Christopher Nolan says Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man is one of the most important casting decisions "in the history of the movie business"

EntertainmentMoviesSuperhero MoviesMCUChristopher Nolan says Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man is one of the most important casting decisions “in the history of the movie business"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

EntertainmentMoviesSuperhero MoviesMCUChristopher Nolan says Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man is one of the most important casting decisions “in the history of the movie business"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame

It’s no secret that the MCU has been a cultural juggernaut since its inception in 2008 (even if its influence seems to be on the wane amid a touch of superhero fatigue), and the de facto face of the cinematic universe has always been Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man.

It shouldn’t come as a huge shock, then, that Christopher Nolan – who himself made some genre defining superhero flicks with theDark Knighttrilogy – thinks Downey Jr.’s Iron Man is one of cinema’s key casting decisions.

“He has such charisma as Tony Stark,” Nolan toldStephen Colbert. “I think him playing Iron Man is one of the most consequential casting decisions that’s ever been made in the history of the movie business. And I wanted to give him the opportunity to lose himself in a part, lose himself in another human being the way that great actors love to.”

Nolan recently teamed with the actor forOppenheimer, with Downey Jr. portraying Lewis Strauss.

Downey Jr. is up for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role, while Cillian Murphy is nominated for Best Actor. The film is also in the running for Best Picture, and Nolan is up for Best Director (see the full list of2024 Oscars nominationsthrough the link).

Next up for the MCU is Deadpool 3, which hits theaters this July 26. It’sthe only MCU movie coming this yearafter a slew of delays.

You can keep up to date with everything the MCU has in store with our guide to all theupcoming Marvel movies and TV shows.

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1

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Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

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1

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2

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3

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4

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5

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Squid Game season 2

1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

1

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2

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3

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4

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5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

5

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

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