Robert Downey Jr. has left an indelible mark on Hollywood with his portrayal of Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After all, he is the highest-grossing actor of 2019. Thanks to the success of “Avengers: Endgame,” which grossed over $2.7 billion worldwide.
Yes, you read that right! According to Marvel Studios’ President, Kevin Feige, Downey Jr. once made an attempt to play in the infamous superhero team in the past.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe may have eventually blinded us to this little-known fact. And that is what we intend to uncover in this blog.
Marvel Superheroes & Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr.’s love for Marvel superheroes might surprise you. But did you know his first attempt for a superhero role precludes the superhero universe? It turns out that he tried playing the smart-headed, fantastic four-member Mr. Fantastic.
According to Kevin Feige, the President of Marvel Studios, during a production meeting for “Iron Man,” Downey Jr. shared his interest in playing Reed Richards, the team’s leader.
Downey Jr has been infamous as the comeback kid of Hollywood, with his personal life giving almost as much of an impact as his professional career. However, imagine a universe where he had become the genius behind Fantastic Four we know Reed Richards as.
Bringing the Fantastic Four to Marvel Studios?
In a recent interview, Feige revealed the trials and attempts to bring the Fantastic Four to the big screen. During the making of “Iron Man,” Downey Jr. expressed his desire to play Mr. Fantastic in a live-action adaptation of the Fantastic Four comics.
Reports suggest that Downey Jr. presented his plan for a Fantastic Four reboot to a panel of Marvel executives, including a creative strategy he thought would work. However, this attempt was unsuccessful. But it is exciting to see that the Marvel Cinematic Universe was already brewing in the minds of its creators.
Will Fantastic Four Ever be Part of the Marvel Universe?
It has been a while since Fantastic Four made its way to the big screen, with the last attempt being a 2015 debatably bad reboot. However, Feige, in his recent statements, has been adamant in assuring fans that the Fantastic Four will be part of the Marvel universe going forward.
Yes, you read that right! According to Marvel Studios’ President, Kevin Feige, Downey Jr. once made an attempt to play in the infamous superhero team in the past.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe may have eventually blinded us to this little-known fact. And that is what we intend to uncover in this blog.
Who knows what else Feige and the team have in store for the franchise? Could they use Downey’s earlier ideas and strategies to develop the new franchise? We can only wait and see. Although it seems the iconic Mr. Fantastic role may not have worked out for Downey Jr, it all worked out for the better since he made for a fantastic Iron Man.
Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Tony Stark/Iron Man has become an essential part of the MCU and has undoubtedly set a high bar for superhero movie portrayals. He has become one of the highest-paid actors in the industry and culminated his role with one of the best exits in cinematic history.