Robert Downey Jr Expresses Feeling Undervalued by Marvel Due to Genre
Robert Downey Jr opens up about his experience with Marvel, revealing how it made him feel vulnerable after being shielded in the superhero genre
Robert Downey Jr. recently expressed that his performances as Tony Stark and Iron Man may be some of his best work, although he feels it may have been overshadowed due to the genre. This news was shared during an episode of Rob Lowe's Literally! podcast (via Variety), where Downey Jr. was a guest. During the recording, Downey Jr.'s phone rang, prompting jokes from Lowe about Marvel related news and his potential representation.
"You know what I say. That phone is going to ring, baby, and I want to be on that call. I want to be negotiating for you," Lowe insisted. "I understand your situation. Here's what you should do. You can say, 'I'll come back and portray Tony Stark for you guys again since you messed everything up. But I want a substantial payment. I have a specific amount in mind, and I want a share of the profits from every future movie.' That's what I would do."
Their conversation then turned into a discussion about some of Downey Jr.'s recent projects that didn't meet the same level of success as his MCU films. He emphasized how the MCU allowed him to deliver some of his finest work.
After leaving Marvel, I felt exposed and realized that I had done some of my best work, even though it was somewhat overlooked due to the genre," Downey Jr. shared. "Leaving Marvel turned out to be a good thing because it forced me to reevaluate what I had been relying on for confidence and security, and it made me more adaptable and open to learning."
Following his departure from the MCU in 2019, Downey Jr. has appeared in several other films, such as Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," "Dolittle" in 2022, and "Sr." also set for release in 2022.
Don't miss our latest content exploring whether Echo can execute a compelling Kingpin storyline in the MCU, as well as Robert Downey Jr.'s revelation that Iron Man was initially viewed as a "second-tier" character.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I can understand Robert Downey Jr.'s feelings of being undervalued by Marvel due to the genre. The MCU has become such a massive phenomenon that it's easy for individual performances to get lost in the shuffle. Downey Jr. is an incredibly talented actor, and it's a shame that his work as Tony Stark/Iron Man may not be fully appreciated because of the genre in which he performed.
I also appreciate Downey Jr.'s honesty about feeling exposed after leaving Marvel. It's clear that he put a lot of himself into the role of Tony Stark, and it must have been difficult to let go of that character. However, I'm glad that he was able to find success in other projects after leaving the MCU. It shows that he's a versatile actor who can excel in a variety of roles.
