Robert Downey Jr. Originally Met With Marvel in Consideration for a FANTASTIC FOUR Role

When we think of Robert Downey Jr., we think of Iron Man, and when we think of Marvel, he is inextricably woven into its tapestry. He was in the first film that kicked off the Phases that changed everything, but just like in the multiverse, there are several different versions of the way the films in the MCU could have gone. Different actors could have played our heroes, they could have taken on different roles, and different projects could have been made altogether.

One of those almost could have happened scenarios involves RDJ himself, and the fact that when he came in to meet with Marvel, it was first discussed that he could play a Fantastic Four character. Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige sat down with Iron Man director Jon Favreau (via CB) to reflect on the long and sometimes hard road that led to the biggest franchise in the world.

Kevin Feige was interviewing Jon Favreau about his memories of how Iron Man took shape around one pivotal milestone: the casting of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. However, as Favreau remembered, Downey had come in to audition for several different Marvel roles – including Fantastic Four villain Doctor Doom! 

"I remember that Robert had come in for a general on it – and I remember you had all met with him already for like Doctor Doom or something on another project. I think he had come through like maybe Fantastic Four? So everybody sort of knew who he was, and I remember sitting down with the guy, and I was like 'Geez he's just got it – he's got that spark in him, in his eye and he's ready.' And that's when we were in your office [Kevin] and we were pointing to his headshot and saying, 'We gotta try to figure this out.'" 

I love to hear stuff like this. It’s great that it didn’t work out for Downey Jr. to join the previous (mediocre) films that Marvel produced, because he was the best Tony Stark we could ask for! What do you think? Would RDJ have made a good Doctor Doom?