Summary

Timothy Olyphant reflects on auditioning for Iron Man and reveals his admiration for director Jon Favreau, despite losing the role to Robert Downey Jr. Downey’s casting as Iron Man was a risk that paid off for Marvel Studios, with the success of the film leading to the creation of the MCU. Downey’s portrayal of Tony Stark was a perfect fit, showcasing his charisma and ability to make the character likable, while also dispelling any doubts about his long-term commitment to the role.

Timothy Olyphant recalls losing the role of Iron Man to Robert Downey Jr. Before landing his role in The Mandalorian as Cobb Vanth, the Star Wars actor previously had the chance to work with director Jon Favreau in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As it turns out, Olyphant was among one of the actors who screen-tested to play Tony Stark — a role that Downey eventually nabbed.

Almost a decade since losing the role. Olyphant opens up about the process of auditioning for MCU’s Iron Man. In an interview with The Playlist, the actor tells why he decided to test for the role and whether he has a secret grudge against Favreau after the director chose Downey over him. Read his full quotes below:

“I can only tell you that I remember thinking that was the first time where, because I’m a bit of a slow learner and I think I was scared to death of the things that come with success in this business, but that was the time where I remember thinking, ‘Well, I can’t get any more grounded and so [auditioning for ‘Iron Man’] would be fun. “I think prior to that I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t want those kinds of problems.’ And I think part of that appeal was those conversations that I had with [Jon] Favreau – I just have a tremendous amount of respect for him and I just like the guy. He’s just a good dude.” “And so, if you’re going to go down that road, you’re not going to find anyone better to go down it with, so I have fond memories of that experience, you know? I try to see things simply for what they are and not what they could be and any conversations I had with Jon about that job and about that process, I remember it very fondly. It was an enjoyable process…And, well, he’s the one who hired me for [‘The Mandalorian’], so he doesn’t owe me anything.”

Related: 10 Iron Man Moments That Prove Robert Downey Jr’s MCU Acting Fear Wrong

Why Robert Downey Jr. Was Chosen As MCU’s Iron Man

15 years after it was released, much has been said about Downey’s casting as Iron Man. Kevin Feige still believes that recruiting the actor remains the biggest risk that Marvel Studios has taken. The MCU wouldn’t exist had it not been for the success of Iron Man as the company had to leverage its whole catalog to secure funding. If the movie failed, Marvel wouldn’t have had any ability to try again to make their own film, let alone a franchise. Luckily for them, Downey proved to be the perfect person for the job even Christopher Nolan admits that it’s one of the best casting choices ever.

Downey, however, chalks his casting to a great screen test. A portion of his audition is actually available online, making it readily accessible to everyone who wants to check it out. It’s uncertain if the actor is referring to the aforementioned set, but there is no denying that Downey oozed the charisma and wit needed to bring Tony Stark to life. More than being Iron Man, nailing the superhero’s alter-ego was arguably trickier because it would be very easy to make him a jerk. Thankfully, because Downey fit the role, he was able to make the character likable.

Despite his brilliant work in the MCU for more than a decade, Downey has admitted that he feared that playing the same character for that long would hamper his acting abilities. Seeing Downey as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer, however, effectively dispels this idea. Suffice it to say, Favreau and Feige made the right decision betting on Downey to play Iron Man.

Source: The Playlist