MCU: 15 most perfectly cast actors in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Marvel’s IRON MAN 2 ..L to R: Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) Lt. Col. James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes (Don Cheadle)..Photo Credit: Film Frame ..©2010 Marvel. All Rights Reserved.
3. Robert Downey Jr.
Character: Tony Stark/Iron Man
Tony Stark is, without a doubt, one of the most audacious, outspoken and downright infuriating characters in Marvel history. All you have to do is spend 60 seconds with him and you’ll realize that he’s brash, he’s arrogant and, in many ways, he’s a larger-than-life caricature – and that’s all before he puts the iron suit on. However, he’s also committed to the most important things in his life, determined to carry on his father’s immeasurable legacy and, perhaps most importantly, intent on protecting the world.
So, how does one man bring all that to life? Well, you’ll have to ask Robert Downey Jr. because he is undoubtedly the man with all of those answers.
Ever since Downey burst onto screens in 2008’s Iron Man, he has had both the world and the Marvel Cinematic Universe begging for more. With his suave style and chiseled features, he certainly looked every bit the playboy billionaire that his comic book counterpart is, but it was performance that got people’s attention.
There’s a charisma to Robert Downey Jr.’s performance that is larger-than-life in and of itself. He just oozes screen-presence every time he appears – so much so that when he’s on-screen, it’s hard to pay attention to anything other than him. Through his effective delivery of those quick-witted responses and endless streams of consciousness, he easily steals the show.
Everything with Tony feels like a huge performance which is quite ironic because, with Downey Jr., it never feels like he’s performing. There is such an authenticity to his portrayal that it genuinely feels like we’re watching Tony Stark before our very eyes and not an actor playing him. It just comes so naturally to him.
Stark may indeed be a larger-than-life caricature, but the most important part is that it never feels like he is. Robert Downey Jr. effortlessly embodies everything that the character stands for through his authentic performance and, quite frankly, it’s impossible to imagine anyone else following in his footsteps. This was the role that he was born to play.