from the ground up. He is also called the godfather of MCU for kick-starting the franchise. Though RDJ’s role in the MCU is over, he is still a media personality that represents MCU in various ways.
Marvel Studios has currently started its journey toward Phase 5 and 6, building up the plots for Avengers: Secret Wars. It is rumored to be an event even bigger than Avengers: Endgame that occurs across the multiverse.
RDJ’s Mentorship of His Fellow Avenger’s Co-star
Jeremy Renner recently stated that Robert Downey Jr. acted as his mentor just before his solo, Hawkeye was released. Renner was introduced to the MCU pretty early and his role as Hawkeye stands as one of the founding members of the Avengers. Jeremy Renner’s role as Clint Barton is taking up the mantle of mentoring his young prodigy Kate Bishop, just as RDJ took on Renner.
Jeremy Renner in an interview with Entertainment Tonight shared that RDJ helped him out in the MCU by supporting his role and teaching him all the necessary things that helped him on getting started. He later went on to add that,
“I think even just in the MCU, with Downey, he kind of kicked off the MCU in the way that he did with Iron Man. He kind of took us all under his wing, if you will, to kind of shepherd us in in a certain way. We all knew each other and we’re all friends, just in a different sort of way you can lean on someone.”
Also read: Robert Downey Jr Admits Marvel Didn’t Bother With Scarlett Johansson’s Opinion on Black Widow
RDJ’s role as Iron Man was the last stand for MCU because if Iron Man had flopped, they would have been forced to sell the company. But since its release in 2008, the rest is deemed as history as it will go down as the greatest save an actor could ever achieve – hence the godfather.
Downey’s presence has helped a great number of people and actors secure their life and their role in the MCU. He helped out Chris Evans with his role as Captain America and also provided a strong opinion for Hom Holland’s role as Spider-Man. He has helped people both on and off screen and after Iron Man’s death in Avengers: Endgame, and now it is up to the younger generation to carry out his legacy the same way he did; both on and off screen.
RDJ Reflects On Leaving Behind Iron Man
RDJ’s Iron Man is arguably the most important character in the MCU until now. When one says something about MCU, RDJ’s Iron Man comes to mind. He left behind his legacy and his hard work in creating such a beautiful universe from scratch. Well, there is no more Iron Man from Phase 4.
“I’ve done all I could with that character and can do other things now. Now, being middle-aged, you start looking at the back nine and realize this is all part of the journey and things end. I am fortunate and eternally grateful to have wound up where I have.”
“Each project is different. Playing Tony/Iron Man was hard and I dug deep. I had an incredible 10-year run that was creatively satisfying.”
Robert Downey Jr. has portrayed the role of Iron Man for the last decade, starting from 2008’s Iron Man to Avengers: End Game which was released back in 2019. He starred in a total of 9 major MCU movies and had a small post-credit cameo in The Incredible Hulk.
Recently, RDJ in a talk show, Late Night With Seth Meyers said that he also relied on his co-star Jeremy Renner as one day he was having trouble convincing his son while playing outside and Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye being his son’s favorite superhero, RDJ called Renner for help.
“Listen, this is Hawkeye talking. You can’t put a stick in your eye because then you wont be able to use the bow and arrow at 300 yards, and take out the bad guys”
Jeremy Renner being a cool superhero that he is handled the situation perfectly showing off his skills to be called an A-list actor in Hollywood.
Source: Late Night With Seth Meyers
