"You Know What, I AM The Leader"

Iron Man long had a reputation as the redheaded stepchild superhero of the Marvel comics universe. That is, until Robert Downey Jr. brought some much-needed life to the character with the Iron Man films.

Now the 47 year-old returns as the world’s most egomaniacal superhero to team up with his fellow celluloid Marvel superheroes Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, and Thor in the long-awaited film adaptation of The Avengers. Downey Jr. talks about the most memorable moment during the film’s shooting.

“There’s that first time that we’re all assembled on the bridge,” Robert says, “When we all see each other and realize that we’re probably likely to continue shooting the movie because we had to make good on this vision of [producer] Kevin Feige’s, from as far back as I can remember.”

Robert was asked if he was the force that united the group.

“Yeah, I offered rides back and forth from Albuquerque on my private jet,” Downey, Jr. says, “Going back to 2007, when I was cast in Iron Man, and Kevin Feige said, ‘You know, this is all going to lead to where we’re going to have all of these franchising come together and we’re going to do something unprecedented in entertainment and we’re going to make this Avengers movie.’ I just remember that I would get nervous about it and excited about it and doubtful of it.”

“And then, by the time I already had a history with Sam and really wanted to capitalize on that,” he adds, “And by the time Chris [Hemsworth] and Chris [Evans] had launched their individual franchises with success and charisma, and by the time we had Mark [Ruffalo], I was like, “Wow, this is really going to happen.” Just being a worker amongst workers is where I started out, and it was nice to not really have to carry a movie. I think everyone really, really, really, really is equal, in this venture. It’s great. That will

"You Know What, I AM The Leader"

be my last sincere answer of the afternoon.”

Downey Jr. revealed a funny story off-set during the shooting of the film.

“Mark Ruffalo was throwing the roof parties,” Robert claims, “He was the group instigator.”

Robert also revealed what he likes best and finds most special about Iron Man.

“That the didn’t really set out to do anything noble,” Downey Jr. says, “He’s in transition, so there’s something a little more Han Solo than Luke. Also, the fact that he can pull off wearing a Black Sabbath t-shirt, for the better part of the film.”

Downey Jr. talked about the comic timing of the cast in the film.

“What everybody captured for their character was the right tone,” he says, “ At a certain point, without killing it, you tip your hat. We don’t take it too seriously. This is essentially a comic book movie, but you buy into the reality of it. So, I think everyone has their moments. [Director] Joss [Whedon] did a good job of finding everyone’s frequency. ‘I’m pretty sure God doesn’t dress like that,’ before he jumps off, was still within the realm of what Steve [Rogers] would say and do. But, also, tonally there’s this moment where they’re in the final battle and, once [Mark Ruffalo] turns green or my helmet closes, he’s in upstate New York and I’m back in L.A., and these guys are on the ground.”

“Sequence after sequence, there was all this stuff shot in Cleveland, and I don’t think we ever had to go to Cleveland, for one day,” Robert adds, “I kept squeezing the misses’ hand [at the premiere], during these incredible sequences that they did, going, ‘They shot a lot in Cleveland.’ The Avengers could have fallen flat on its face and had people not be able to suspend their disbelief or get behind it, but the movie succeeded. Whether Joss’s wit is funny or actually being able to hold the whole

"You Know What, I AM The Leader"

myriad of ideas and notions that you have to get right for Avengers not to be bunk is what he accomplished.”