“Look, I fought, I tried”: Robert Downey Jr Almost Lost $300M Role Christopher Nolan Calls “One of the greatest decisions” in Movie History

Robert Downey Jr has again impressed the world with his serious charms in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer with a star-studded cast led by Cillian Murphy. He is already an established actor due to his globally recognized Iron Man role which he portrayed in Marvel Cinematic Universe.

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However, many might be surprised to know that the actor, who has a special corner in our hearts for his iconic portrayal had to face a real struggle to get the gig.

MCU Refused to Cast Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man

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As per Rolling Stone, Iron Man director, Jon Favreau shared that Robert Downey Jr’s casting as the titular comic character was quite difficult since the Marvel franchise was not ready to hire him at any cost.

He even mentioned that the franchise has clearly told him, “Under no circumstances are we prepared to hire him for any price.”

He was disappointed but knew that he need to inform the actor about the bad news. On hearing the outcome,

“Look, I fought, I tried, I did what I could, it’s a pity and a shame, but unfortunately it’s going to stop here. With your permission, I’m going to hold out hope.”

The franchise was skeptical about his casting due to his controversial past but Favreau knew that he is fit for the role. It was not easy but the director made it clear to the franchise that Downey Jr. was the best choice. The Sherlock Holmes actor had to give a screen test which many others often pass on that instantly convinced the studio to let him bag the part. The rest is history as we all know how he helped shape the entire MCU franchise.

Christopher Nolan Has High Regard for Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man Portrayal

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The renowned filmmaker, Christopher Nolan who has recently brought out his new project, Oppenheimer to the world praised the actor for his talent. He has nothing but great words for the 58-year-old actor who admired his on-screen charisma and intense acting that brought Tony Stark and his alter ego, Iron Man to life.

“When Favreau had the insight to cast him as Iron Man, it’s one of the greatest casting decisions in the history of movies.”

His superhero portrayal led to a drastic impact not only on the franchise but also on the character. He was last seen portraying his role in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame where he heroically let his character rest while saving the world.

Thinking that Marvel took the risk to let him do the character and forever register in film history, is truly an amazing feat. His recent work is Oppenheimer which is available in theatres.

Source: Rolling Stone