Robert Downey Jr Blames Superhero Movies for His Iron Man Role Going “Unnoticed”

Robert Downey Jr played the iconic character of Iron Man for the Marvel Cinematic Universe for 11 years, ending with the gut-wrenching Avengers: Endgame. Iron Man (2008) kick-started the MCU when it was still in the baby stage. The suave charisma Robert Downey Jr brought to the role shaped Marvel for a decade. 

Fresh out of his Golden Globe win for his stupendous performance in Oppenheimer, he appeared in a podcast where he discussed his time in the MCU and expressed his dismay that some of the best acting in his career, which was in his Iron Man suit, got overlooked because it is from the superhero genre. 

Robert Downey Jr found his best acting as Iron Man overlooked “because of the genre”

The “genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist” became a pop culture phenomenon overnight with Downey Jr’s quirky portrayal of the eccentric superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He was definitely one of the most popular Avengers of his time and the gaping loss of Iron Man in the post-endgame MCU is becoming harder and harder for Marvel to fill. Given how much he has given to the role, it is quite understandable why he would be rather disappointed to not get enough recognition or respect for his acting skills.

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Recently, he appeared in Literally! With Rob Lowe podcast, where he aired out his grievances about how his Iron Man role did not get the recognition it deserved just because it belonged in the superhero genre,

“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.”

What Robert Downey Jr claims begs an interesting debate, as historically, comic books were also seen as lowbrow literary efforts. Similarly to comic books, despite having critical acclaim and audience approval, superhero films hardly get recognized as “real cinema” and are often reduced to “theme parks” of the film industry by eminent directors like Martin Scorsese. 

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As of now, only 10 Marvel and DC films have ever won an Oscar, which is surprising given the output both comic book universes put out. Usually, the awards they do get are also centered around the technical category of nominations. So, it is no wonder that Downey Jr has felt a bit ignored despite giving some of the most iconic performances of his life to the MCU.

Is Robert Downey Jr coming back as Iron Man in the future? 

Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige announced last month that he would not ask Robert Downey Jr to reprise the role of Iron Man again in the MCU. Iron Man had a very emotional ending in Avengers: Endgame and Kevin Feige has decided to preserve that. While speaking to Vanity Fair, Feige said,

“We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.”

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However, that has not stopped the rumor mill and conspiracy theorists from thinking that Marvel is desperate to relive its glory days and, as a last attempt to resuscitate the comic book universe, MCU will bring back Iron Man alongside many other Avengers who bid goodbye. Even the Literally! podcast host seemed hopeful, saying that he knows for sure “that phone is going to ring, baby.”

All Iron Man movies are available to watch on Disney+.