Robert Downey Jr. issued a brutal dig to Marvel at the 2024 EE BAFTA Film Awards.
Taking to the stage after winning the best actor in a supporting role award for his portrayal of Atomic Energy Commission chairman Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer, Downey Jr. took the opportunity to poke fun at his career path.
“I played a guy named Tony in the MCU for about 12 years,” he said. “Recently, [Christopher Nolan] suggested I attempt an understated approach as a last-ditch effort to perhaps resurrect my dwindling credibility.”
Following the comments, some have suggested Downey Jr. is ungrateful for trashing the role that ultimately saved his career.
That’s probably why Iron Man will not return, says Kevin Feige.
However, there was a definite tongue-in-cheek flavor to the notoriously sarcastic actor’s words as he sought to summarize his professional life in 30 seconds.
He also reflected on his earlier work. “When I was 15, I wanted to be Peter O’Toole. When I was 25, I worked for Richard Attenborough and Anthony Hopkins. When I was 35, I finally understood why Dickie thought Tony would be a better role model for me than Peter.”
