RDJ is "Hell-Bent on Protecting" Iron Man

RDJ is "Hell-Bent on Protecting" Iron Man

Robert Downey, Jr. says that the Iron Man movie "worked" because the concept wasn't too far out!

By bsprecher - Dec 11, 2009 02:12 AM EST
Filed Under: Iron Man 2
Source: Rotten Tomatoes

In a recent interview to promote his new movie, Sherlock Holmes, actor Robert Downey, Jr. also opened up a bit about Iron Man 2. He echoed previous statements he made about injecting his own ideas into the creative process and said that the success of Iron Man had a lot to do with keeping it as based in reality as possible. And, while the character of Tony Stark will evolve in Iron Man 2 now that the origin has been established, Downey, Jr. said that it was important to maintain that basis in reality so as not to risk alienating the audience.









"My take - Jon [Favreau, director] was in agreement, and Marvel supported us - was that once you tell an origins story pretty well, that's usually where things start to get dull, and one or two or three things start to happen over and over again. So, we made Tony Stark's challenges very much outside the usual realm of activity. As much as anything else, it's much more of a side job for him the second time around. And the great thing, too, is that the Marvel universe is wild; it's so far out. That's the big balance to strike. It would be so easy to go so far out it would intergalactic and nothing would be grounded in reality any more."

Downey, Jr. elaborated further:

"I think what worked for Iron Man is that it almost seemed like something from the cover of Popular Mechanics. These kinds of suits were starting to be made in the States and Japan, so people were responding to Iron Man almost as though it was a more of a high-tech James Bond. So how could we start to introduce elements of the storylines in the comics without becoming too outlandish, where it wasn't rooted in some kind of reality? That's my big thing, and the only thing that's really been of any benefit with my - quote, unquote - successes recently, is that they have allowed people to trust my instincts more comfortably, and to give me a little more creative leverage. And that's all that matters, because all the other stuff comes and goes.

"I'm really, really, really hell-bent on protecting what's beautiful about my relationship with Marvel and my relationship with Jon Favreau first and foremost, then, secondarily, Iron Man at large. And the tertiary element is always the audience: what would I pay to see if these schmucks had me roped in to come see the movie again? Because I kinda know I'm going to go anyway, and I hope that I'm not sorry I went."




Iron Man 2 opens May 7th (April 30th in the UK and AU)!
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Colton
Colton - 12/11/2009, 3:33 AM
hmm, he'll have to let go some of that kind of thinking when it comes to thor and mayb other stuff in the avengers, depending on the plot if he has creative influence in it.
Bijous
Bijous - 12/11/2009, 3:36 AM
@Colton: Yeah, that's what I thought too. It sounds like he is not really into the more "comic booky" concepts that will have to be in an Avengers movie.
ViperXX79
ViperXX79 - 12/11/2009, 5:03 AM
I think his point was taking those comic book things and making them fit a real world concept. The Incredible Hulk had two monsters and it had the feel of realism to it. It's all about not going over the top.
Spilox
Spilox - 12/11/2009, 5:36 AM
@viper Exactally!
Hulk felt very believable. It's gonna be hard with Thor, but they can easially pull of the other Avengers.
starscream4president
starscream4president - 12/11/2009, 5:39 AM
Well, i think we will get to the point were people start to believe comic book movies as a projection of a reality in a future not too far.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 12/11/2009, 6:02 AM
Well sh1t on a stick! : D

Anyways TONY should be starting up that booze thing!

P.S. (I aint done this in a longgggg time but) check out the GREEN LANTERN cast thing i did in FAN FIC, when ya got the time, cheers! >>>>>>>>>>>



You too @ BRENT! ; D

Oh yeah, demon in the bottle storylines a must for IRON MAN 3, give the franchise real grit!!
wagonburner
wagonburner - 12/11/2009, 6:18 AM
haha if there was any doubt about what he thought on the avengers, well.....thats gone now. i really [frick]ing hope they do the movie anyways. the best damn movie ever!!!!
ElBicho
ElBicho - 12/11/2009, 6:49 AM
So, Tony Stark speaking to Gen. Ross with regards to "putting a team together" involving an ordinary man who transforms into a gigantic, green, breathing tank is based in reality?
thunderforce
thunderforce - 12/11/2009, 6:58 AM
Basing things totally in reality will work for iron man it wont work in the marvel movie universe .This is comics for god sakes none of it is real !
jusme6
jusme6 - 12/11/2009, 7:19 AM
That's what I love about Marvel--they try not to alienate the audience. They try to draw in a larger audience with things like their Ultimate Line and the Super Hero Squad. They make a lot of their stuff non-comicbook reader friendly while still staying true to who the characters are at their core. It makes it easier for new readers to get into the Marvel Universe. I didn't start reading comic books till Iron Man came out. I am one of those non-comicbook readers.

@Lee: Tay Digs deserves a lead roll in a super hero movie, but I'm not feel'n the GL for him. Definitely not enough black superheroes.
Hawksblueyes
Hawksblueyes - 12/11/2009, 7:22 AM
If you look back through their history in the comics, you'll find that even though they are friends, Stark never understands or feels comfortable about Thor. he states on numerous occasions that Thor defies everything he has ever been taught or bellieves in. Magic and neverworlds like Asgard, go against his scientific learnings, and he can't explain them. So really, Downeys beliefs on this should work nicely in the Avengers.
TheNameIsBetty
TheNameIsBetty - 12/11/2009, 7:55 AM
Hey, I took my brother to see Iron Man in theatres, and he never knew anything about Iron Man or particularly just "Marvel Movies". After the movie, his almost exact words were,
"The movie was kinda comic-booky, you know.. (lol)"

TheJester
TheJester - 12/11/2009, 8:02 AM
bingo - you can't make it too campy.

I have faith that this movie is going to be as good as the first.
Colton
Colton - 12/11/2009, 9:29 AM
he knows what he's talkin bout anyway, avengers will still be v. good
Upupandaway
Upupandaway - 12/11/2009, 9:33 AM
@bropous: I agree. They've already made F4 camp, so they can put the Kree in that movie franchise. Also, Stark's reactions and interactions to the other characters in the Avengers can be realistic. Like @hawksblueeyes was saying, he doesn't have to accept Thor at face value at first. If they do that, I think it's a plus for the Avengers.
TheGrinch
TheGrinch - 12/11/2009, 10:30 AM
ha I remember readin a Empire magazine right before the first came out, and it was going through all the rumors of upcoming comic book movies, and when it came to Nick Fury being in Iron man it had a big FALSE stamp plastered over it... Then come to find out they were wrong.. I wonder what's in store for this one.. or if they'll have anything hidden, since they already have Widow and Fury having good-sized roled in it----- Yeah sorry about this post not really being related to this exact article but it just reminded me
jusme6
jusme6 - 12/11/2009, 10:30 AM
HawksBlue: Good insight. I wonder if Thor will be like Ultimate Thor in that he's a powerful and mysterious character who makes outlandish claims that he's a god--but in the end it turns out he really is.
Talontd
Talontd - 12/11/2009, 10:37 AM
@HAWKSBLUEEYS

You seriously couldn't have said that better! His NATURAL feelings towards THOR should definitely be brought to the big screen.......that's what WILL make AVENGERS work! They really need to spend some time on that dynamic in the film. Without TONY STARK constantly questioning and deriding THOR, the film won't work.

That also flows into why CAP is such a HUGE decision. If they don't pick an actor with enough presence to SHUT DOWN STARK and reel in THOR (assuming they go with Ultimate THOR, which would be my preference), the AVENGERS film will be a FAIL. Sh!t, there are so many ways that film could flop when you think about it.
georgia49th
georgia49th - 12/11/2009, 10:46 AM
The Movie worked because it was done right, of course he's talking about the technology aspect of Iron Man
God I hope RDjr isn't getting a big head now
ASSASSIN666
ASSASSIN666 - 12/11/2009, 10:58 AM
I believe if they go with the Ultimates it would work out fine. they already gave us Fury and Widow, so it seems to be putting all of the pieces together.
Runefyst
Runefyst - 12/11/2009, 11:54 AM
I think it's great for RDJ to have that stance, because that is how Tony Stark works!!! I think Tony Stark, a man of science, should have an uncomfortable relationship with Thor to start. And I think it would translate well on screen if RDJ kept that stance. :)
IrvineGray
IrvineGray - 12/11/2009, 1:05 PM
@ Lee: Yeah dude! Tay Diggs would be the PERFECT John Stewart! Good call Lee, I really like that fan-cast!

RDJ has a great understanding of Iron Man and the Iron Man comics, as well as the Marvel Universe as a whole. However, the problem with integrating comics to the big-screen, is that the comic universe is set up in a very different way then our own. I know, weird, right?

In the Marvel Universe, we got dudes who can call down lightning bolts from the sky and guys walking around in mechanized suits of armor that can fly and punch holes through walls. But last I checked, the closest thing that we have in the real world (at least currently operating, I dunno, the military could possibly be developing a functioning Iron Man armor) to the IM suit is....a tank.

So, RDJ, while realism is good in CBMs to balance out the fantastical elements, please understand that you cannot actually go out and build a mechanized war-suit to fly around in. But it'd be cool if we could.
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 12/11/2009, 2:19 PM
I always say that The Avengers movie is a house of cards. If the mess up Thor, down it goes. If they mess up IM2 (not a chance) down it goes. If they mess up Cap it's game over.
Morpheus
Morpheus - 12/11/2009, 3:51 PM
@ LEE I think you found John Stewart!!! He looks perfect!

And yes RDJ is awesome.
Bijous
Bijous - 12/11/2009, 4:30 PM
It's good to see an actor so protective of a character, franchise, etc. like RDJ is. He rocks!
AngPandoy
AngPandoy - 12/11/2009, 6:27 PM
RDJ IS TONY STARK! he fits the role well and he's really passionate about it... cant wait for the movie... too bad i had to wait for a month or two for Sherlocke Holmes to be released here in our country.... :(
48and2
48and2 - 12/11/2009, 7:09 PM
RDJ's a prog rock star... man we got lucky with him. Though after I saw Chaplin way back when, I assumed he'd be around for a while.

I can't say anything you guys haven't already, but as Darthmulder's concerns have been voiced, I just hope they stay true to RDJ's expressed philosophies with The Avengers. If they do, we are going to see something on screen the likes of which never has been scene. It shall be uber baby, uber.
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