Iron Man suit is a perfect fit for Downey Jr.
The veteran actor’s character is at the centre of the Marvel universe
Robert Downey Jr. will eventually retire from the Marvel comics universe, but currently his Iron Man is the straw that stirs the Marvel movies’ drink.
Nine years ago his Iron Man flick got the party started. Spider-Man: Homecoming, which co-stars Iron Man, continues the celebration.
“What happens is things are presented to me that are really well thought out by folks who have been doing this correctly for a long time, and I go like, ‘Check,’” says the 52-year-old actor. “Then I attempt to take the credit in press conferences. Yes, I’m holding this whole thing together. It’s obvious.”
Joking aside, early reviews and positive preview screenings of the rejuvenated Spider-Man, as defined by British actor Tom Holland, suggest Homecoming will be another Marvel summer smash.
Last year, Holland’s web-slinger made a triumphant debut, with lots of assistance from Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, in Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War. After Homecoming, Iron Man and Spider-Man will join forces again with the other Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy gang in the crossover extravaganza Avengers: Infinity War. slated to open in May 2018.
Meanwhile, the latest Spidey adventure has Peter Parker (Holland) returning to his Queens, N.Y., high school and guardian Aunt May (Marisa Tomei). Iron Man’s billionaire alter ego Tony Stark becomes his mentor. Eventually, Spider-Man ends up confronting The Vulture (Michael Keaton) in a massive showdown.
Along the way, Downey Jr. and Holland trade quips, as they did in the Captain America movie. But this time Stark has provided the teen with an upgraded Spider-Man crimefighter suit and a warning to stay out of trouble.
Despite the expensive special effects, the jokes, a catchy soundtrack and loads of anticipation, it all comes down to whether film fans will respond.
“As (Marvel boss) Kevin Feige says, ‘You’ve got to see the movie and love it,” Downey Jr. says. “I was in it a little bit, and I saw it, and I honestly loved it.
“And I think that’s what’s exciting — that (Marvel movies) are still really working.”
There have been misfires. The two Iron Man sequels received less praise than the original and Thor: The Dark World earned a mixed reaction from critics. Doctor Strange wasn’t embraced either. But Marvel flicks are mostly considered winners.
The rebooted Spider-Man continues the Marvel film calendar. Thor: Ragnarok opening Nov. 3.
In 2018, there is Black Panther, which arrives in theatres by February. Avengers: Infinity War is in May and Ant-Man and the Wasp shows up in July next year. Captain Marvel is set for 2019, as is another Avengers picture.
How Downey Jr.’s Iron Man figures into the series is a source of speculation, although even the Oscar-nominated actor predicts the day will come when he will decamp from the superhero sagas.
He does have other movies on the go, including a third Sherlock Holmes and The Voyage of Doctor Doolittle, which he’ll likely start filming next year.
His non-Marvel parts have been hit and miss, though. The Soloist, The Judge and Due Date didn’t quite deliver. Yet the two Sherlock Holmes reinventions worked and his send-up of method actor Kirk Lazarus in the 2008 spoof Tropic Thunder earned him an Academy Award nomination.
As it is now, he seems to be relishing with his cameos and support parts in all things Marvel.
“I’ve been semi-retired since the first weekend Iron Man 1 opened,” Downey Jr. says.
“The great thing about life is, it is so much about good things happening — I’ll speak for myself — and you get inflated and then you think, ‘Oh my God, I’ve created everything that’s going my way.’”
The truth is he still remembers when substance abuse nearly ended his career — and his life — just before Iron Man altered his destructive path.
“At this point, you go back to, ‘It’s nice to be on this call sheet,’ ” Downey Jr. says.
“As you can see, I’ve changed dramatically, and I’m an extremely humble individual.”
More seriously, he adds, “It’s all about having your feet on the ground and realizing that you always start at zero MPH every day.”
As you can see, I’ve changed dramatically, and I’m an extremely humble individual.