Timothy Olyphant Could Have Been MCU's Iron Man Instead of Robert Downey Jr
It’s hard to imagine but we could have had a whole different Tony Stark.
It's hard to deny the fact that Iron Man (2008) and Robert Downey Jr. totally helped each other out. Downey Jr. nailed it as Tony Stark, like he was born for the part, and the movie shot his career through the roof.
But it wasn't an easy road for Downey Jr. to secure the iconic role that would define his career. In fact, there was another actor in the running for the part: Timothy Olyphant.
Marvel Entertainment released a conversation between Kevin Feige and the director who kickstarted the whole MCU with Iron Man, Jon Favreau.
In 2008, when Marvel Studios was still trying to figure things out, they took a risk on Downey Jr. The guy had been through some tough times, battling addictions and getting into trouble in the '90s. But Jon Favreau and Kevin Feige saw something special in him that nobody else did.
During their discussion, Feige confirmed that Downey Jr. was initially considered for the role of Dr. Doom in Fantastic Four ( 2005), but he wasn’t cast for some reason.
When it came to Iron Man, Favreau, after meeting with Downey Jr, quickly realized that he was the perfect fit for the lead character, Tony Stark.
However, not everyone was on the same page with Favreau and Feige's idea. Back then, the head of Marvel Studios was David Maisel. When he suggested casting Downey Jr., the board was concerned given the actor's history.
Eventually Downey Jr. scored the role instead of Timothy Olyphant, who was also in the running. Olyphant had made a name for himself on HBO's Deadwood, but Favreau and Feige saw something special in Downey Jr. They thought he had the right mix of charm and roguishness to pull off Tony Stark.
Their gamble paid off immensely. The movie not only revived Downey Jr.'s career but also set the foundation for the entire MCU. Without a doubt, RDJ's performance as Tony Stark became a defining role in superhero cinema.
His performance not only shaped the character but also played a pivotal role in the development of the MCU. It was a genius decision by Favreau and Feige, one that changed the trajectory of both Downey Jr.'s career and the entire superhero genre.
Source: Marvel Entertainment on YouTube