Robert Downey Jr's Controversial Remarks About an Avengers Movie Cause a Stir

Robert Downey Jr. is set to star alongside Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, and Florence Pugh in Christopher Nolan's upcoming film, Oppenheimer. As the highly anticipated release date approaches, Downey Jr. is reflecting on his career, evaluating his successes and failures, and seemingly indirectly criticizing one of his most popular franchises, The Avengers.

Downey Jr. achieved legendary status in Hollywood and the film industry through his portrayal of the charismatic Tony Stark/Iron Man in Marvel's films. Over a span of more than a decade, he appeared in multiple movies, including the Iron Man trilogy and the four Avengers films. However, with Iron Man's demise in Avengers: Endgame, Downey Jr.'s contract with the franchise ended, marking the conclusion of his role as Iron Man in 2019. Since then, he has been actively seeking to distance himself from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and broaden his range of film projects. Despite some of these new ventures not achieving commercial success, Downey Jr. still holds them dearly.

In a recent interview with The New York Times, Downey Jr. delves into his post-Marvel career and highlights two films that hold great significance to him over the past 25 years. Firstly, The Shaggy Dog (2006), where he portrays the villainous doctor responsible for Tim Allen's transformation into a Bearded Collie, marks a pivotal milestone in his professional journey. This film represented a turning point for Downey Jr. as it symbolized the first instance where a major studio such as Disney placed their trust in him and his artistic abilities. This occurred after his arrest in 1996 for the possession of heroin, cocaine, and an unloaded gun. Drawing a parallel, Downey Jr. also considers Dolittle, released in 2020, to be another crucial film in his career. Despite receiving significant criticism and failing to perform well at the box office, he regards it as a poignant "two-and-a-half-year wound of squandered opportunity." Produced under the banner of Team Downey Productions, which he shares with his wife Susan Downey, this venture prompted a reevaluation of their priorities and a shift in their professional partnerships and advisors. "Never let a good crisis go to waste," remarks the actor.

Regarding the Avengers movies and his portrayal of Iron Man, the actor acknowledges Avengers: Age of Ultron simply as "content." He clarifies that he uses this term to find solace in his career and projects. Downey Jr. explains that although this film holds great personal value, it may not have the same significance for others. He also regards the documentary about his father's final years as content, but distinguishes Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows as something more than mere content.

During the premiere of Oppenheimer, Downey Jr. reflects on his experience working on the movie and praises Nolan's support in pushing him outside of his comfort zone. Without providing further elaboration, he classifies Oppenheimer as belonging to the category of "not content," revealing that he believes he was destined to portray the role of former US Secretary of Commerce Lewis Strauss.

Oppenheimer will debut in theaters on July 21, 2023.

Source: The New York Times