Robert Downey Jr. has weighed in on the frequent comparisons between Elon Musk and his superhero counterpart Iron Man.
The 59-year-old Oscar winner expressed mixed feelings about the tech giant ‘cosplaying’ as Tony Stark, Marvel Comics’ billionaire industrialist and founding member of the Avengers, during his appearance on the latest On With Kara Swisher podcast.
After Swisher remarked about Musk’s tendency to emulate Stark, Downey said, ‘I’ve only met him a few times, I just wish that he would control his behavior a little more.’
The parallels between the Tesla founder and comic book character gained traction when Iron Man director Jon Favreau disclosed in 2016 that Musk had inspired certain elements of the Tony Stark persona.
Screenwriter Mark Fergus also noted that Stark’s persona was shaped by a blend of Musk, Donald Trump and Steve Jobs, per a 2022 New York Magazine interview.
Robert Downey Jr. recently weighed in on Elon Musk often being compared to his superhero alter ego Iron Man; (pictured February)
The 59-year-old Oscar winner expressed mixed feelings about the tech giant ‘cosplaying’ as Tony Stark, Marvel Comic’s billionaire industrialist and founding member of the Avengers; (Musk in October)
Despite Musk’s early influence on Iron Man, Downey Jr. now finds the connection more complicated, especially amid backlash over Musk’s role in spreading misinformation and interfering in politics via X (formerly known as Twitter).
‘This idea of ‘It’s all OK because we’ve gotta get to Mars’ doesn’t really hold water with me,’ Downey said, referencing Musk’s ambitions for space exploration.
Still, the actor didn’t completely dismiss Musk in his comments.
‘You have to look at all that [Musk has] done that demonstrates why he’s valuable,’ Downey Jr. continued.
‘Nowadays separating the individual from their behavior is a tough thing to do because hell is other people — and that has been hijacked in this information age, to divide us rather than allow for discourse, debate, and dialogue.’
In July, it was announced Downey Jr. would be making his return to the Avengers universe in two new movies — but will not be reprising his role as Iron Man.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that the Oscar winner will be returning to the franchise during Marvel’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con.
The actor will play supervillain Victor von Doom (also known as Doctor Doom), in the 5th and 6th Avengers films, titled Avengers: Doomsday, and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Downey Jr. made his dramatic entrance at the convention in a Doom costume, surrounded by replica Doombots, before taking off his silver mask and revealing his face to shocked fans who gave him a standing ovation.
The actor was seen addressing the crowd at the convention in a clip shared by Variety, telling the crowd, ‘New mask, same task. What can I tell you, I like playing complicated characters.’
‘I’ve only met him a few times,’ Downey said of Musk during the latest On With Kara Swisher podcast, but added, ‘I just wish that he would control his behavior a little more’; still from Iron Man (2008)
The parallels between the Tesla founder and comic book character gained traction when Iron Man director Jon Favreau disclosed in 2016 that Musk had inspired certain elements of the Tony Stark persona
The parallels between the Tesla founder and comic book character gained traction when Iron Man director Jon Favreau disclosed in 2016 that Musk had inspired certain elements of the Tony Stark persona
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that the Oscar winner will be returning to the franchise during Marvel’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con
The two films will be directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the brothers who directed Avengers: Endgame in 2019. Avengers: Doomsday is set to premiere in May 2026.
It will be followed by Avengers: Secret Wars, which is expected to premiere in 2027.
He first portrayed playboy super-genius Stark in 2008’s Iron Man.
The actor went on to reprise the role in 10 Marvel films over 11 years, including Iron Man 2, Iron Man 3, The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
