# First look at Downey Jr. as Tony Stark **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 27, 2007, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900 "2007-04-27T22:24:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/1 "2007-04-27T22:24:41Z")
[http://www.filmwad.com/first-official-pic-of-downey-jr-as-tony-stark-2285-p.html](http://www.filmwad.com/first-official-pic-of-downey-jr-as-tony-stark-2285-p.html) Looks promising. Thoughts? – IG ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/2 "2007-04-27T22:35:27Z")
I see a guy in a tank top. Downey’s an inspired casting choice, but call me back when you’ve got some footage or at least a pic of the final form armor. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/3 "2007-04-27T22:41:06Z")
From the link: > [@](#): > > Also of note is the absence of Iron Man’s famous chest plate in the film. As you may be able to see in this picture below, Stark has these dot thingies installed on his chest so he can walk when he’s outside the suit. Wasn’t the whole basis of the character that he was a cripple outside the suit? :dubious: No, it wasn’t. Stark was sometimes drunk, but never disabled. **Leave that out, Favreau!** :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/4 "2007-04-27T23:19:45Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] From the link: :dubious: No, it wasn’t. Stark was sometimes drunk, but never disabled. **Leave that out, Favreau!** :mad: [/QUOTE] I’ve never actually read Iron Man, but I’m pretty sure the original armor design included a pacemaker after Stark’s heart was damaged in the attack that left him a POW. Yep. [Wikipedia backs me up:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_man) > [@](#): > > While on a visit to Vietnam (later updated to the Gulf War) to see how his new mini-transistors could assist the American war effort, Stark was caught in a booby trap. Captured by a Vietnamese warlord named Wong Chu, and dying from a piece of shrapnel lodged in his heart from the booby trap, Stark was pressed into building weapons for Wong Chu, along with a fellow prisoner, the famed physicist Yin Sen (later called Ho Yinsen). However, Stark and Yin Sen used the workshop to secretly design and construct a suit of powered armor — an iron exoskeleton that gives Stark tremendous strength as well as other abilities — that will not only keep Stark’s heart beating, but also allow him to escape. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/5 "2007-04-27T23:31:16Z")
Well, they certainly won’t need a special effect for Robert Downey Jr to use a ‘Repulsor Ray’… ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/6 "2007-04-27T23:38:17Z")
[QUOTE=Menocchio] I see a guy in a tank top. Downey’s an inspired casting choice, but call me back when you’ve got some footage or at least a pic of the final form armor. [/QUOTE] Well [here](http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/04/11/the-man-in-the-gray-flannel-metal-suit/) is a pic of the first armor suit. Looks pretty good. I have high hopes for the rest. When is it due out? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2007, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/7 "2007-04-27T23:58:14Z")
You know, I never would have thought in a million years to cast Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, but the more I think about it the more I’m grooving on it. ---
**Author:** ![Gentle\_Robot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gentle\_Robot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gentle_Robot)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2007, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/8 "2007-04-28T02:05:16Z")
[QUOTE=Miller] I’ve never actually read Iron Man, but I’m pretty sure the original armor design included a pacemaker after Stark’s heart was damaged in the attack that left him a POW. Yep. [Wikipedia backs me up:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_man) [/QUOTE] Yeah, original. The modern Iron man has portable life support. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2007, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/9 "2007-04-28T02:10:30Z")
Not me, getting tired of pretty-boy weiner casting for what calls for (imho) more “machoish” actors – pitt as achilles, farrell as alexander, etc. Downey Jr. as freakin’ Ironman? Come on. Next will be Andy Dick as the Green Lantern. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2007, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/10 "2007-04-28T06:18:12Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Well [here](http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/04/11/the-man-in-the-gray-flannel-metal-suit/) is a pic of the first armor suit. [/QUOTE] Linky no worky. ---
**Author:** ![Improv\_Geek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@Improv\_Geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improv_Geek)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2007, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/11 "2007-04-28T12:44:34Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Linky no worky. [/QUOTE] Works fine for me. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2007, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/12 "2007-04-28T18:13:19Z")
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper] Not me, getting tired of pretty-boy weiner casting for what calls for (imho) more “machoish” actors – pitt as achilles, farrell as alexander, etc. Downey Jr. as freakin’ Ironman? Come on. Next will be Andy Dick as the Green Lantern. ☹ [/QUOTE] I can see your point in general, but Robert Downey Jr. didn’t look very pretty-boy in that shot. In fact, he had a very grizzled “I’m too old for this” look on his face. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2007, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/13 "2007-04-28T19:12:50Z")
[QUOTE=Operation Ripper] Not me, getting tired of pretty-boy weiner casting for what calls for (imho) more “machoish” actors – pitt as achilles, farrell as alexander, etc. Downey Jr. as freakin’ Ironman? Come on. Next will be Andy Dick as the Green Lantern. ☹ [/QUOTE] In the comic books, Tony Stark (in terms of physical appearance/presence), out of his armor, is much nearer to pretty than macho. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/14 "2007-04-28T19:36:36Z")
Agreed, Tony Stark isn’t supposed to be a macho man. It’s the brain and and the armor that make him impressive, not his body or face. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/15 "2007-09-11T04:47:49Z")
I thought it would be OK to bump this thread. They just played a trailer for this on Comedy Central between segments of The Daily Show. You can view the trailer or download it in Hi-Def [here](http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/ironman/). I think it looks like lots of fun, and Downey is great. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/16 "2007-09-11T15:01:00Z")
[QUOTE=mhendo] I thought it would be OK to bump this thread. They just played a trailer for this on Comedy Central between segments of The Daily Show. You can view the trailer or download it in Hi-Def [here](http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/ironman/). I think it looks like lots of fun, and Downey is great. [/QUOTE] Yeah - they showed a trailer during Doctor Who Friday night. It looks pretty good… But then I’ve been burned before. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/17 "2007-09-11T15:03:22Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] When is it due out? [/QUOTE] May. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/18 "2007-09-12T01:46:16Z")
Forgive me, I don’t know the source material for this, but when I watched the trailer, all I could think is “Iron man is Sauron?” ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/19 "2007-09-12T01:52:01Z")
[QUOTE=Tapiotar] Forgive me, I don’t know the source material for this, but when I watched the trailer, all I could think is “Iron man is Sauron?” [/QUOTE] [Sauron.](http://www.sideshowtoy.com/placed/093005sauron_p17lg.jpg) [Iron Man](http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/movie/gallery/1170017/photo_02.jpg) Sorry, not really seeing the resemblence, here. ---
**Author:** ![SkeptiJess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@SkeptiJess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkeptiJess)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900/20 "2007-09-12T03:00:11Z")
I was an avid comic book reader and collector from 1976 - 1985, so Tony Stark was ‘my’ Iron Man. I’ve got no clue what he’s been up to since 1985. But that picture of Robert Downey, Jr. looked like an excellent choice for the Tony Stark I remember. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-look-at-downey-jr-as-tony-stark/401900.md?page=2)