Robert Downey Jr. recently expressed that his role as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) might be some of his best acting work, yet he feels it didn’t get the recognition it deserved due to the superhero genre.
This conversation emerged on Rob Lowe’s “Literally!” podcast (reported by Variety), where Downey Jr. was a guest. A humorous moment occurred when Lowe’s phone rang, leading to a joke about whether it was related to Marvel, and Lowe playfully suggesting how Downey Jr. should negotiate for a massive return to the role of Tony Stark.
During the podcast, Downey Jr. and Lowe discussed how some of Downey Jr.’s post-MCU projects have not matched the success he experienced in the MCU. Downey Jr. reflected on his time with Marvel, feeling that despite his significant efforts and performance, it was somewhat overshadowed by the nature of superhero films:
“I felt so exposed after being in the cocoon of Marvel where I think I did some of the best work I will ever do, but it went a little bit unnoticed because of the genre,” Downey Jr. commented. He also mentioned how this experience was humbling and taught him a lot about his own perceptions of confidence and security.
Since leaving the MCU in 2019, Downey Jr. has been involved in several other projects, including Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” 2022’s “Dolittle,” and 2022’s “Sr.”
