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Robert Downey Jr. wasn’t just a casting decision but the spark that lit the fuse. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said it loud and clear while sitting down with Iron Man director Jon Favreau to mark the film’s 15th anniversary: the Marvel Cinematic Universe simply wouldn’t exist without Downey’s Tony Stark. And yes, he meant that literally.
In a candid chat for Marvel Entertainment, Favreau recalled the early casting process. Kevin Feige backed him up with what might be the most honest assessment in franchise history, calling Robert Downey Jr’s casting “one of the greatest decisions in the history of Hollywood.” Favreau had already met Downey for another role back in 2005, potentially as Doctor Doom for Fantastic Four. But destiny had bigger plans.
Robert Downey Jr. Sparked A $29 Billion Marvel Empire With One “Yes”
“Once it was Robert, then every decision became a lot easier,” Favreau said. And suddenly, the dominos started falling. Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, and Paul Bettany—names that helped shape Iron Man—were drawn in by Downey’s undeniable pull. “He just got it and he’s got that spark in him and his eye and he’s ready,” Favreau added, remembering those first meetings.
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At the time, Iron Man wasn’t a pop culture juggernaut. Most casual fans barely knew who Tony Stark was. But Robert Downey Jr. changed that. The moment he slipped into that red-and-gold suit, everything shifted for Marvel, for fans, and for Hollywood.
Feige went even further. “I remember on later movies… there were dark days. I would say to Robert, ‘We wouldn’t be in this mess if it wasn’t for you,’ meaning we wouldn’t have a studio if it wasn’t for him,” Feige said. He wasn’t joking. Downey’s success didn’t just anchor the MCU, it validated the entire idea of Marvel Studios making its own films.
Robert Downey Jr carried that momentum into Iron Man 2, with Jon Favreau returning to direct before the reins eventually passed to Shane Black for Iron Man 3. But the foundation had already been poured. The MCU went on to become a $29 billion empire, with Downey’s Stark at the very core.
So yes, the man who wowed in Oppenheimer wasn’t just a player in the MCU, he was its beating heart. And according to the ones who built it, the entire universe launched because Robert Downey Jr. said yes.
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