Stan Lee, the legendary American comic book writer, is celebrated for his monumental contributions to Marvel Comics, alongside his collaborators Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) that fans adore today is built on the superheroes created by this trio, including the iconic Iron Man. Robert Downey Jr., who portrays Iron Man in the MCU, is widely loved and acclaimed for bringing the genius, playboy, philanthropist Avenger to life. Even Stan Lee himself praised the casting choice, expressing similar sentiments about Chris Evans as Captain America and Chris Hemsworth as Thor.
Lee, Kirby, and Ditko’s creative genius gave birth to beloved characters such as the X-Men, Spider-Man, Ant-Man, Hulk, and Doctor Strange, among others. Stan Lee also made memorable cameo appearances in many Marvel movies. The veteran comic book icon passed away in November 2018. Meanwhile, Robert Downey Jr. bid farewell to his Marvel role in 2019 with “Avengers: Endgame.” The first “Iron Man” movie, released in 2008, was a significant turning point, despite initial studio hesitations about casting Downey due to his controversial past. Fortunately, Downey secured the role, and the rest is cinematic history.
Robert Downey Jr.’s career soared thanks to the Marvel movies, making him one of Hollywood’s highest-earning stars. Fans today clamor for his return to the MCU, and Downey has expressed interest, though Marvel boss Kevin Feige has stated they can’t simply undo Tony Stark’s death. Reflecting on one of Stan Lee’s interviews, Lee praised Marvel Studios for their casting decisions, particularly lauding Downey’s portrayal of Iron Man.
In an interview at the Rhode Island Comic Con, Stan Lee once remarked on Robert Downey Jr.’s performance as Iron Man: “That man was born to be Iron Man, you know? He’d be on the top of the list.” He continued to commend Marvel’s casting choices, saying, “Whoever does the casting for Marvel is a genius. For instance, I can’t picture anyone being better than Thor. Captain America? You couldn’t beat him.” Lee shared a lighthearted anecdote about Downey, recalling, “The other day, I walked up to him and said, ‘You know, everyone calls you Robert because your name is Robert. Do they ever call you Bob?’ He said, ‘Oh, I don’t care. They [can] call me Bob or Rob or Bobby or Boo-Boo.”
Robert Downey Jr. may have left the MCU, but he has stated that Iron Man is a part of his DNA, a sentiment echoed by his fans. The “Iron Man” trilogy and the Avengers movies continue to be available on Disney+, allowing fans to relive Downey’s unforgettable performances.
