Marvel's press release on the casting:
Academy Award(R) Nominee Robert Downey Jr. will take on the role of one of Marvel's greatest Super Heroes, signing on as the title character for Marvel Studios' highly-anticipated IRON MAN. This project, the first feature film to be produced independently by Marvel Entertainment, will launch into theaters May 2, 2008. The film is being directed by Jon Favreau and will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Downey is widely recognized as one of Hollywood's most versatile actors. Nominated for an Oscar(R) for his extraordinary portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin, Downey has been featured in more than 50 films. His upcoming credits include Fur (co-starring Nicole Kidman), A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, and the David Fincher film Zodiac. He has also recently been seen in such films as: A Scanner Darkly, The Shaggy Dog, Good Night, and Good Luck, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Gothika, The Singing Detective and Wonder Boys.
Based upon Marvel's iconic Super Hero, IRON MAN tells the story of Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. Upon his return to America, Tony must come to terms with his past. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man.
"Robert Downey Jr. is one of the most talented and acclaimed actors of this generation. His versatility sets him apart and makes him an ideal fit to play such a complex character as Iron Man. We could not think of another actor better suited to bring one of Marvel's crown jewels to the big screen and be the centerpiece of our first independently produced feature," said Kevin Feige, President of Production, Marvel Studios.
Marvel Studios is currently casting all supporting roles. Filming is slated to begin in Los Angeles in February 2007.
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In my opinion, this is a strange yet also smart move on Marvel's part. John Favreau was an odd choice as director (he directed "Elf" and "Zathura"), but all indications from Favreau are that he respects and knows the source material and intends to be faithful to it.
So Downey Jr. could pan out. Tony Stark is a billionaire industrialist in the comics and is one of Marvel's "Trinity" along with Captain America and Thor. Stark builds a suit of armor to keep himself alive after shrapnel pierces his heart, and then turns the armor into a sophisticated weapons system which he uses to combat evil. In the 80s, Stark struggled with alcoholism, and Downey Jr.'s own substance abuse struggles might come into play in the character.
I used to read Iron Man religiously in high school and am cautiously optimistic about this film. Time will tell...
Chris
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