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Robert Downey Jr is widely considered the talisman of the MCU and the Avengers Ensemble through his character Iron Man. Having kickstarted the cinematic franchise with 2008’sIron Man, theOppenheimerstar went on to become an integral link in the development of the various narratives, while also gaining popularity through his standalone sequels,Iron Man 2andIron Man 3.
Such was his influence in the franchise, that Downey Jr became the highest-paid Marvel actor, while also taking home a staggering salary forIron Man 3. This huge paycheck commitments resulted in Marvel Studios not being able to afford theSherlock Holmesactor for a 4thIron Manfilm. Downey Jr though, reached a compromise by trading his standalone movie, to appear in supporting roles in other MCU films.
Also Read:MCU’s Godfather Robert Downey Jr Surprisingly Was Not the Highest Paid Actor in Iron Man
Why Robert Downey Jr Will Not Get A 4thIron ManFilm
With his charismatic presence as Iron Man in 3 standalone films in the MCU as well as his significant role inAvengers,Robert Downey Jrhas cemented his place as Marvel’s highest-paid actor. TheDue Datestar has earned a mammoth salary of $50 million for his role in theAvengersfilms, while also taking home $70 million forIron Man 3.
With talks of the possibility of a 4thIron Manfilm, these skyrocketing paychecks meant that Marvel was now not able to afford Downey Jr’s fees, which led to the shelving of the project. The celebrity though, reached a compromise with the franchise to appear as his character Iron Man in other MCU films, albeit in supporting roles.
This decision led to Kevin Feige creating the opportunity for Downey Jr to share exclusive screen space withChris EvansinCaptain America: Civil War.The film not only worked brilliantly for Evans’ intensity but also became memorable for its narrative featuring the clash of two of Marvel’s greatest superheroes, Iron Man and Captain America.
Also Read:Avengers are in Danger: Robert Downey Jr Returns as Evil Multiverse Variant To Show Kang Who’s Boss in Secret Wars Fan Art
Robert Downey Jr’s Injury InIron Man 3Became A Blessing In Disguise
Marvel’s highest-paid actor Robert Downey Jr, earned his biggest paycheck for his portrayal of Tony Stark aka Iron Man in the 3rd standalone film based on his character. While the film did fantastic business at the box office, it was not always smooth sailing for theSherlock Holmesactor on set. Downey Jr sustained a serious ankle injury while performing a stunt, which forced him to rest for a month and a half.
As fate would have it, this break in filming owing to theOppenheimeractor’s injury, turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the movie. In the bookThe Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe,producer Steven Broussard revealed how these circumstances led to a rehashing of the screenplay, which resulted in a much better climax as seen by audiences.
“The thing about unexpected events – like your lead actor needing to rest for six weeks due to an injury – is that they force the creative process to pump the brakes, take a deep breath, look at the bigger picture, and reassess. We suddenly had the space and time to figure it out”.
While Broussard did not elaborate on what exactly was changed in the film, the fact remained that the climax involving Downey Jr’s Iron Man and Guy Pearce as the antagonist Aldrich Killian, was lauded by audiences and critics alike.
Also Read:“Please don’t do this”: Fans are Not Happy With Marvel Reportedly Planning to Bring Back Robert Downey Jr and Rest of Dead Avengers for Secret Wars
Sharanya Sankar
Senior Writer
Articles Published :1230
Sharanya Sankar, Writer for FandomwireHaving completed her Masters degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Sharanya has a solid foundation in writing which is also one of her passions. She has worked previously with Book My show for a couple of years where she gained experience reviewing films and writing feature articles. Sharanya’s articles on film and pop culture have also been published on Film Companion, a popular film-based website. Apart from movies and pop culture, her interests include music and sports. She has contributed over 650 articles to Fandomwire so far.
