Robert Downey Jr.was the beating heart of theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)for a long time, with his portrayal of Iron Man kicking off the series, but one four minute scene defined his performance more than any other. Robert Downey Jr.’s performance as Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, was central to the success and growth of the MCU. He starred in the premiere title,Iron Man, back in 2008, and it was his character whose eventual death closed the book on the Infinity Saga, while also saving the universe from tyrannical rule under Thanos.
Stark was there atevery major moment in the Infinity Saga, helping to form and shape the Avengers, learning to put his pride aside and work as a team, and helping to house, train, and provide specialized equipment for the rest of the team. Stark may not have been the first Avenger, but he was instrumental in turning the Avengers from an idea, into a functional and prominent superhero team. But across all of his scenes in the MCU, there isone that stands out as RDJ’s very best.
Why The First “I Am Iron Man” Scene Is The Best
It Set The Stage For The Entire MCU
The firstIron Manmovie introduced a naive and prideful Tony Stark who lived his life avoiding responsibilities and doing whatever served him best. However, when he experiences a life-changing event, being kidnapped and forced to build weapons for terrorists who were actually employed by the man who ran Stark Industries in Tony’s absence,Tony decides to take an active rolein his life. He created a suit to escape his capture, and returned home where he refined and enhanced his new creation, before using the suit as a means to help those in need.
After the public learns about this new Iron Man vigilante, who appears to show up where people are suffering and help those in need, Stark needs to field a lot of questions. Despite media training, and his heroics being unsanctioned by any government body, Stark makes the bold choice to blow his cover story, and in a scene that went on to define not just thecharacter of Tony Stark, but the entire MCU, he boldly declares “I am Iron Man.” The thing is, thisscene was off script for both the character of Tony Stark, and RDJ, in a perfect moment of symmetry.
Why Iron Man Is So Important To Robert Downey Jr’s Career
The Role Changed RDJ’s Life, And Superhero Movies
Before Iron Man,RDJ was struggling to reignite the spark in his acting career. Despite early success as a young actor, RDJ struggled with some vices, and his career took a nosedive in early adulthood. This reputation also meant that casting RDJ as Iron Man in a movie that could potentially be the start of a franchise, though no one truly understood how big it could be at that time, was a huge risk. However, RDJ embraced Tony Stark, and he embodied the role in a way that launched the MCU and his career to soaring new heights.
Who had the better death: Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man or Hugh Jackman’s Logan?
With both actors now back in the franchise, one in a different role and another playing a variant of their original character, the debate has reignited over who had the better death, Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame or Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in Logan. As nicely executed as Tony’s death was, particularly with editor Jeff Ford’s idea to include “I am Iron Man” right before snapping, I think Jackman’s was a far more powerful one, as he had not only carried on the role longer, but also his general cynicism both in Logan, and in most prior X-Men movies, made his decision for a fatally heroic sacrifice all the more emotional.
By going off script, RDJ not only changed the course of the MCU, which had plans for Iron Man to conceal his identity, which now feels completely contradictory to the character, but it also set RDJ up for his new role as the heart and soul of the MCU. Since that time, Tony Stark has died, and RDJ returned to those iconic words in his final moments, but RDJ has gone on to new roles, andwon an Oscar for his work with Christopher Nolan inOppenheimer. Without his second chance, and his performance as Tony Stark,Robert Downey Jr.may have never had that second wind in Hollywood, and the world would be a different place with no MCU.
Iron Man
TheIron Manfranchise is a cornerstone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), marking the beginning of the interconnected superhero films that have become a global phenomenon. The franchise follows Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor, who creates a suit of armor to become Iron Man. His journey from a self-centered playboy to a self-sacrificing hero plays a pivotal role throughout the MCU’s Infinity Saga.
