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Robert Downey Jr Almost Played A DIFFERENT Marvel Character

Posted by: Lana Porter May 25, 2023

iron many tony stark robert downey jr marvel studios suit
Credit: Marvel Studios

Everyone, Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man – the movie that started it all – came out FIFTEEN YEARS ago. That’s right. In 2008 the smash hit premiered in theaters and kicked off what we now call the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not only did it start a new dawn of superhero movies, but it marked a serious comeback for Downey Jr’s career.

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iron man tony start robert downey jr 2008 marvel studios

Marvel Studios

Considering the success of Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. became synonymous with the tech billionaire character. This is why fans may find it hard to believe he was almost cast as another Marvel character first! He auditioned for Dr. Doom, the villain of the 2005 Fantastic Four film.

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the first Iron Man movie, director Jon Favreau and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige got together for a Marvel Entertainment video called ‘Iron Man: 15 Years Later.’ In the video they discuss why Jon Favreau signed on to direct, the pressures of opening weekend, and connections to the Marvel Comics.

dr. doom fantastic four nemisis marvel comics marvel 101

Marvel

Around the four-minute and forty-five second mark, Favreau begins to reveal how Robert Downey Jr got involved. It’s a casual mention, but a huge bomb to confirm for MCU fans! Here’s his quote as Keven Feige nods in confirmation:

I remember that Robert had come in for a general on it and I remember you had all met with him already for like Dr. Doom or something on another project… I think he had come through on… like Fantastic Four… So everybody sort of knew who he was and I remember sitting down with the guy and I was like geez he just got… that spark in him and his eye, and he’s ready. And that’s when we were in your (Feige) office and we were pointing to his headshot and saying we got to try to figure this out.

READ MORE: This Avengers Movie Cut A Pivotal Death Scene For Its Main Character

Jon Favreau and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige iron man 15 years

Marvel Entertainment

Just before this revelation, Feige admits that Robert Downey Jr’s casting as Iron Man “was probably one of the greatest decisions in the history of Hollywood.”

Dr. Doom was eventually played by Julian McMahon. Marvel fans will note, however, that Chris Evans (AKA Captain America) starred in Fantastic Four as the Human Torch, meaning Robert Downey Jr. feasibly also could’ve done both the Doom and Iron Man roles.

Check out the whole 21-minute video below shared by Marvel Entertainment.

About Lana Porter

Lana has never lost a Disney Trivia night. Maybe it’s the hundreds of times she’s been to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, her love for Disney’s ’90’s era hand-animated musicals, or the fact that she’s often likened to cartoon characters, but Disney and its magic have a special place in her heart. Her favorite Disney experiences include the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, eating Mickey Bars on the PeopleMover, and crying during the Magic Kingdom fireworks show. One day she hopes to be chosen as the rebel spy on Star Tours. When Lana isn’t Park Hopping, she’s at home reading books of all topics, watching her favs on Disney+, or snuggling her two cats, which she swears are not named after Disney characters. She loves surprising people with her knowledge of the Marvel Cinematic Universe but admits she is still catching up with Star Wars. She is happy to combine her excitement for writing with her love for Disney-style storytelling and share what she can with the world!