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Marvel Boldness: How taking a chance on Downey Jr. helped create the M.C.U.

No one was ready to give Downey Jr. a shot at the highest of highs ten years ago. Warner Brothers cast him in the underrated Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, but that was a low-budget buddy comedy and not a giant spring comic book release. Marvel took a shot and it paid off big time.
Marvel

It all started with Jon Favreau convincing a movie studio that taking a bet on a disgraced movie star was a good idea.

Robert Downey Jr. had flamed out of Hollywood almost as fast as he rode into it. The man had an Academy Award nomination and several films under his belt, but instead of riding the coattails of that triumph to greater things, the addict drowned his career in drugs, booze, countless court room visits, and some jail time. He didn't deserve a shot at redemption, but his writer/director/actor buddy thought otherwise.

Favreau pleaded with Marvel Studios to let him adapt the famous comic book, Iron Man, with Downey Jr. playing the lead role. The studio balked at first, not wanting to risk their launch on a guy who couldn't take care of himself, much less become the face of a phase of comic book flicks that would redefine Hollywood. Eventually, Favreau would get his way, and Iron Man grossed $98 million during its first weekend release on May 2, 2008. It would go on to make over $585 million at the box office and spawn two highly successful sequels, as well as lighting the wick on other Marvel stories.

Without Favreau's intuition and faith, there may not be a monstrous opening like Avengers: Infinity War is expected to see this weekend. Without him, there would be no Iron Man done right. Without Downey Jr., there would be no Iron Man. I don't think any other actor could play the role as perfectly as the previously doomed wild child. Downey Jr. used the success to bolster a Sherlock Holmes franchise as well as an award-nominated performance in The Soloist and a legion of films that have put him among the most valuable actors in Hollywood.

Marvel boldness started over ten years ago, taking chances and giving actors new life while creating their own legendary franchise we call the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It took a B-list actor in Chris Evans and made him the ultimate Captain America/Steve Rodgers one could imagine. It took an unknown Australian talent in Chris Hemsworth and made him Thor, God of Asgard.

If you thought the Hulk was a tired idea, remember Mark Ruffalo owning it it in 2012's Avengers. Paul Bettany has played a pair of roles. James Spader played a master villain. Sebastian Stan gave life to Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier. Frank Grillo breathed menace with Crossbones. Chadwick Boseman and Ryan Coogler helped turn Black Panther into one of the successful films of all time. Samuel L. Jackson may retire being known as Nick Fury.

Oh, let's not forget about Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista and the Guardians of the Galaxy, which as seen two wildly successful films and will be a part of Friday's third Avengers film.

Why is Marvel beating the DC films? It's simple. Smart, light on their feet, and completely thrilling movies that have pathos, fun, and insightful animation. I believe that Marvel CEO Kevin Feige has a plan and is working it to perfection. I don't believe DC Films has a true plan, at least one they are sticking to. They wanted to make Man of Steel 2, but that fell apart about a disappointing box office showing.

Marvel takes chances and they pay off. They don't make dreary, overly serious, and darker than black coffee films every time out. If DC lightened up, things may change. Nevertheless, Marvel is dominating because they take true risks, employ Oscar-nominated and high-caliber talent, and their films have a swagger that comes with true success.

Since Downey Jr. became Tony Stark, there have been two Batmans with a third possibly on the way. Continuity is important when building a franchise, even if all good things do come to an end.

I believe Evans or Downey Jr. won't make it out of the fourth Avengers film, which will be released next year-and that's fine. They would have played the respective characters for several years and films. They will be remembered as those characters and I doubt Marvel will usher out a replacement anytime soon.

You don't need replacements when you have given rebirth to well-known heroes like Tom Holland's fresh take on Peter Parker/Spider Man, Boseman's T'Challa, and Brie Larson's Captain Marvel. There are plenty of fish in the sea for Feige and company to dance with.

You want more bold strokes? Take a look at the Russo Brothers. Before they did Captain America: Winter Soldier, their biggest screen credit was the hapless comedy You, Me, and Dupree. Anthony and Joseph Russo are now releasing their third Marvel film with a fourth already in the can. No one else in Hollywood was handing them the keys to a cinematic Porsche and telling them to drive it across the world.

No one was ready to give Downey Jr. a shot at the highest of highs ten years ago. Warner Brothers cast him in the underrated Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, but that was a low-budget buddy comedy and not a giant spring comic book release. Marvel took a shot and it paid off big time.

It's still paying off. Hemsworth's Thor became a stand-alone thrill with Thor: Ragnarok. Taika Waititi had only done small budget comedies before the 2017 smash hit that brought more laughs than somber tears. Again, risk turning into reward.

I don't think Infinity Wars will be good. I know it will great. Marvel doesn't swing and miss. They don't hit many doubles either. They launch home runs.

I guess I should thank you. Thank you, Jon Favreau for pushing for your buddy. It changed things.

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