It seems like Robert Downey Jr. was born to play Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, there was a time when the studio had met up with the Avengers: Endgame actor with a completely different offer. It has just been revealed that Downey was being considered for another comic book role. Interestingly, it would have changed the way we see the MCU.
It's no secret that Jon Favreau had another actor in mind when casting Tony Stark for the 2008 film. Although the filmmaker considered Sam Rockwell for the role, he ultimately cast Downey after being impressed with the latter's screen test.
The casting happened in 2006 but now Favreau has revealed Downey met with Marvel Studios before that. In the new book The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Lion King director confirmed the studio's original plans. Amazingly, Downey almost auditioned for a part in 2005's Fantastic Four.
"Marvel had already met with [Downey] before, I think, to play Doctor Doom," Favreau says in the book.
It's an interesting revelation considering that, when you think about it, Downey would have nailed that role. However, we're glad that the part was eventually given to Julian McMahon in Fantastic Four.
We'd also like to note that if Downey took the role of Victor von Doom in Fantastic Four, he would have worked with another Endgame star. Chris Evans famously played Johnny Storm aka the Human Torch in the film.
Luckily, Downey didn't take the role and was eventually cast as Iron Man. The film would later kickstart the MCU and playing the superhero also gave Downey's career an awesome boost.
The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making Of The Marvel Cinematic Universe is written by Tara Bennett and Paul Terry. It features several amazing details about how the MCU was created. The book is now available on Amazon.
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