Thomas Roach with six reasons why Robert Downey Jr. should not be replaced as Iron Man….
Rumour has is that Robert Downey Jr. will say goodbye to the character of Tony Stark after just two more movies, the first of which is next year’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, followed by a third Avengers film expected in 2017/2018. Many cannot imagine anyone else taking over the iconic role. However, President of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige has suggested that the role will eventually be recast and this will be a continual process as seen with long-standing franchies such as James Bond and Doctor Who. But Kevin Feige has also expressed the possibility of introducing new Avengers and phasing old ones out, giving characters a definitive ending and avoiding the need to recast.
Despite his immense popularity as Tony Stark, Robert Downey Jr. recently stated in an interview that as an actor playing a character, he had peaked in Iron Man 3 and believed that nothing could be improved on what he achieved in this film. But with two more appearances before his contract expires, could he have a change of heart? It is not yet known if a new contract will be signed, enabling him to reprise the role in future films. There has been talk about Iron Man 4, but a few weeks ago Downey stated there is currently nothing in the pipeline. Here are six reasons why he should not be recast…
6. He is Tony Stark
It can be difficult to see where Robert Downey Jr. ends and Tony Stark begins as they have very similar personalities. Both display arrogance, hyperactivity and a smarmy charm. They have both come back from the brink of self destruction to be a better person and learnt from their mistakes in the past. These similarities have helped Robert Downey Jr. create and build upon a believable character who many have come to love.
Equally it can be difficult to see where Tony Stark ends and Robert Downey Jr. begins as frequently seen in interviews when promoting the Iron Man films. This was particularly evident during his appearance at the Iron Man 3 panel at Comic-Con back in 2012 when he made quite an entrance, as well as his most recent appearance in San Diego this year introducing the Age of Ultron panel.
Director Jon Favreau clearly saw the parallels between the character and the actor and was prepared to take a risk by ignoring the studio’s request to cast a younger actor and the success of this casting has validated his faith in Robert Downey Jr.
5. Continuity
Although the producers of the James Bond series have had to recast their actors over the decades, this has not always worked. Everyone has their favorite Bond. For example, many see Sean Connery as the real James Bond and it is only the recent recasting of Daniel Craig that brought 007 back in vogue. Daniel Craig’s version of the character was a reboot to the franchise, rather than acting as a mere sequel.
Fans are typically unhappy when their favorite character has a different face. Unless the Marvel Cinematic Universe is rebooted, then Robert Downey Jr. needs to keep playing the character. There would be an uproar from fans if they recast the role as it interrupts continuity.
When Edward Norton did not reprise his role as the Hulk in The Avengers, some people were somewhat confused by the sudden appearance of Mark Ruffalo. However when the role of Rhodes was recast from Terrence Howard to Don Cheadle in Iron Man 2, audiences were more forgiving of the change in a supporting character. Nevertheless fans would be less forgiving in the case of Robert Downey Jr., who would have played the role seven times when his current contract ends.
4. Who Could Replace Him?
Seriously, can you actually think of another actor who could take on this role? Sure, there are people who look similar to Tony Stark and have the acting skills to play the character, but could any other actor bring the same depth of character that Robert Downey Jr. has achieved? It is unlikely as getting an actor who looks the part is not enough – an actor really needs to embody the character they are playing and this is something that Robert Downey Jr. excels at.
That being said, another actor taking on the role may leave us surprised with how quickly we could move on. The role of Tony Stark/Iron Man is not exclusive to the actor, but it would be tough for any actor to take on the iconic role and to deal with the inevitable comparisons to Robert Downey Jr.
All actors want to be remembered for their version of a character and not be compared with previous incarnations. Even if you look at Christian Bale’s esteemed interpretation of Batman, people will always refer to Michael Keaton or Adam West. Robert Downey Jr. has laid claim to the character, being the first actor to play the role on the big screen, and could prove an indelible portrayal in our minds.
Originally published September 27, 2014. Updated April 15, 2018.
