Tony Stark’s famous closing line to the very first Iron Man film takes on new life today as Marvel is pleased to announce the signing of Robert Downey, Jr. to reprise the role of the “billionaire, genius, playboy, philanthropist.”
I know the game’s not over yet, but can you think of any other celebrity who pulled this kind of come-back? It was barely 12 years ago the last time he was arrested for drugs, wandering around Culver City barefoot. He was the Death Pool center square for a decade.
Now he’s shits out hundred dollar bills every time he farts.
Yeah, he’s the star of their most successful franchise, so I’m guessing he just wrote down a number and they said okay. He’s good in the role, and since he seems to be enjoying himself I can’t imagine why he’d quit.
He better have his head screwed on REEEEAAAALLLY fuckin’ tight, 'cause I can’t imagine massive public recognition & adoration plus metric fucktons of money is anyone’s recipe for overcoming substance abuse problems. Still, he hasn’t gone off on a chemical holiday and played Goldilocks to some strange family’s Three Bears since his big splash in Iron Man, so he might just make it.
The fact that Tony Stark has had an alcohol problem (and may still do) makes the choice of Mr. Downey a very intriguing one. I can imagine a scene (I have only seen Iron Man and The Avengers) where Stark is depressed and goes on a bender.
Have you seen IM3? The story goes that director Jon Favreau wanted to go down this road, and Marvel and RDJ came down against it; Favreau was replaced as director, but since they had a 3-picture deal for him, Paltrow and Downey, they kept him in the movie soap opera style - he’s injured in the opening and in a coma until it’s over.
I agree with them. A critic once wrote “who goes to a Spider-Man movie to see an old lady agonize over having her house repossessed?” (and how the HELL do Aunt May and Uncle Ben still have a mortgage at their age?) and a similar rule applies - I don’t go to an Iron Man movie to watch Celedbrity Rehab with Robert Downey, Jr.
It was actually the point of Marvel under Stan Lee - comics where everyone wasn’t Zorro: someone from the upper classes who deigned to help the little guy as a hobby. But Spidey’s troubles were always sit-com style troubles - getting home in time for curfew, dealing with that bully Flash Thompson.
Marvel has always gone too far with it though, trying to be topical, starting with Harry Osborne become addicted to heroin to teach kids the evils of drug abuse. :rolleyes:
In the 80s, when Stark was first revealed as an alcoholic, it could be dealt with seriously. The movies are set in a different era, where celebrities like Stark battle addiction like wise-cracking gladiators in a cable tv arena. The PTSD angle was a better way to go.
I know this is my second reply to your post(sorry for that), but I just realized that’s the first “gambled and won” description I’ve ever heard about in relation to a fart.
