As Robert Downey Jr dons the famous metallic suit once more for the latest instalment of the Iron Man series, Dan Brightmore catches up with him for a chat.
To say the career and life of Robert Downey Jr has been a bit of a rollercoaster would be an understatement of epic proportions. From his early roles in cult classics like Less Than Zero through to an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Charlie Chaplin and big screen blockbusters like The Avengers and Iron Man, Downey Jr has been nothing if not captivating, both on and off the silver screen. His latest outing is no exception as he reprises the character that truly signalled his resurrection as one of Hollywood’s genuine big hitters.
Tell us about the new film…
Since The Avengers Tony’s a little bit traumatised. And I asked that he should be. I mean a wormhole opened up and there were aliens and all that stuff. So rather than pretend that didn’t happen lets bring it into the latest instalment.
Tony Stark gets stripped of his tech when The Mandarin (the super villain in Iron Man 3) attacks. Were you happy to take the ‘man in a can’ in a new direction?
We figured after The Avengers you couldn’t top that for spectacle and I’m just so pleased now that people are seeing Iron Man 3 they’re telling us we did it correctly.
Tell us more about Tony’s nemesis in the movie, The Mandarin.
Deception is useful. In the first Iron Man things end up being easy to follow but they also change. I think an elusive bad guy who’s also kind of wearing a mask is a cool idea and also the biggest risk we took with Iron Man 3. Sir Ben Kingsley playing The Mandarin has one of the best character arcs in the history of these films.
How else has Tony Stark changed?
In addition to being a little freaked out by what happened in New York in The Avengers, we thought what would he do next? We figured Tony would probably start tweaking on building as many ‘weapons’, in the form of suits, as possible. We wanted to give each one a different personality. His MK 42 is a work in progress. It’s autonomous and prehensile – he can call it to him – and Tony has little repeaters inserted under his skin that allow him to give it directions on where to attach. The other suits are more task specific. We had funny names for them on set like Mary-Kate and Ashley.
What’s been your favourite Iron Man suit?
You never forget your first time! I like the fans who like the original MK 1 because that’s the one he builds to save his life. It’s the one he builds out of desperation but I have to say there are some suits in Iron Man 3 that are pretty awesome.
It’s a real return to form and an amazingly fun film. What makes Stark so unbreakable when his world is threatened?
I love you! Let’s have dinner… In a post-Avengers world we ask questions: Wouldn’t he be a bit freaked out? Tony’s post-traumatic stress and how he comes back from that wound up being part of the theme. Sir Ben will tell you that we didn’t rest on our laurels and were flexible with the story to make it realistic after the events of The Avengers. What Sir Ben won’t tell you is that there are scenes in the movie when we would throw any and every idea we could at him and he would bounce it right back. He was throwing heat like it was the sixth game of the World Series and he was the winning pitcher! Thank you for that lovely question. I adore you.
You’re looking ripped for the on screen action. Is it a battle to stay in shape as you get older?
I’m required to say that I’ve been doing some Tracy Anderson training [Madonna’s personal trainer]. But I hate to say it… Don Cheadle is in better shape than I am and is more physically capable but I’m not gonna let it stay like that! When fitness magazines start asking me what I’m up to that’s what moves me. There’s no question that the dialogue between Don and I on who’s more fit is going to end… with Iron Man 17!
Wouldn’t you like to direct a Marvel movie yourself in the future?
You mean just eliminate the middleman and not work with people like Shane Black [the creator of Lethal Weapon and writer/director of IM3]? I had a really good time making this. I don’t often set out to make a film and imagine I’m gonna have a fun time shooting because even though these are genre movies we take ’em pretty seriously and then things get all stressed out… But Shane and I aren’t talking right now. Success has driven us apart. But seriously, be the director? And worry about the budget while working with, arguably, several of the most self-obsessed and eccentric human beings on Earth? Do you really want me to? It sounds so exhausting!
Can you explain how Downton Abbey ended up in Iron Man 3?
That was Jon Favreau’s idea. He likes it anyway and thought what would be the strangest thing that his character Happy (Starks’ bodyguard) could be obsessed with. And he thought the themes were similar.
Tony Stark deals with his anxiety. Do you ever worry about your next film and where your career might end?
Stop asking me questions. You’re making me anxious! Where’s Don Cheadle? He always calms me down…
Stark keeps saving the world but real life billionaires like Donald Trump and Richard Branson don’t seem worried about the threat of super villains. Do you think they should be and how do you think they’d get on if they had to spend a day as Iron Man?
I’m pretty quick and witty but I might be out of steam so why don’t you repeat the question. As I leave… I’m not sure how to answer that but I know we’re doing something right. Being able to do all of this again with Don and Gwyneth and having Sir Ben rocket us into another dimension with the most complicated arc in superhero history along with the over talented Rebecca Hall adding a touch of class has made this a delightful experience. And having guys like Shane Black and Drew Pearce listen to us run our mouths for weeks and then come back with a solid script is the reason why you’re sitting here telling me this film doesn’t suck!
Iron Man 3 is scheduled for release in the UAE on May 2, 2013.
