Anyone who knows Iron Man is likely to associate the face of actor Robert Downey Jr. with it. However, his casting was not initially planned, and another actor was supposed to appear in the film. Whoever received the role had a heavy burden to bear.
Marvel Studios, formerly known as Marvel Films, has been involved in various feature films related to brands from its own comic book publishing since 1993, long before Iron Man (2008). This mainly involved the granting of licenses.
With Iron Man, however, they wanted to start their own in-house and independent film universe, the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As we know today, the endeavor has been very successful. By March 2026, 37 films across six so-called phases have been released, along with several series.
It was therefore very important for the company that the first film, Iron Man, was a success. Much depended on the lead actor, who was to be the face of the new fictional universe. While Robert Downey Jr. did a great job in the role, he was not initially Marvel’s first choice.
Meanwhile, the actor gives a cautionary message to the inspiration for Iron Man.
The Perfect Mix
Who should play Iron Man? Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios, spoke in 2023 at the University of South California about the making of Iron Man – and about the casting of the lead role (via fandomwire.com).
They had looked at many different actors, and one thing was important in that regard:
„We had to find the perfect mix of heart, strength, and charisma. Because it was our very first Marvel film, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. The success of the film and the future of our entire studio rested on the shoulders of that one person.”
Kevin Feige
The search was not easy, but ultimately the choice fell on Clive Owen. He is known from films like Children of Men, Inside Men, Sin City, or King Arthur.
Marvel would have been happy with Owen, but the actor was not interested in portraying Iron Man. He declined, and the studio had to continue searching. Years later, Kevin Feige does not seem particularly saddened by this:
That is the unwritten rule of life. If you don’t get your first choice, it might just be the best thing that can happen to you. Because do you know what is better than getting your first choice? Making the right choice. And in our case, that choice was, of course, Robert Downey Jr., and the first film we made as a studio ultimately became one of the highest-rated and highest-grossing films of the year.
Kevin Feige
In the end, Robert Downey Jr. was a good choice for Marvel. The film grossed over €508 million worldwide at the box office (via boxofficemojo.com). For the actor himself, the film represented a significant career boost.
After successes in the 80s and 90s in films like Chaplin, Natural Born Killers or Short Cuts, Robert Downey Jr. had slipped into drug addiction towards the end of the century and had only been seen in smaller supporting roles for several years.
With films like Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Zodiac or Tropic Thunder, he made a comeback starting in 2005. The character Iron Man is certainly his most commercially successful role to date. With Oppenheimer, he even won an Oscar in 2024. And the actor will soon return for Marvel: Robert Downey Jr. will soon play Doctor Doom, even though he already has a role in the MCU – and he is not alone in this
