I’m curious to see how the below quote gets interpreted by Marvel fans. I’d like to think Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige will have Robert Downey Jr. play Tony Stark for as long as he wants. RDJ is one of the primary reasons an Avengers film even exists, as the prospect of such a film was unheard of before Iron Man planted that seed. Despite being a very young-looking 47, one assumes Downey won’t want to be the Iron Avenger forever. Feige has a plan in place when such a day arrives, courtesy of his interview with Devin Faraci of Badass Digest:
“I think Bond is a good example. Let’s put it this way: I hope Downey makes a lot of movies for us as Stark. If and when he doesn’t, and I’m still here making these movies, we don’t take him to Afghanistan and have him wounded again. I think we James Bond it.”
My first reaction: absolutely. These characters can work in a variety of iterations with a variety of performers. I too hope that Downey plays Stark as long as he wants, but the Bond approach is a sound one and if you think it can’t work in the Marvel universe just ask Edward Norton – whose Bruce Banner will now be played by Mark Ruffalo in Avengers.
The conspiracy theorist in me wonders if there isn’t more to Feige’s words though. As Devin points out, RDJ’s contract probably isn’t as long-term as Marvel’s more recent acquisitions. It’s possible Marvel, a notoriously stingy ballplayer, is renegotiating or planning to renegotiate with Downey to extend his tenure as Iron Man beyond a third film. It’s also conceivable (read: a lock) that he’s already signed for Avengers 2. So he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
Still, it’s peculiar timing for Feige to put that out there. So the question I want to pose is this: Why is Kevin Feige reminding his franchise star how replaceable he can be on the week of Marvel’s biggest release to date?
15 comments
This smells like over-think. Rather than sending a message to his star, could he have been answering a question with a possible scenario that doesn’t involve the overused “reboot”? For ongoing characters like these I think this is the best solution, and it’s been going on in their books for over 50 years, with new writers creating new story lines but not feeling the need to throw the whole thing out and start over. Bond (at least up until Daniel Craig) is a great example.
“Why would he put this out there?” – Well because he was asked about it. This headline and story is really reaching.
Origin stories are 70 percent of what is wrong with the genre. Just let the audience figure it out. Allude to it obliquely. Run with it, baby
Whatever. This world is not a world where Iron Man will become the next Bond, let alone continue as a long-lasting franchise. After Iron Man III sucks and bombs, this forward thinking attitude will crumble to dust.
Your positivity and sunny outlook really brighten my day, Argon.
^
All of these actors are replaceable. I think the question that needs to be asked however is, I never thought I would see Devin Faraci’s name mentioned on CHUD
We source our shit, man. Devin and Badass are the source here, of course he gets the credit. I don’t believe this is the first time, either. Also, Dick Tracy ftw.
I think Iron Man III will probably show that Favreau ain’t some kind of unique wunderkind.
I don’t think replacing Norton as the Hulk is comparable. Norton was the second actor within five years to play the role, and didn’t become synomous with the role in the way that Downey has. The closest thing to a definitive Banner in the popular conciousness is still Billl Bixby. The average moviegoer has never seen anyone but Downey play Iron Man. They’re as inseperable as Johnny Depp and Jack Sparrow to many.
Yes, replacing Norton may prove that recasting can happen in a Marvel film (and, having seen The Avengers last night, I can tell you that I much prefered Ruffalo in the role), but I don’t feel it has any bearing on whether audiences will expect a Stark who isn’t Downey.
Thanks Tim – Hey you gotta get your news any how you can get it, I understand that. Yes, Dick Tracy is most definately positively FTW.
Agreed. More likely that with the tonnes of reboots out there Marvel needs not reboot something, especially when it would throw multiple properties into disarray doing so. ‘James Bonding’ would hearken back to a previous better time when other actors just picked up the role and ran with it rather than just starting over.
Has a not-so-average moviegoer seen someone else play Iron Man?
More importantly, Iron Man 3 will probably show that Favreau isn’t directing it.
By the time RDJ retires from Iron Man, Corey Feldman will just the right age to take over.
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