And we’ve got a Tony Stark.
The news broke last night, and hit the trades this morning – Robert
Downey Jr. will play Tony Stark/Iron Man in the upcoming film version
of the Marvel comic series.
At his MySpace Iron Man Movie Group, director Jon Favreau wrote as the news was breaking:
“It is true. Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark. I am about as excited as
I can be. I saw what he can do and he is extremely enthusiastic about
playing Stark. I can say with absolute certainty that there is no
better choice. The humor and emotional dimension he brings truly raises
the bar on this project. Get ready.”
As reported previously, the film will be the first feature to be
produced independently by Marvel Entertainment and distributed by
Paramount. As The Hollywood Reporter describes the plot:
Downey will portray Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and
genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating
weapon. Using his intelligence and ingenuity, Stark instead builds a
high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. Upon his return to the
U.S., he uncovers a plot with global implications and must don his
armor and protect the world.
The screenplay is written by Art Marcum & Matt Holloway and Mark
Fergus & Hawk Ostby. Filming is slated to begin in February, and
the movie is scheduled for a May 2, 2008 opening.
Marvel’s press release for the casting reads:
Academy Award(R) Nominee Robert Downey Jr. will take on the role of one
of Marvel’s greatest Super Heroes, signing on as the title character
for Marvel Studios’ highly-anticipated IRON MAN. This project, the
first feature film to be produced independently by Marvel
Entertainment, will launch into theaters May 2, 2008. The film is being
directed by Jon Favreau and will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.
Downey is widely recognized as one of Hollywood’s most versatile
actors. Nominated for an Oscar(R) for his extraordinary portrayal of
Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin, Downey has been featured in more than 50
films. His upcoming credits include Fur (co-starring Nicole Kidman), A
Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, and the David Fincher film Zodiac. He
has also recently been seen in such films as: A Scanner Darkly, The
Shaggy Dog, Good Night, and Good Luck, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Gothika,
The Singing Detective and Wonder Boys.
Based upon Marvel’s iconic Super Hero, IRON MAN tells the story of
Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is
kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his
intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and
escapes captivity. Upon his return to America, Tony must come to terms
with his past. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global
implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world
as Iron Man.
“Robert Downey Jr. is one of the most talented and acclaimed
actors of this generation. His versatility sets him apart and makes him
an ideal fit to play such a complex character as Iron Man. We could not
think of another actor better suited to bring one of Marvel’s crown
jewels to the big screen and be the centerpiece of our first
independently produced feature,” said Kevin Feige, President of
Production, Marvel Studios.
Marvel Studios is currently casting all supporting roles. Filming is slated to begin in Los Angeles in February 2007.
IRON MAN will be produced by Mr. Feige and Avi Arad. Executive
Producers are Michael Helfant, Ari Arad, Mr. Favreau, Louis D’Esposito
and Peter Billingsley. Mr. Downey is represented by CAA.
