Robert Downey Jr. -- I am "Iron Man" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-29-2006, 09:35 AM

Robert Downey, Jr. is suiting up to star in "Iron Man," a superhero movie based on the Marvel Comics character.

Jon Favreau is directing the Paramount Pictures release. Filming is slated to begin in February in Los Angeles.

Downey will portray Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Using his intelligence and ingenuity, Stark instead builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. Upon his return to the U.S., he uncovers a plot with global implications and must don his armor and protect the world.

The comic debuted in the 1960s, and Iron Man's origin involved Stark being a prisoner of the Viet Cong. The movie version will be set in today's geopolitical climate.

Budgeted at more than $100 million, it marks the first feature film to be produced independently by Marvel Entertainment, which previously licensed its characters, such as "Spider-Man" and "X-Men," to other studios.

Marvel president of production Kevin Feige said the filmmakers looked for the best actor to embody the character.

"The Marvel characters are not just about how high they jump or how fast they fly, they're about their character flaws," Feige said. "They're about their inner demons. They're about the struggles that they go through between being a man and being a hero."

Downey, who has battled his fair share of inner demons, worked hard to get the role, getting in shape and even growing a goatee like the one Stark sports in the comic books.

"In every casting announcement we've done, people in their mind's eye have their own view of it and let us know about it. We're used to it," Feige said. "The point is, we looked at everybody, and we found the best person for the role. It's as confident a casting move as we've ever done. The proof will be in the pudding, but he is Tony Stark."

Downey returns to theaters on November 10 in the Diane Arbus bipic "Fur" opposite Nicole Kidman.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

seventies_sitcoms · 09-29-2006, 12:05 PM

I'll bet he could stash a lot of drugs in that Iron Man costume.

comedyfreak · 09-30-2006, 05:22 AM

Downey as Tony Stark, I can't really picture him in this role. He doesn't seem the type, plus he's getting old.

TJL · 09-30-2006, 07:23 AM

Thinking about it, Downey isn't a bad choice. They've been kicking around an Iron Man movie for a long time (at one point Rob Lowe was up for the role) and I'm glad they're getting it done finally.

I like Robert Downey Jr. and i think he'll do a good job.
With the way Hollywood works, I would have thought they would pick someone young flavor of the month kid for the part.

Brian Damage · 10-10-2006, 10:25 AM

LOS ANGELES - Terrence Howard is joining the cast of Marvel's Iron Man, which stars Robert Downey Jr. in the title role.
Howard will play Jim "Rhodey" Rhodes, the best friend of Tony Stark, the billionaire industrialist who becomes the superhero known as Iron Man. Jon Favreau is directing the film.

Filming is scheduled to begin in February in Los Angeles, with the movie's release, through Paramount Pictures, slated for May 2, 2008.

Howard, who earned an Academy Award nomination for his lead role in last year's Hustle & Flow, also starred in the Oscar-winning Crash. He recently completed production on The Brave One with Jodie Foster and is shooting Spring Break in Bosnia with Richard Gere. His credits include Idlewild, Get Rich or Die Tryin' and Four Brothers.

09-29-2006, 09:35 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Robert Downey Jr. -- I am "Iron Man" Robert Downey, Jr. is suiting up to star in "Iron Man," a superhero movie based on the Marvel Comics character. Jon Favreau is directing the Paramount Pictures release. Filming is slated to begin in February in Los Angeles. Downey will portray Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Using his intelligence and ingenuity, Stark instead builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. Upon his return to the U.S., he uncovers a plot with global implications and must don his armor and protect the world. The comic debuted in the 1960s, and Iron Man's origin involved Stark being a prisoner of the Viet Cong. The movie version will be set in today's geopolitical climate. Budgeted at more than $100 million, it marks the first feature film to be produced independently by Marvel Entertainment, which previously licensed its characters, such as "Spider-Man" and "X-Men," to other studios. Marvel president of production Kevin Feige said the filmmakers looked for the best actor to embody the character. "The Marvel characters are not just about how high they jump or how fast they fly, they're about their character flaws," Feige said. "They're about their inner demons. They're about the struggles that they go through between being a man and being a hero." Downey, who has battled his fair share of inner demons, worked hard to get the role, getting in shape and even growing a goatee like the one Stark sports in the comic books. "In every casting announcement we've done, people in their mind's eye have their own view of it and let us know about it. We're used to it," Feige said. "The point is, we looked at everybody, and we found the best person for the role. It's as confident a casting move as we've ever done. The proof will be in the pudding, but he is Tony Stark." Downey returns to theaters on November 10 in the Diane Arbus bipic "Fur" opposite Nicole Kidman. Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
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09-30-2006, 05:22 AM	#3
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,060	Downey as Tony Stark, I can't really picture him in this role. He doesn't seem the type, plus he's getting old.
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09-30-2006, 07:23 AM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	Thinking about it, Downey isn't a bad choice. They've been kicking around an Iron Man movie for a long time (at one point Rob Lowe was up for the role) and I'm glad they're getting it done finally. I like Robert Downey Jr. and i think he'll do a good job. With the way Hollywood works, I would have thought they would pick someone young flavor of the month kid for the part.
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09-29-2006, 12:05 PM	#2
seventies_sitcoms * Senior Member Join Date: Jan 09, 2005 Posts: 2,244	I'll bet he could stash a lot of drugs in that Iron Man costume.

10-10-2006, 10:25 AM	#5
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	LOS ANGELES - Terrence Howard is joining the cast of Marvel's Iron Man, which stars Robert Downey Jr. in the title role. Howard will play Jim "Rhodey" Rhodes, the best friend of Tony Stark, the billionaire industrialist who becomes the superhero known as Iron Man. Jon Favreau is directing the film. Filming is scheduled to begin in February in Los Angeles, with the movie's release, through Paramount Pictures, slated for May 2, 2008. Howard, who earned an Academy Award nomination for his lead role in last year's Hustle & Flow, also starred in the Oscar-winning Crash. He recently completed production on The Brave One with Jodie Foster and is shooting Spring Break in Bosnia with Richard Gere. His credits include Idlewild, Get Rich or Die Tryin' and Four Brothers.