Robert Downey Jr. has been cast as Tony Stark, an alcoholic genius billionaire who becomes "Iron Man" after hours. The brilliant Downey, who has battled drugs and booze in his private life for years, has been getting in shape to land the coveted role. The mask will fit like a glove.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Downey will portray the "billionaire industrialist and 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."
Marvel president of production Kevin Feige said the filmmakers looked for the best actor to embody the character. "The Marvel characters are not just about how high they jump or how fast they fly, they're about their character flaws. They're about their inner demons. They're about the struggles that they go through between being a man and being a hero."
"In every casting announcement we've done, people in their mind's eye have their own view of it and let us know about it. We're used to it," Feige said. "The point is, we looked at everybody, and we found the best person for the role. It's as confident a casting move as we've ever done. The proof will be in the pudding, but [Downey] is Tony Stark."
The $100m Iron Man film is scheduled to begin shooting in February for release in May 2008.
