Robert Downy Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man?!

[thewayne]

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=3&id=38447

12:00 AM, 29-SEPTEMBER-06

Downey Is Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr. has been cast as Tony Stark in Jon Favreau's Iron Man movie for Marvel Studios, Variety reported.

The movie, based on the classic Marvel Comics character, is set for release by Paramount in May 2008. It will be the first to be self-financed by Marvel.

Downey will play Stark, a wealthy industrialist who invents a high-tech suit of body armor that gives him superpowers when he is kidnapped.

In the comics, Stark was an alcoholic, a trait that will undoubtedly draw public comparisons with Downey's own struggles with substance abuse, the trade paper reported. But Marvel production president Kevin Feige told the trade paper that the first Iron Man movie won't deal with Stark's alcohol problems, though it would likely come up in potential sequels.

The first film will deal with Stark's invention of the Iron Man suit and his conflicted past as a weapons inventor. Principal photography on "Iron Man" is set to begin in February.

Could be interesting...

Comments

[apostate-96.livejournal.com]

That just does not seem right. I know the substance abuse similarity is there, but beyond that Downey just does not fit with the personality I've figured is present in Tony Stark. If nothing else, I can't see him ever having been serious enough to build up a company like Stark Industries. Christ, I'd have an easier time with the idea of Paul Reubens in that role!

I feel afraid, very afraid.

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

Ah. You say he lacks gravitas. To a degree I agree, but he's now 41 and seems to have stayed out of drug trouble for the last 5-6 years (some of that time spent in prison). He's done some pretty good serious roles, such as Chaplin, I think he could pull it off. He's older than the normal "trouble years" and he survived it, so I think it could be decent.

I think what might be a bigger question is how good they'll be doing the CGI for the armor. After what I've seen they did for Transformers, I pray no one associated with that project is involved in Iron Man!

[apostate-96.livejournal.com]

Admittedly, I haven't seen his most recent work, so it could well be Downey's finally grown up enough to handle that kind of role. What I had last seen, though, suggested otherwise. I'm still willing to wait and see.

And I completely agree about the CGI not being done by the people who did Transformers. Hell, if that's the case I'd almost rather see "claymation" with colored tinfoil done instead!

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

No argument here. The problem is that a big name, such as Downey's arguably might be, brings money to the project. No money, no movie. It's very hard to cast unknowns, or relatively unknowns, as leads in big-budget films.

[tomegatheron.livejournal.com]

Hmm Obviously they arent going with the James Rhodes option for Iron man. A young Tom Selleck would have a perfect Tony Stark. Downey, to me, has all the acting talent of colon cancer.

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't it be nice if we could de-age stars? I've always been a big Selleck fan. Magnum PI has been one of my fav shows for a very long time, along with Simon & Simon.

live action

[paulmc.livejournal.com]

I was surprised to read this. Mostly because it's being done, not who is starring. If you saw my earlier entry about the DVD, Ultimate Avengers 2, Marvel is already developing an animated Iron Man DVD, based on the version of Stark/Iron Man presented in the Ultimates.

Anyway, when I saw that I figured Marvel had opted against a live action take, but apparently they want their cake and they want to eat it, too.

Re: live action

[thewayne.livejournal.com]

Marvel's trying to turn all of their major comic properties into movies, this is just one of them. The effects technology currently available is so stupendous, that the time is right. Unfortunately, frequently the story isn't right. The effects in the Fantastic Four movie were great and IMO very descriptive/demonstrative/appropriate for the FF, still, the story sucked big time. Add in The Hulk and Elektra, and nothing is guaranteed. Yet Hulk 2 and FF 2 are apparently going to be made.

With great money does not come great common sense or writing ability.

I haven't seen the UA animated series, but I hear it's excellent.

Downey Jr.

[aerynn-sun.livejournal.com]

Is he off the drugs for sure now? I mean he was an idiot in the past.