Downey Jr. critiques of Musk's 'Mars obsession' and behavior
Actor Robert Downey Jr. addressed the similarities between Elon Musk and Tony Stark, the character he played in the "Iron Man" and "Avengers" movies. In the podcast "On With Kara Swisher," he shared his opinion about the eccentric billionaire.
3:38 PM EDT, October 29, 2024
During the conversation with Kara Swisher, Downey Jr. said about Musk: "I've only met him a few times. As an almost 60-year-old recovering white American male, I just wish that he would control his behavior a little more, but that's not on me."
It was apparent during the interview that the actor is not a fan of the billionaire. "This idea of, 'It's all OK because we've got to get to Mars,' doesn't really hold water with me. But again, you know, you have to look at all that he's done that demonstrates why he's valuable," the star added.
Tony Stark's character inspired by Musk
Downey Jr. and Musk appeared together in the movie "Iron Man 2" in a scene during the Monaco Grand Prix. In this scene, Downey Jr.'s character, Tony Stark, and Musk greet each other warmly, and Musk declares: "The exciting thing to do would be some sort of electric vertical takeoff and landing supersonic jet of some kind."
In 2022, Iron Man screenwriter Mark Fergus acknowledged that Elon Musk partially inspired the film’s version of Tony Stark. Speaking with New York magazine, Fergus described Stark as combining Musk’s qualities, Steve Jobs' intelligence, and Donald Trump’s flair. He added that Stark uniquely combines the allure of a celebrity with keen business sense.
Film about Musk
Director Darren Aronofsky is currently working on a Musk biography for A24 studio, based on an authorized book by Walter Isaacson. Although the cast has not been announced yet, Variety magazine listed Robert Downey Jr. as one of the actors who would be perfect for this role.
