Well, it looks like it’s all official. Robert Downey Jr. is going to be Iron Man. The folks at Yahoo News reported the following:
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.
Sounds like they’re departing a bit from the comic book, but you all already know I have no problems with comic book adaptation movies doing that.
Here’s the interesting thing. I was under the impression that Favreau was going to go with an unknown actor for the role… and I said publicly that I thought getting an unknown was the best thing for this project… I still think that’s the case. HOWEVER…
If you’re going to put a well known actor in this roll… then DAMN!!! Robert Downey Jr. is the PERFECT guy for this particular role. As soon as I read his name, it all just clicked. I don’t know how many of you have seen Kiss Kiss Bang Bang that Downey did with Val Kilmer, but he was just amazing in it (the whole movie was freaking fantastic). Not to mention it’s just never a bad idea to add an Oscar nominated actor to your film… well… I guess there are some exceptions to that rule.
So Robert Downey Jr. is Iron Man. What do you guys think?