How did Robert Downey Jr. want to play Iron Man?

When people think of Robert Downey Jr., they think of Iron Man first. But the name "Iron Man" could just as easily be applied to the actor, even without red and gold metal suit.

First successes, later problems

Downey first became successful in the early '80s with roles in films like Baby is you and Strange science. His breakthrough came through the 1987 film Less than zero, in which he played the character addicted to cocaine Julian Wells. As the world knows, this role has proven premonitory.

But the problems were not felt at first, at least not in public. By the time Less than zero Downey had already attracted attention as a member of the Saturday Night Live cast from 1985 to 1986. His star continued to rise, culminating in an Oscar nomination for the 1992 biopic Chaplin, about the legendary actor and comic book director who created the Little Tramp. Downey was only 27 years old at the time.

According to Biography, Downey's bad habits were quick to take over. He said of Less than zero"Until this movie, I took my drugs after work and on weekends … it changed the Less than zero, He says later.

"For me, the role looked like the ghost of Christmas's future. The character was an exaggeration of myself. Then things changed and in some ways I became an exaggeration of the character. It lasted much longer than necessary. "

He hit bottom in 1996 after being stopped by police after driving without clothes but with cocaine and heroin on Sunset Boulevard. Only a few weeks later, he was found fainting at a neighbor's house.

Although his talent has allowed him to make shows like Ally McBeal, drug problems continued to hit him, and he served a prison sentence.

A wonderful recovery

In 2005, Downey's fortune began to improve. He played a role in the Oscar-nominated news drama Good night and good luck, and he received praise for the sleeper Kiss Bang Bang Bang, directed by Shane Black, who had written Deadly weapon and would go to direct Iron Man 3, among others.

But that was Iron Man This really consolidated the resurgence of Downey, when actor turned director Jon Favreau tried his luck.

Favreau said in The Orange County Register:

"I have to admit that Robert was a tough salesman … (Marvel) wanted a less known actor without luggage. Honestly, the fact that Robert lived all the highs and lows of his life in a fishbowl did not help. That was enough to give a lot of anxiety to the studio executives. They are betting all their business on this franchise, and I bring them Robert. "

Even though Downey himself was not convinced at first, he offered to audition, which he had not done in 15 years. This sealed the market. Before Downey or anyone else knew it, a new film universe was born – and Downey's career was reborn.

Tony Stark and beyond