Jump to content

Tony Stark (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Iron Man (Marvel Cinematic Universe)" redirects here. For the 2008 film, see Iron Man (2008 film).

Tony Stark
Marvel Cinematic Universe character
Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark in Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
First appearanceIron Man (2008)
Last appearanceAvengers: Endgame (2019)
Based on
Iron Man
by
Adapted by
Portrayed by
Voiced byMick Wingert (What If...?)[2]
In-universe information
Full nameAnthony Edward Stark[3]
AliasIron Man
Occupation
Affiliation
Weapon
Family
SpousePepper Potts
ChildrenMorgan Stark (daughter)
OriginManhattan, New York, United States
NationalityAmerican
Abilities

Anthony Edward Stark, or Tony Stark, is a fictional character primarily portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise —based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name— commonly known by his alias, Iron Man. Stark is initially depicted as an industrialist, genius inventor, and former playboy who is CEO of Stark Industries. Initially the chief weapons manufacturer for the U.S. military, he has a change of heart and redirects his technical knowledge into creating mechanized suits of armor, which he uses to defend Earth.

Stark becomes a founding member and eventual leader of the Avengers. Following his failed Ultron Program, the internal conflict within the Avengers due to the Sokovia Accords, and Thanos successfully erasing half of all life in the Blip, Stark retires, marries Pepper Potts, and they have a daughter named Morgan. However, Stark rejoins the Avengers on a final mission to undo Thanos' actions. He engineers a time travel device, and the Avengers successfully restore trillions of lives across the universe before Stark ultimately sacrifices his life to defeat Thanos and his army. Stark chooses Peter Parker as a successor.

Stark is one of the central figures of the MCU, having appeared in eleven films as of 2024. The character and Downey's performance have been credited with helping to cement the MCU as a multi-billion-dollar franchise, with Stark's evolution often considered the defining arc of the series.[4]

Alternate versions of Stark from within the MCU multiverse appear in the animated series What If...? (2021), voiced by Mick Wingert.

Fictional character biography

Early life

Anthony Edward "Tony" Stark was born on May 29, 1970, in Manhattan, New York to Howard Stark, a famous genius inventor and businessman, and Maria Stark, a socialite and philanthropist. Growing up under the eye of family butler Edwin Jarvis, his life was characterized by a cold and affectionless relationship with his father. Seeing that his son could achieve great things, Howard tried to inspire him with constant talks about his own role in the creation of Captain America. This instead embittered Stark, who felt that his father was taking more pride in his creations than in his family. A brilliant and unique child prodigy, Stark attended the prestigious Phillips Academy in Andover before entering MIT at age 14 and graduating summa cum laude at 17.[5][6]

On December 16, 1991, when Stark was 21, his parents went away to the Bahamas, but planned to stop at the Pentagon to deliver Super Soldier Serum Howard had redeveloped. Instead, both are killed in a car accident—later revealed to be an assassination carried out by the Winter Soldier, who was mind-controlled by Hydra to steal the serum.[a] As a result, Stark inherited his father's company, becoming CEO of Stark Industries. Over the years, he became well known as a weapons designer and inventor, and lived a playboy lifestyle. At a New Year's Eve party for the new millennium, he attended a conference in Bern where he met scientists Maya Hansen, inventor of the Extremis experimental regenerative treatment, and Aldrich Killian, rejecting an offer to work for Killian's Advanced Idea Mechanics.[b]

Becoming Iron Man

In 2010, Stark travels to war-torn Afghanistan with his friend and military liaison Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes to demonstrate Stark's new "Jericho" missile. After the demonstration, the convoy is ambushed and Stark is critically wounded and imprisoned by a terrorist group, the Ten Rings. Fellow captive Ho Yinsen, a doctor, implants an electromagnet into Stark's chest to keep shrapnel shards from reaching his heart and killing him.

Stark and Yinsen secretly build a small, powerful electric generator called an arc reactor to power Stark's electromagnet and a suit of powered armor. When the Ten Rings attack the workshop, Yinsen sacrifices himself to divert them while the suit is completed. The armored Stark battles his way out of the cave to find the dying Yinsen, then burns the Ten Rings' weapons in anger and flies away, crashing in the desert. Rescued by Rhodes, Stark returns home to announce that his company will no longer manufacture weapons. In his home workshop, Stark builds a sleeker, more powerful version of his improvised armor suit as well as a more powerful arc reactor.

Stark learns that Obadiah Stane has been engaged in arms trafficking to criminals worldwide, and is staging a coup to replace him as Stark Industries' CEO. Stark, in his new armor, flies to Afghanistan and saves the villagers. Stane ambushes Stark at his home and takes the arc reactor from his chest, revealing that Stane was responsible for Stark's captivity. Stark manages to get to his original reactor to replace it and defeats Stane. The next day, The Chronicles dubs Tony's alter-ego "The Iron Man" on their newspaper headline, which he likes and takes the moniker, feeling it is catchy and sounded great when saying, evoking an aura of him being invincible despite the inaccuracy (the suit is made of titanium gold instead of iron). At a press conference, Stark publicly admits to being Iron Man.

Battling Vanko

Six months later in 2011, Stark's fame has grown, and he uses his Iron Man suit for peaceful means, resisting government pressure to sell his designs, while other inventors try to build their own power suits that imitate Stark's with no successes. He reinstitutes the Stark Expo to continue his father's legacy but discovers that the palladium core in the arc reactor that keeps Stark alive and powers the armor is slowly poisoning him. Growing increasingly reckless and despondent about his impending death, he appoints Pepper Potts CEO of Stark Industries.

Stark competes in the Monaco Historic Grand Prix and is attacked mid-race by Ivan Vanko, who wields electrified whips powered by a miniature arc reactor. Stark dons his Mark V armor and defeats Vanko, but the suit is severely damaged. At his birthday party, Stark gets drunk while wearing the Mark IV suit. Rhodes dons Stark's Mark II prototype armor and tries to restrain him. The fight ends in a stalemate, so Rhodes confiscates the Mark II for the U.S. Air Force.

Stark discovers a hidden message from his father, a diagram of the structure of a new element, which Stark successfully synthesizes and integrates into his arc reactor as a non-toxic replacement for palladium. At the Expo, Stark's rival Justin Hammer unveils Vanko's armored drones, led by Rhodes in a heavily weaponized version of the Mark II armor. Stark arrives in the newly-built Mark VI armor to warn Rhodes, but Vanko remotely takes control of both the drones and Rhodes' armor and attacks Iron Man. Stark and Rhodes together defeat Vanko and his drones. After narrowly saving Pepper Potts from a self-destructing drone, they start a relationship.

The Battle of New York

In 2012, when the Asgardian Loki arrives and begins menacing Earth, seizing the Tesseract from a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility, Fury activates the Avengers Initiative and Agent Phil Coulson visits Stark to have him review the research of Erik Selvig on the Tesseract. In Stuttgart, Steve Rogers and Loki fight briefly until Tony Stark appears in his Iron Man armor, resulting in Loki's surrender. While Loki is being escorted to S.H.I.E.L.D., Thor arrives and frees him, hoping to convince him to abandon his plan and return to Asgard. After a confrontation with Stark and Rogers, Thor agrees to take Loki to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s flying aircraft carrier, the Helicarrier.

The Avengers become divided, both over how to approach Loki and the revelation that S.H.I.E.L.D. plans to harness the Tesseract to develop weapons. Agents possessed by Loki attack the Helicarrier, disabling one of its engines in flight, which Stark and Rogers must work to restart. Loki escapes, and Stark and Rogers realize that for Loki, simply defeating them will not be enough; he needs to overpower them publicly to validate himself as ruler of Earth. Loki uses the Tesseract to open a wormhole in New York City above the Stark Tower to allow the Chitauri fleet in space to invade. Fury's superiors from the World Security Council attempt to end the invasion by launching a nuclear missile at Midtown Manhattan. Stark intercepts the missile, and in an apparent sacrifice of his own life, takes it through the wormhole toward the Chitauri fleet. The missile detonates, destroying the Chitauri mothership and disabling their forces on Earth. Stark's suit runs out of power, and he falls back through the wormhole but the Hulk saves him from crashing into the ground. Stark and the other Avengers capture Loki and Thor takes custody of him.

Pursuing the Mandarin

Stark develops PTSD from his experiences during the alien invasion, resulting in panic attacks. Restless, he builds several dozen Iron Man suits, creating friction with girlfriend Pepper Potts. Seven months after the invasion, Happy Hogan is badly injured in one of a string of bombings by a terrorist known only as the Mandarin, Stark issues a televised threat to him, who destroys Stark's Malibu home with helicopter gunships. Stark escapes in an Iron Man suit and crashes in rural Tennessee. His experimental armor lacks sufficient power to return to California, and the world believes him dead.

Stark traces the Mandarin to Miami and infiltrates his headquarters, where he discovers the Mandarin was just an actor named Trevor Slattery. Aldrich Killian reveals himself to be the real Mandarin and captures Stark. He escapes and reunites with Rhodes, discovering that Killian intends to attack U.S. President Ellis aboard Air Force One. Stark saves the surviving passengers and crew but cannot stop Killian from abducting Ellis and destroying Air Force One. Killian intends to kill Ellis on an oil platform on live television. On the platform, Stark goes to save Potts – who had been kidnapped and subjected to Extremis — as Rhodes saves the president. Stark summons his Iron Man suits, controlled remotely by J.A.R.V.I.S., to provide air support. Potts, having survived the Extremis procedure, kills Killian. Stark orders J.A.R.V.I.S. to remotely destroy all of the Iron Man suits as a sign of his devotion to Potts, and undergoes surgery to remove the shrapnel embedded near his heart. He pitches his obsolete chest arc reactor into the sea, musing that he will always be Iron Man.

Creating Ultron

In 2015, Stark and the Avengers raid a Hydra facility commanded by Wolfgang von Strucker, who has been experimenting on siblings Pietro and Wanda Maximoff using the scepter previously wielded by Loki. While the team fights outside, Stark enters the lab and finds the scepter, along with Chitauri ships from the Battle of New York under construction. Wanda sneaks up behind him and uses her mind manipulation powers to give him a haunting vision: the death of all the Avengers except him. Stark awakens from the vision and retrieves Loki's scepter.

Returning to the Avengers Tower, Stark and Bruce Banner discover an artificial intelligence within the scepter's gem, and secretly decide to use it to complete Stark's "Ultron" global defense program. The unexpectedly sentient Ultron eliminates Stark's A.I. J.A.R.V.I.S. and attacks the Avengers. Escaping with the scepter, Ultron builds an army of robot drones, kills Strucker and recruits the Maximoffs, who hold Stark responsible for their parents' deaths by his company's weapons. The Avengers find and attack Ultron in Johannesburg, but Wanda subdues most of the team with personalized, disturbing visions, causing Banner to transform into the Hulk and rampage until Stark stops him with his anti-Hulk armor.

After hiding at Clint Barton's house, Nick Fury arrives and encourages Stark and the others to form a plan to stop Ultron, who is discovered to have forced the team's friend Dr. Helen Cho to perfect a new body for him. Rogers, Romanoff, and Barton find Ultron and retrieve the synthetic body, but Ultron captures Romanoff. Returning to Avengers Tower, the Avengers fight amongst themselves when Stark and Banner secretly upload J.A.R.V.I.S.—who is still operational after hiding from Ultron inside the Internet—into the synthetic body. Thor returns to help activate the body, explaining that the gem on its brow was part of his vision. This "Vision" and the Maximoffs, now on their side, accompany Stark and the Avengers to Sokovia, where Ultron has used the remaining vibranium to build a machine to lift part of the capital city skyward, intending to crash it into the ground to cause global extinction. One of Ultron's drones is able to activate the machine. The city plummets, but Stark and Thor overload the machine and shatter the landmass. The Avengers establish a new base in upstate New York, and Stark leaves the team.

Sokovia Accords and the aftermath

In 2016, U.S. Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross informs the Avengers that the United Nations (UN) is preparing to pass the Sokovia Accords, which will establish UN oversight of the team. The Avengers are divided: Stark supports oversight because of his role in Ultron's creation and Sokovia's devastation, while Rogers has more faith in their judgment than that of a government. Circumstances lead to Rogers and fellow super-soldier Bucky Barnes—framed for a terrorist attack—going rogue, along with Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton, and Scott Lang. Stark assembles a team composed of Natasha Romanoff, T'Challa, James Rhodes, Vision, and Peter Parker to capture the renegades at Leipzig/Halle Airport. However, during the battle, Rogers and Barnes are able to escape and Rhodes is paralyzed. Stark learns that Barnes was framed and convinces Wilson to give him Rogers' destination. Without informing Ross, Stark goes to the Siberian Hydra facility and strikes a truce with Rogers and Barnes. They find that the other super soldiers have been killed by Helmut Zemo, who plays footage that reveals that Barnes killed Stark's parents. Stark turns on them, dismembering Barnes' robotic arm. After an intense fight, Rogers finally manages to disable Stark's Iron Man armor and departs with Barnes, leaving his shield behind. Stark returns to New York to work on exoskeletal leg braces to allow Rhodes to walk again. Steve Rogers sends a mobile phone to Stark to keep in contact if needed. When Ross calls informing him that Rogers has broken the others out of the Raft, Stark refuses to help.

Two months later, Peter Parker resumes his high school studies, with Stark telling him he is not yet ready to become a full Avenger. Stark rescues Parker from nearly drowning after an encounter with Adrian Toomes and warns Parker against further involvement with the criminals. When another weapon from Toomes malfunctions during a fight with Parker and tears the Staten Island Ferry in half, Stark helps Parker save the passengers before admonishing him for his recklessness and confiscating his suit. Parker realizes Toomes is planning to hijack a plane transporting weapons from Stark Tower to the team's new headquarters. After Parker thwarts the plan and saves Toomes from an explosion, Stark admits he was wrong about Parker and invites him to become an Avenger full-time, but Parker declines. Potts emerges from a packed press conference, called to make the announcement, and Stark decides to use the opportunity to instead propose to Potts. At the end of the film, he returns the suit to Peter.

Infinity War

In 2018, Stark and Potts are in a New York City park discussing having children, when Banner, who had disappeared after the Battle of Sokovia, crash-lands at the New York Sanctum. Banner relays a warning to Stephen Strange, Wong, and Stark that the mad Titan Thanos plans to use the Infinity Stones to kill half of all life in the universe. Ebony Maw and Cull Obsidian arrive to retrieve the Time Stone, prompting Strange, Stark, Wong, and Parker to confront them. Although Cull Obsidian is incapacitated, Strange is captured by Maw. Stark and Parker sneak aboard Maw's spaceship to rescue him.

After successfully freeing Strange and killing Maw, the trio proceed to Thanos' home planet Titan, where they meet members of the Guardians of the Galaxy. They form a plan to confront Thanos and remove the Infinity Gauntlet, but Thanos overpowers the group and stabs Stark in the abdomen. Strange surrenders the Time Stone in exchange for Thanos sparing Stark. Thanos takes the stone and departs for Earth, retrieves the final stone, and activates the Infinity Gauntlet. Stark and Nebula, stranded on Titan, watch as Parker and others are turned to dust.

Time Heist and sacrifice

Stark and Nebula are rescued from space by Carol Danvers and returned to Earth, where Stark chooses to retire and raise his daughter Morgan, with Potts. Later, he constructs a secret beach house lab in Mexico for Banner to merge his two identities and spent some time with him including making a tiki bar. In 2023, when Scott Lang hypothesizes a way to bring back the fallen, the Avengers approach Stark, who initially refuses, considering the idea dangerous. Despite this, he examines the matter privately, discovers time travel, and agrees to help. The Avengers reassemble and plan to retrieve the Infinity Stones from the past to undo Thanos' actions. Traveling to 2012, Stark fails to retrieve the Space Stone following the Battle of New York and instead goes further back to the 1970s to steal it from a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility, where he has a meaningful conversation with a younger version of his father, Howard.

The Avengers successfully obtain all of the Infinity Stones before returning to the present. The Stones are incorporated into a gauntlet made by Stark, which Banner then uses to resurrect those that were disintegrated by Thanos. However, they are followed by an alternate version of Thanos and his army, who are summoned to 2023 by an alternate version of Nebula. During the ensuing battle, Thanos obtains Stark's gauntlet and the two of them wrestle for control of it. Thanos is able to overpower Stark before attempting another snap but discovers that Stark has transferred the Infinity Stones to his own armor. Stark activates the Gauntlet and uses it to disintegrate Thanos and all of his forces and save the universe, but fatally injures himself in the process. He dies surrounded by Rhodes, Parker, and Potts.

Legacy

Eight months later, as the world continues to mourn Stark, Parker receives glasses that can access Stark's artificial intelligence E.D.I.T.H., with a message that establishes him as Stark's chosen successor. Parker is however tricked by disgruntled former Stark Industries employee Quentin Beck into giving him the glasses, as Parker sees him as a more worthy successor. Beck, leading a team of other ex-Stark Industries employees such as William Ginter Riva, and angered at being fired by Stark, seeks to fill the vacancy left by Stark as Iron Man by using the software he developed for Stark, B.A.R.F., to augment illusions of creatures known as the Elementals, presenting himself as a hero known as Mysterio in "defeating" them. He uses Stark's glasses to conduct drone attacks in London, targeting Parker. Parker eventually foils Beck's plots and retakes the glasses, and he designs his own Spider-Man suit using technology from Stark Industries, in a similar manner to Stark designing his first Iron Man armor.

Alternate versions

Other versions of Stark are depicted in the alternate realities of the MCU multiverse.

Losing the Tesseract

In an alternate 2012, Stark and the Avengers are victorious over Loki during the Battle of New York, however the time traveling Stark and Scott Lang from 2023 alter 2012-Stark's history when they attempt to steal the briefcase containing the Tesseract. As 2012-Stark and 2012-Thor argue with Alexander Pierce and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents over custody of Loki and the Tesseract, Lang, using his Ant-Man suit, shrinks down and enters into 2012-Stark's chest arc reactor, pulling a plug that gives him a cardiac dysrhythmia. 2012-Thor uses Mjolnir to restart the reactor, saving 2012-Stark's life. 2023-Stark obtains the briefcase but loses it when 2012-Hulk smashes through the elevator. The Tesseract falls out, and with 2012-Stark and Thor distracted, Loki picks it up and teleports away.

Other versions

  • In an alternate 2011, Stark is seemingly killed by Romanoff after she injects him with a temporary antidote to his arc reactor poisoning. Fury later deduces the culprit as Hank Pym.[7]
  • In an alternate 2018, Stark is infected with a quantum virus and is turned into a zombie along with the Avengers in San Francisco. When Bruce Banner crash-lands in the New York Sanctum to warn the heroes of Thanos's arrival, a zombified Stark attacks him alongside Stephen Strange and Wong, but is quickly killed by Hope van Dyne.[8]
  • In an alternate 2010, Erik "Killmonger" Stevens prevents Stark from being kidnapped by the Ten Rings in Afghanistan. Stark returns to the United States, where Killmonger exposes Obadiah Stane's involvement in the ambush plot, and Stark names him the new COO of Stark Industries. Stark and Killmonger build a humanoid combat drone using the vibranium of N'Jobu's ring, but Killmonger betrays and kills Stark, setting off a war between the United States and Wakanda.[9]
  • In an alternate 2015, Ultron successfully uploads his consciousness into a new vibranium body, becoming powerful enough to kill Stark and most of the Avengers, eradicating all life on Earth.[10]
  • In an unknown alternate timeline, Stark extracted a sample of Banner's blood for further studying. Justin Hammer learned of this, and attempts to raid the Avengers Tower during Christmas Eve to acquire the sample. However, Happy Hogan, who was assigned security details for the Christmas party, accidentally injects himself with the blood sample, causing him to slowly transform into a Hulk-like creature. Hogan attempts to contact Stark, who was busy handing out gifts to children as Santa Claus at the time and unable to answer properly. Stark later returns to Avengers Tower with the other Avengers, and attacks Hogan, not realizing that the latter had transformed. Afterwards, the team apprehends Hammer and returns to celebrate Christmas, though Stark avoids answering Hogan whether there was a way to restore him to normal.[11]
  • In an alternate 2012, Stark crash-lands on Sakaar after the Battle of New York. After defeating the Grandmaster in a battle race, Stark becomes a close ally of Gamora after the death of Thanos by her hands. When the Watcher is collecting heroes to fight a multiverse-breaking version of Ultron, he selects the Gamora of this world, but pointedly excludes Stark.[12]

Game adaptations

Concept and creation

Tony Stark first premiered as a comic book character, in Tales of Suspense #39 (cover dated March 1963), a collaboration among editor and story-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, story-artist Don Heck, and cover-artist and character-designer Jack Kirby.[16] Lee wanted to create the "quintessential capitalist", a character that would go against the spirit of the times and Marvel's readership.[17] Lee based this playboy's looks and personality on Howard Hughes,[18] as "one of the most colorful men of our time. He was an inventor, an adventurer, a multi-billionaire, a ladies' man and finally a nutcase."[19] The character's original costume was a bulky gray armored suit, replaced by a golden version in the second story (issue #40, April 1963), and redesigned as sleeker, red-and-golden armor in issue #48 (Dec. 1963) by Steve Ditko.[20] Lee and Kirby included Iron Man in The Avengers #1 (Sept. 1963) as a founding member of the superhero team. In the mid-2000s, with a number of movies having been made from other Marvel properties licensed to other studios, Kevin Feige realized that Marvel still owned the rights to the core members of the Avengers, which included Iron Man. Feige, a self-professed "fanboy", envisioned creating a shared universe just as creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby had done with their comic books in the early 1960s.[21]

Jon Favreau, who was selected to direct the first Iron Man film, felt Downey's past made him an appropriate choice for the part,[22] and that the actor could make Stark a "likable asshole," but also depict an authentic emotional journey once he won over the audience.[23] Ultimately however, Downey ended up being the choice the studio made for the first character in their ever-expansive cinematic universe. Favreau was also attracted to Downey from his performance in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), with Downey frequently conversing with that film's director, Shane Black, about the script and dialogue in Iron Man.[24]

Appearances

Robert Downey Jr. at Comic Con 2007, after being cast in Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr. portrays Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Iron Man (2008),[25] Iron Man 2 (2010),[26] The Avengers (2012),[27] Iron Man 3 (2013),[28] Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015),[29] Captain America: Civil War (2016),[30] Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017),[31] Avengers: Infinity War (2018),[29] and Avengers: Endgame (2019).[30] In addition, Downey makes an uncredited cameo appearance in The Incredible Hulk (2008).[32]

In Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), Stark appears in archival footage from Captain America: Civil War,[33] and also appears via archive footage in the Marvel One-Shot The Consultant (2011).[34] Archival footage of the character also appears in "Glorious Purpose", the first episode of the Disney+ television series Loki.[35]

In September 2019, Deadline Hollywood reported that Downey would appear in Black Widow (2021) in his MCU role as Stark;[36] an early version of the script included the end scene from Captain America: Civil War between Stark and Natasha Romanoff.[37] This was not in the final film, with director Cate Shortland stating that she and Kevin Feige decided against adding Stark or any other heroes to the film in order for Romanoff to stand on her own,[38] and screenwriter Eric Pearson adding that it was determined that the scene did not add anything new to the story.[37]

Stark returns in the Disney+ animated series What If...?,[39] although Mick Wingert voices the character instead; Wingert has previously provided the voice for Iron Man in multiple non-MCU video games and animated productions since 2015.[40]

Characterization

Appearance and personality

It's a fine line. If you're changing something... because you want to double-down on the spirit of who the character is? That's a change we'll make. Tony Stark not reading off the card and not sticking with the fixed story? Him just blurting out 'I am Iron Man?' That seems very much in keeping with who that character is.[41]

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige on Stark revealing his alter-ego

Downey had an office next to Favreau during pre-production, which allowed him greater involvement in the screenwriting process,[42] especially adding humor to the film.[43] Downey explained, "What I usually hate about these [superhero] movies [is] when suddenly the guy that you were digging turns into Dudley Do-Right, and then you're supposed to buy into all his 'Let's go do some good!' That Eliot Ness-in-a-cape-type thing. What was really important to me was to not have him change so much that he's unrecognizable. When someone used to be a schmuck and they're not anymore, hopefully they still have a sense of humor."[44] To prepare, Downey spent five days a week weight training and practiced martial arts to get into shape,[22] which he said benefited him because "it's hard not to have a personality meltdown ... after about several hours in that suit. I'm calling up every therapeutic moment I can think of to just get through the day."[45] The character's line "I am Iron Man", which revealed Stark's alter ego at the end of Iron Man, was improvised by Downey.[46][47][48][49]

Business magnate and entrepreneur Elon Musk (above) was a key influence on the MCU's depiction of Tony Stark.[50][51][52]

For the first film, Favreau and Downey had been handed an existing script and worked from it. In contrast, for Iron Man 2, the duo were given more freedom to conceive of the story for themselves,[26] in which Stark struggles to keep his technology out of the hands of the government and rival weapons makers. On Stark being a hero, Downey said "It's kind of heroic, but really kind of on his own behalf. So I think there's probably a bit of an imposter complex and no sooner has he said, 'I am Iron Man –' that he's now really wondering what that means. If you have all this cushion like he does and the public is on your side and you have immense wealth and power, I think he's way too insulated to be okay."[53]

The Avengers introduced Stark's role as one of an ensemble of heroes who must come together to defend the Earth from an alien invasion led by the god Loki. Downey initially pushed director Joss Whedon to make Stark the lead of the 2012 Avengers film: "Well, I said, 'I need to be in the opening sequence. I don't know what you're thinking, but Tony needs to drive this thing.' He was like, 'Okay, let's try that.' We tried it and it didn't work, because this is a different sort of thing, the story and the idea and the theme is the theme, and everybody is just an arm of the octopus."[54] About the character's evolution from previous films, Downey said, "In Iron Man, which was an origin story, he was his own epiphany and redemption of sorts. Iron Man 2 is all about not being an island, dealing with legacy issues and making space for others... In The Avengers, he's throwing it down with the others".[55] At the climax of the film, Stark guides a nuclear missile through an interstellar portal to destroy the main alien vessel, demonstrating a willingness to sacrifice his life to save the Earth.[56]

In Iron Man 3, Stark struggles to come to terms with his near-death experience in The Avengers,[57] suffering from anxiety attacks. On making a third Iron Man film, Downey said, "My sense of it is that we need to leave it all on the field—whatever that means in the end. You can pick several different points of departure for that."[28] On following up The Avengers, Downey said they "tried to be practical, in a post-Avengers world. What are his challenges now? What are some limitations that might be placed on him? And what sort of threat would have him, as usual, ignore those limitations?"[58] Screenwriter Drew Pearce compared Stark in Iron Man 3 to an American James Bond for both being "heroes with a sense of danger to them, and unpredictability" even if Stark was a "free agent" instead of an authority figure like Bond. He also likened Tony to the protagonists of 1970s films such as The French Connection (1971), where "the idiosyncrasies of the heroes is what made them exciting."[59]

In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Stark has become the benefactor of the Avengers.[60][61][62] On how his character evolves after the events of Iron Man 3, Downey said, "I think he realizes that tweaking and making all the suits in the world—which is what he has been doing—still didn't work for that thing of his tour of duty that left him a little PTSD. So his focus is more on how can we make it so that there's no problem to begin with. That, you know, there's a bouncer at our planet's rope. That's the big idea."[63] The events of Age of Ultron lead directly into the conflict of Captain America: Civil War, in which Stark leads a faction of Avengers in support of the regulation of individuals with superpowers.[64][65] Anthony Russo said that Stark's egomania allowed the writers "to bring him to a point in his life where he was willing to submit to an authority, where he felt it was the right thing to do." Joe Russo added that because of the visions Stark saw in Age of Ultron, he now has a guilt complex which "drives him to make very specific decisions", calling his emotional arc "very complicated".[66] Downey's personal trainer Eric Oram stated that the trick to pitting Rogers against Stark, "is to show Iron Man using the 'minimum force' necessary to win the fight".[67] Marvel initially wanted Downey's part to be smaller, but "Downey wanted Stark to have a more substantial role in the film's plot." Variety noted that Downey would receive $40 million-plus backend for his participation, as well as an additional payout if the film outperformed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, as Marvel would attribute that success to Downey's presence.[30]

In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Stark is Peter Parker's mentor and is the creator of the U.S. Department of Damage Control.[31][68] Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group chairman Thomas Rothman noted that, beyond the commercial advantage of featuring Downey in the film, the inclusion of Stark was important due to the relationship established between him and Parker in Captain America: Civil War.[69] Watts noted that after Stark's actions in Civil War, introducing Parker to life as an Avenger, there are "a lot of repercussions to that. Is it a first step towards Tony as some sort of mentor figure? Is he comfortable with that?"[70] Co-writer Jonathan Goldstein compared Stark to Ethan Hawke's father character in Boyhood (2014).[71]

Downey reprised the role in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).[29][31] Iron Man 3 director Shane Black stated in March 2013 that "There has been a lot of discussion about it: 'Is this the last Iron Man for Robert [Downey Jr.]?' Something tells me that it will not be the case, and [he] will be seen in a fourth, or fifth." Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said that the character of Stark would continue to be featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe regardless of Downey's involvement.[72] Also in March, Downey said he was open to extending his contract, stating he feels "there's a couple other things we've gotta do" with the character.[73] In June 2013, when Downey signed on to return as Iron Man in Avengers: Age of Ultron, he also signed on for a third Avengers film.[29] In a July 2014 interview during the filming of Avengers: Age of Ultron, Downey expressed his interest in continuing to play Iron Man. "It's down to Kevin [Feige] and Ike [Perlmutter, CEO of Marvel Entertainment] and Disney to come to us with what the proposal is, and that's on us to agree or disagree," Downey said. "When things are going great, there's a lot of agreement." He added, "It's that thing of: Why give up the belt when it feels like you can barely get jabbed?"[74] In April 2016, Downey expressed openness to appearing in a potential fourth Iron Man film, saying "I could do one more."[75] Downey's Marvel contract expired following Avengers: Endgame, where Stark dies.[76]

Stark's fashion sense evolved over the course of the films, initially being described as "woefully basic... mostly saggy jeans, henleys and tank tops—with an occasional suit", but improving by the time of the first Avengers film,[77] and becoming more sophisticated by Civil War, as Stark matured and accepted greater responsibility for the consequences of his actions.[78] Downey expressed the desire for his wardrobe to reflect that "you still know he's Tony Stark, and you still know that he's the richest man in the world".[78] Stark's clothing has been described as alternating between "a sweet suit with some shades" in his corporate look, "or a t-shirt, jeans, and an arc reactor" in his personal time.[79] His fashion sense has been referred to as "part Mob boss and part Big Bang Theory cast member", and alternating "between boxy pinstripe suits and faux-ironic vintage tees".[77]

Armor and special effects

Main article: Iron Man's armor (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
Tony Stark's armor, as seen in Iron Man (2008)

Tony Stark has worn multiple different armors in his MCU appearances. For Iron Man, Stan Winston and his company built metal and rubber versions of the armors featured in the film,[80] while Iron Man comic book artist Adi Granov designed the Mark III with illustrator Phil Saunders.[81] Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) created the digital armors in the film,[82] with The Orphanage and The Embassy doing additional work. To help with animating the more refined suits, information was sometimes captured by having Downey wear only the helmet, sleeves and chest of the costume over a motion capture suit.[80]

For Iron Man 2, ILM again did the majority of the effects, as it did on the first film, with Double Negative also working on the film.[83] In the filming of The Avengers, Weta Digital took over duties for animating Iron Man during the forest duel from ILM.[84] For Iron Man 3, Digital Domain, Scanline VFX and Trixter each worked on separate shots featuring the Mark 42 armor, working with different digital models. The studios shared some of their files to ensure consistency between the shots. For the Mark 42 and Iron Patriot armors, Legacy Effects constructed partial suits that were worn on set.[85]

Differences from the comics

The origin story of Iron Man has been updated for the films. In the comics, Stark becomes Iron Man following an experience in the Vietnam War, which is changed to the War in Afghanistan.[86] Jarvis, in the comics, is the family butler, while in the films J.A.R.V.I.S. is an artificial intelligence created by Stark,[87] though still inspired by the butler from Stark's childhood, Edwin Jarvis, who is revealed to have died by the time the first film takes place.[86] Stark also proceeds through the early iterations of his armor to reach the now-familiar red and gold color scheme much more quickly. Stark's personality more closely resembles the Ultimate Comics version.[86]

The AI version of J.A.R.V.I.S. is eventually uploaded by Stark to an artificial body and becomes Vision. In the films, Vision is created by Stark and Banner as a counter to Ultron. In the comics, however, Ultron is created by a different member of the Avengers, Hank Pym, and aspects of Pym's personality are integrated into this version of Ultron, such as a desire for peace.[88] Another difference in the films is the romance between Stark and Pepper Potts. In the comics, Potts has unrequited feelings for Stark, and ultimately becomes involved with Stark's chauffeur and bodyguard, Happy Hogan.[87][88]

A new approach not seen in comics is Stark's mentorial relationship with Peter Parker. In the Ultimate Comics, Stark and Parker do not go past the normal trainer-trainee relationship. In the MCU, Stark is also the creator of two iterations of Parker's Spider-Man suits, unlike in the comics where he only creates the Iron Spider Armor, while Parker creates other suits by himself.[89] Stark is also shown to have a history with Parker's foes Vulture and Mysterio; both are depicted as having turned into villains due to unforeseen consequences of actions by Stark. While he does not end up facing them, his protégé does.[90][91]

The Mandarin, a recurring Iron Man villain in the comics, turns out to be just an actor portraying the character, with the real criminal mastermind behind the acts claimed by "the Mandarin" being Aldrich Killian—a minor character in the comics.[88][92] The Mandarin is revealed to be a real person in the Marvel One-Shot All Hail the King;[93] this version is instead portrayed as the father and enemy of Shang-Chi in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021).[94]

Reception and impact

Downey's portrayal of the character has been widely praised by fans and critics. Roger Ebert praised Downey's performance in Iron Man, stating "At the end of the day it's Robert Downey Jr. who powers the lift-off separating this from most other superhero movies".[95] Frank Lovece of Film Journal International, a one-time Marvel Comics writer, commended that Iron Man 2 "doesn't find a changed man. Inside the metal, imperfect humanity grows even more so, as thought-provoking questions of identity meet techno-fantasy made flesh".[96]

For The Avengers, Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal—despite complimenting Downey's performance—favored his work in Iron Man over his acting in The Avengers: "His Iron Man is certainly a team player, but Mr. Downey comes to the party with two insuperable superpowers: a character of established sophistication—the industrialist/inventor Tony Stark, a sharp-tongued man of the world—and his own quicksilver presence that finds its finest expression in self-irony".[97] In his review of Avengers: Endgame, Morgenstern lauded both actor and character, praising "Robert Downey Jr.'s startlingly smart Tony Stark" who, along with Chris Evans' Captain America and Chris Hemsworth's Thor, contributed to that film's "feeling of family ... because the debuts of its most prominent members remain vivid to this day."[98]

In 2015, Empire named Tony Stark the 13th greatest film character of all time.[99] In 2019, following Stark's death in Avengers: Endgame, a statue representing the character in his Iron Man armor was erected in Forte dei Marmi, Italy.[100]

Accolades

Downey has received numerous nominations and awards for his portrayal of Tony Stark. He notably won the Saturn Award for Best Actor three times,[101][102][103] making him a record four-time winner (he had previously won the award for 1993's Heart and Souls);[104] it is also the record for most wins for portraying the same character, tied with Mark Hamill for playing Luke Skywalker.[105][106][107]

Year Film Award Category Result Ref(s)
2008 Iron Man Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actor: Action Nominated [108]
Scream Awards Best Science Fiction Actor Won [109]
Best Superhero Nominated [110]
2009 People's Choice Awards Favorite Male Action Star Nominated [111]
Favorite Male Movie Star Nominated
Favorite Superhero Nominated
Empire Awards Best Actor Nominated [112]
MTV Movie Awards Best Male Performance Nominated [113]
Saturn Awards Best Actor Won [101]
2010 Iron Man 2 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi Nominated [114]
Choice Movie: Dance Nominated
Choice Movie: Fight (with Don Cheadle) Nominated [115]
Scream Awards Best Science Fiction Actor Nominated [116]
Best Superhero Won [117]
2011 People's Choice Awards Favorite Movie Actor Nominated [118]
Favorite Action Star Nominated
Favorite On-Screen Team (with Don Cheadle) Nominated
MTV Movie Awards Biggest Badass Star Nominated [119]
Saturn Awards Best Actor Nominated [120]
2012 The Avengers Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Nominated [121]
Choice Summer Movie Star: Male Nominated
2013 People's Choice Awards Favorite Movie Actor Won [122]
Favorite Action Movie Star Nominated
Favorite Movie Superhero Won
Critics' Choice Awards Best Actor in an Action Movie Nominated [123]
Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Male Buttkicker Nominated [124]
Empire Awards Best Actor Nominated [125]
MTV Movie Awards Best On-Screen Duo (with Mark Ruffalo) Nominated [126]
Best Fight (with cast) Won
Best Hero Nominated
Iron Man 3 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actor: Action Won [127]
Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Nominated
Choice Movie: Chemistry (with Don Cheadle) Nominated
2014 People's Choice Awards Favorite Movie Actor Nominated [128]
Favorite Movie Duo (with Gwyneth Paltrow) Nominated
Favorite Action Movie Star Won
Critics' Choice Awards Best Actor in an Action Movie Nominated [129]
Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Male Buttkicker Won [130]
Favorite Movie Actor Nominated
MTV Movie Awards Best Hero Nominated [131]
Saturn Awards Best Actor Won [102]
2015 Avengers: Age of Ultron Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Nominated [132]
2016 People's Choice Awards Favorite Movie Actor Nominated [133]
Favorite Action Movie Actor Nominated
Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Movie Actor Nominated [134]
MTV Movie Awards Best Fight (with Mark Ruffalo) Nominated [135]
Captain America: Civil War Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Nominated [136]
Choice Movie: Chemistry (with cast) Nominated [137]
2017 People's Choice Awards Favorite Movie Actor Nominated [138]
Favorite Action Movie Actor Won
Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Movie Actor Nominated [139]
Favorite Frenemies (with Chris Evans) Nominated
#Squad (with cast) Nominated
2018 Avengers: Infinity War Teen Choice Awards Choice Action Movie Actor Won [140]
People's Choice Awards Male Movie Star of 2018 Nominated [141]
2019 Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Superhero Won [142]
Avengers: Endgame MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Hero Won [143]
Teen Choice Awards Choice Action Movie Actor Won [144]
Saturn Awards Best Actor Won [103]
People's Choice Awards Male Movie Star of 2019 Won [145]
Action Movie Star of 2019 Nominated

See also

Notes

  1. ^ As depicted in Captain America: Civil War (2016)
  2. ^ As depicted in Iron Man 3 (2013)

References

  1. ^ Claverie, Aaron (May 3, 2010). "Temecula: 6-year-old plays young Tony Stark in 'Iron Man 2'". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  2. ^ Travis, Ben (August 10, 2021). "What If...? Review". Empire. Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  3. ^ Abad-Santos, Alex (June 27, 2019). "Spider-Man: Far From Home starts slow. Then it swings for the stars". Vox. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  4. ^ Lubin, Gus (May 28, 2015). "Tony Stark's evolution is the defining arc of the Marvel Cinematic Universe". Business Insider. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  5. ^ O'Sullivan, Mike (2017). Marvel Cinematic Universe Guidebook: The Avengers Initiative. Ohotmu Team. p. 6.
  6. ^ "Tony Stark '84". Andover | An independent and inclusive coed boarding high school. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  7. ^ "What If... the World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?". What If...?. Season 1. Episode 3. August 25, 2021. Disney+.
  8. ^ "What If... Zombies?!". What If...?. Season 1. Episode 5. September 8, 2021. Disney+.
  9. ^ "What If... Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?". What If...?. Season 1. Episode 6. September 15, 2021. Disney+.
  10. ^ "What If... Ultron Won?". What If...?. Season 1. Episode 8. September 29, 2021. Disney+.
  11. ^ "What If... Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?". What If...?. Season 2. Episode 3. December 24, 2023. Disney+.
  12. ^ "What If... Iron Man Crashed into the Grandmaster?". What If...?. Season 2. Episode 4. December 25, 2023. Disney+.
  13. ^ Miller, Greg (May 6, 2008). "Iron Man Review". IGN. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  14. ^ Miller, Greg (May 6, 2010). "Iron Man 2 Review (Xbox 360)". IGN. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  15. ^ "'Iron Man 3': Official game soars to App Store". USA Today. May 2, 2013. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  16. ^ DeFalco, Tom (2008). "1960s". In Gilbert, Laura (ed.). Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History. London, United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. p. 91. ISBN 978-0756641238.
  17. ^ Lee, Stan; Mair, George (2002). Excelsior!: The Amazing Life of Stan Lee. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 160. ISBN 978-0684873053.
  18. ^ "Mask of the Iron Man". Game Informer. No. 177. January 2008. p. 81.
  19. ^ Lee, Stan (December 1997). "Stan's Soapbox". Bullpen Bulletins. Marvel Comics.
  20. ^ Peel, John (March–April 1985). "A Signing Session with Don Heck". Comics Feature. No. 34. p. 18.
  21. ^ Russo, Tom (April 25, 2012). "Super Groups". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on April 3, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  22. ^ a b Bowles, Scott (April 27, 2007). "First look: Downey forges a bond with 'Iron Man' role". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  23. ^ Allsletter, Rob (March 3, 2008). "Iron Man's Jon Favreau". Comics Continuum. Archived from the original on March 8, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
  24. ^ Svetkey, Benjamin (May 13, 2016). "'Lethal Weapon' Wunderkind (and Former Party Boy) Shane Black Is Back ... and Still Looking for Action". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 14, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  25. ^ Moriarty (September 29, 2006). "AICN Exclusive!! Iron Man Has Found Its Tony Stark!!". Ain't It Cool News. Archived from the original on October 20, 2006. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  26. ^ a b Fure, Robert (August 4, 2008). "Robert Downey Jr. Talks Iron Man 2, The Dark Knight and Colin Farrell". Film School Rejects. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  27. ^ "Downey Jr., Favreau & Cheadle Suit Up for The Avengers!". Superhero Hype (Press release). October 28, 2008. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2010.
  28. ^ a b Boucher, Geoff (August 18, 2011). "'Iron Man 3' and Robert Downey Jr. start Shane Black era". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 20, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
  29. ^ a b c d "Robert Downey Jr. To Return As Marvel's Iron Man". Marvel.com. June 20, 2013. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved June 20, 2013.
  30. ^ a b c Graser, Marc (October 13, 2014). "Robert Downey Jr. to Join 'Captain America 3' (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  31. ^ a b c Kit, Borys (April 21, 2016). "Robert Downey Jr. Joins 'Spider-Man: Homecoming'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 21, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  32. ^ Douglas, Edward (May 2, 2008). "Robert Downey Jr. is Iron Man!". Superhero Hype. Archived from the original on January 17, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  33. ^ Dumaraog, Ana (July 13, 2019). "Every Iron Man Tribute Hidden In Spider-Man: Far From Home". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on July 14, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  34. ^ White, Cindy (August 29, 2011). "First Impression: Thor 3D Blu-ray Special Features". IGN. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  35. ^ "Loki Pays Homage to the MCU's First Film". Comic Book Resources. June 16, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  36. ^ Boucher, Geoff (September 13, 2019). "Saturn Awards: 'Spider-Man' Star Tom Holland Wins For Third Year In A Row". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 14, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  37. ^ a b Towers, Andrea (July 15, 2021). "'Black Widow' writer confirms there was a Robert Downey Jr. cameo in earlier script". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 15, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  38. ^ Shepherd, Jack (July 9, 2021). "Black Widow director reveals why a rumored cameo does not show up". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  39. ^ Evangelista, Chris (December 11, 2020). "'What If...?' Trailer Breakdown: A Journey Through Vast New Realities of the Marvel Universe". /Film. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  40. ^ Ferme, Antonio (July 8, 2021). "Marvel's 'What If?' Series Coming to Disney Plus in August, Drops New Trailer". Variety. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  41. ^ Boucher, Geoff (July 19, 2018). "'Iron Man' At 10: How One Film Set A Dominant Path For Marvel, Kevin Feige, Robert Downey Jr. & Jon Favreau". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  42. ^ Ambrose, Tom (July 26, 2007). "The Man in the Iron Mask". Empire: 69.
  43. ^ Hewitt, Chris (April 2008). "Super Fly Guy". Empire: 66–72.
  44. ^ Carroll, Larry (March 18, 2008). "'Iron Man' Star Robert Downey Jr. Talks About 'Incredible Hulk' Cameo, Controversial 'Tropic Thunder' Pics". MTV. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  45. ^ Shapiro, Marc (April 2008). "Pumping Iron". Starlog. pp. 47–50.
  46. ^ "Robert Downey Jr. Improvised the Original 'Iron Man' Twist Ending". IndieWire. July 20, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  47. ^ "Robert Downey Jr. Changed The MCU With An Improvised Line". Screen Rant. January 2, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  48. ^ Fabiano, Jennifer (January 28, 2019). "Robert Downey Jr. Improvised One of Iron Man's Most Memorable Lines". Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  49. ^ Aubrey, Elizabeth (July 24, 2018). "Robert Downey Jr. improvised Iron Man's most iconic line". NME. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  50. ^ Hern, Alex (February 9, 2018). "Elon Musk: the real-life Iron Man". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  51. ^ "Elon Musk: Did you know he was the inspiration for Tony Stark's character? Here are facts of the billionaire". Pinkvilla. May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  52. ^ Rowlatt, Justin (January 7, 2021). "Elon Musk's six secrets to business success". BBC News. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  53. ^ Weintraub, Steve (July 28, 2009). "Robert Downey Jr. Comic-Con Interview Iron Man 2". Collider. Archived from the original on January 7, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
  54. ^ Breznican, Anthony (September 29, 2011). "'Avengers': Thor, Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America — Exclusive Pics". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 21, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  55. ^ Adamek, Pauline (January–February 2012). "Avengers Assemble!". Filmink. FKP International Exports: 70–75.
  56. ^ Lavradio, Salvador (April 16, 2019). "10 Most Important Scenes For Iron Man's MCU Journey". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on April 17, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  57. ^ "Iron Man (Tony Stark) On Screen Powers, Enemies, History". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  58. ^ Radish, Christina (July 15, 2012). "Comic-Con: Robert Downey Jr., Don Cheadle, Shane Black and Kevin Feige Talk 'Iron Man 3', How 'The Avengers' Impacts the Film, Iron Patriot and More". Collider. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  59. ^ Harding, Oscar (May 30, 2013). "Iron Man 3 Exclusive Interview: Screenwriter Drew Pearce Talks The Mandarin Controversy, Mission Impossible 5, Sherlock Holmes 3 & More!". WhatCulture. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  60. ^ Wigler, Josh (September 6, 2013). "'Avengers: Age Of Ultron' And Iron Man: New Movie, Same Tony". MTV. Archived from the original on May 8, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  61. ^ Tilly, Chris (July 16, 2014). "Marvel's Kevin Feige Discusses Avengers Tower And Hulkbuster Armour In Age Of Ultron". IGN. Archived from the original on July 17, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
  62. ^ Dibdin, Emma (January 31, 2015). "25 things we learned on the set of Avengers: Age of Ultron". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2015.
  63. ^ Keyes, Rob (October 28, 2014). "'Avengers 2' Set Interview: Robert Downey Jr. Talks Ultron & Vision". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  64. ^ Kroll, Justin (August 27, 2015). "'Captain America: Civil War' Concept Art Shows Where Each Avenger's Loyalties Lie". Variety. Archived from the original on June 1, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2015.
  65. ^ Davis, Erik (March 7, 2016). "'Captain America: Civil War' Set Visit: "This Is the 'Godfather' of Superhero Movies"". Fandango. Archived from the original on August 21, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  66. ^ Hewitt, Chris (November 25, 2015). "Captain America: Civil War trailer breakdown". Empire. Archived from the original on November 26, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  67. ^ Burlingame, Russ (October 3, 2015). "Robert Downey Jr.'s Fight Coordinator Eric Oram On The Unique Challenges of Captain America: Civil War". ComicBook. Archived from the original on August 31, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  68. ^ Sciretta, Peter (April 3, 2017). "'Spider-Man: Homecoming' Set Visit: Everything We Learned". /Film. p. 2. Archived from the original on April 3, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  69. ^ Jayson, Jay (July 11, 2016). "Tom Rothman On Why Tom Holland's Spider-Man Is The Best Incarnation". ComicBook. Archived from the original on July 13, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  70. ^ Davis, Erik (March 28, 2017). "Exclusive Interview: 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' Director Jon Watts On Easter Eggs, Iron Man, John Hughes And More". Fandango. Archived from the original on March 28, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  71. ^ McKittrick, Christopher (July 7, 2017). "No Cookie-Cutter One-Liners – Spider-Man: Homecoming". Creative Screenwriting. Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  72. ^ Keyes, Rob (March 1, 2013). "Shane Black Teases Robert Downey Jr.'s Return For 'Iron Man 4 & 5'". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on October 11, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  73. ^ Nicholson, Amy (March 6, 2013). "Robert Downey Jr. Likely Returning for Avengers 2; Likes Being 'Company Man'". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on October 7, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  74. ^ Breznican, Anthony (July 23, 2014). "Robert Downey Jr. optimistic on 'Iron Man 4'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
  75. ^ Melrose, Kevin (April 27, 2016). "Robert Downey Jr. Hints at "Iron Man 4": "I Could Do One More"". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on October 30, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  76. ^ Gonzalez, Carlos Rosario (June 24, 2018). "8 Actors Leaving The MCU (And 12 That Still Have Contracts)". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  77. ^ a b Dworken, Arye (April 23, 2018). "A Serious Critique of the MCU's Street Style". New York. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  78. ^ a b Buchanan, Kyle (May 5, 2016). "What Do Superheroes Wear In Off-Hours? Captain America: Civil War's Costume Designer Explains". New York. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  79. ^ Karner, Jen (April 26, 2019). "5 Simple cosplays you can put together to watch Avengers: Endgame". TechnoBuffalo. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  80. ^ a b "Iron Man Production Notes". SciFi Japan. April 30, 2008. Archived from the original on May 1, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  81. ^ "Who Designed the Iron Man Suit?". Superhero Hype. May 6, 2007. Archived from the original on April 15, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  82. ^ Rotten, Ryan (April 1, 2008). "Iron Man: The Set Visit - Jon Favreau". Superhero Hype. Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2008.
  83. ^ Robertson, Barbara (February 21, 2011). "ILM VFX Supervisor Ben Snow on Iron Man 2". Studio Daily. Archived from the original on June 6, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
  84. ^ Desowitz, Bill (May 4, 2012). "Getting Animated Over The Avengers". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on December 11, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  85. ^ Failes, Ian (May 6, 2013). "'Iron Man 3': more suits to play with". Fxguide. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  86. ^ a b c Erao, Matthew (January 6, 2017). "The Avengers: How 15 Movie Heroes Compare To The Comics". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on January 14, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  87. ^ a b Howard, James (August 31, 2014). "Iron Man in Comic vs Movies". Comics Beat. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  88. ^ a b c Browne, Ben (January 18, 2017). "Iron Man: 15 Worst Changes From The Comic Books To The Movies". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on January 14, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  89. ^ McMillan, Graeme (July 6, 2017). "Spider-Man: Homecoming: Where Did Spidey and Iron Man's Bromance Come From? Not the Comics". Wired. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  90. ^ Casteele, John (April 6, 2017). "Is Spider-Man: Homecoming's Vulture Really an Iron Man Villain?". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  91. ^ Keaney, Quinn (July 8, 2019). "Spider-Man: How Does Jake Gyllenhaal's Mysterio Stack Up to the Comics? Let's Compare". PopSugar. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  92. ^ Sullivan, Kevin (May 2, 2013). "Does 'Iron Man 3' Stay True To The Comic Books?". MTV. Archived from the original on January 13, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  93. ^ Keyes, Rob (February 27, 2014). "Drew Pearce Talks 'All Hail The King', Runaways, The Real Mandarin & Marvel Future". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  94. ^ Lee, Chris (July 21, 2019). "Marvel Phase 4: Everything We Know About the Future of the MCU". Vulture. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2019.
  95. ^ Ebert, Roger (December 5, 2008). "Iron Man movie review & film summary". Archived from the original on April 17, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2008.
  96. ^ Lovece, Frank (May 6, 2010). "Film Review: Iron Man 2". Film Journal International. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  97. ^ Morgenstern, Joe (May 4, 2012). "'Avengers': Multiple Marvels, Diminished Fun". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  98. ^ Morgenstern, Joe (April 25, 2019). "'Avengers: Endgame' Review: A Marvelous Wrap". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  99. ^ "The 100 Greatest Movie Characters". Empire. July 31, 2019. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  100. ^ Weiss, Josh (September 6, 2019). "Italy erects Iron Man statue to honor Tony Stark's noble death in Avengers: Endgame". Syfy. Archived from the original on September 11, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  101. ^ a b Sciretta, Peter (June 25, 2009). "2009 Saturn Awards Winners". /Film. Archived from the original on November 14, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  102. ^ a b Cohen, David S. (June 27, 2014). "Saturn Awards: A Genre Reunion and More Gold for 'Gravity'". Variety. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  103. ^ a b Anderton, Ethan (September 14, 2019). "2019 Saturn Awards Winners: 'Avengers: Endgame' Dominates with Six Total Awards". /Film. Archived from the original on September 21, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  104. ^ "20th Saturn Awards". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 17, 2006. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  105. ^ "8th Saturn Awards". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 16, 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  106. ^ "11th Saturn Awards". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 16, 2007. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  107. ^ Hammond, Pete (June 27, 2018). "'Black Panther' Tops 44th Saturn Awards With Five; 'Blade Runner 2049', 'Shape Of Water', 'Get Out' Also Score". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
  108. ^ "2008 Teen Choice Awards winners and nominees". Los Angeles Times. June 17, 2008. Archived from the original on September 12, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  109. ^ Seijas, Casey (September 15, 2008). "Comics Take Over '2008 Scream Awards' as Nominees Announced". MTV. Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  110. ^ Sciretta, Peter (October 20, 2008). "2008 Scream Award Winners". /Film. Archived from the original on May 15, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  111. ^ "Nominees Announced for the 2009 People's Choice Awards". Chicago Tribune. November 10, 2008. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  112. ^ Reynolds, Simon (March 2, 2009). "'Sweeney Todd' leads Empire noms". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on October 29, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  113. ^ "MTV's 2009 Movie Award Nominations Are Packed with Comic Book Nods -- Vote Now!". MTV. May 4, 2009. Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  114. ^ Soll, Lindsay (June 14, 2010). "Teen Choice Awards 2010: First Round of Nominees Announced". MTV. Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  115. ^ "Teen Choice Awards 2010: Second (Giant) Wave of Nominees Announced". MTV. June 28, 2010. Archived from the original on January 21, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  116. ^ Miller, Ross (September 1, 2010). "2010 Scream Award Nominations". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on December 27, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  117. ^ Castillo, Michelle (October 21, 2010). "And Your 2010 Scream Awards Winners Are..." Time. Archived from the original on January 29, 2011. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  118. ^ "Nominees Announced for People's Choice Awards 2011". P&G. November 9, 2010. Archived from the original on October 29, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  119. ^ "2011 MTV Movie Awards: The Full Nomination List". MTV. May 3, 2011. Archived from the original on January 6, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  120. ^ Bettinger, Brendan (February 23, 2011). "Inception, Let Me In, Tron, and The Walkind Dead Top the 2011 Saturn Award Nominations". Collider. Archived from the original on October 11, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  121. ^ Chung, Gabrielle (July 22, 2012). "Teen Choice Awards 2012: Nominees and Winners (Complete List)". Celebuzz. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  122. ^ "People's Choice Awards 2013: The Complete Winners List". MTV. January 9, 2013. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  123. ^ Hammond, Pete (December 11, 2012). "'Lincoln', 'Les Miserables', 'Silver Linings' Top List Of Nominees For 18th Annual Critics Choice Movie Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  124. ^ "Nickelodeon Unveils 2013 Kids' Choice Awards Nominees" (Press release). PR Newswire. February 13, 2013. Archived from the original on February 20, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  125. ^ O'Hara, Helen (March 1, 2013). "Jameson Empire Awards 2013 Are Go!". Empire. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  126. ^ Ellwood, Gregory (April 14, 2013). "2013 MTV Movie Awards winners and nominees – complete list". Uproxx. Archived from the original on March 18, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  127. ^ Brandt, Jaclyn (August 11, 2013). "2013 Teen Choice Awards: The complete list of winners". SheKnows. Archived from the original on August 14, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  128. ^ "People's Choice Awards 2014: The winners list". CNN. January 9, 2014. Archived from the original on January 12, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  129. ^ Gray, Tim (December 16, 2013). "Critics Choice Awards: '12 Years,' 'American Hustle' Earn 13 Nominations Each". Variety. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  130. ^ Couch, Aaron; Washington, Arlene (March 29, 2014). "Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards: The Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 1, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  131. ^ "2014 MTV Movie Awards: Full Nominations List". MTV. March 6, 2014. Archived from the original on June 19, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  132. ^ "Teen Choice Awards 2015 Winners: Full List". Variety. August 16, 2015. Archived from the original on October 26, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  133. ^ "People's Choice Awards 2016: See the Full List of Winners Here". Billboard. January 6, 2016. Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  134. ^ Grant, Stacey (February 2, 2016). "Here Are The Nominees For The 2016 Kids' Choice Awards". MTV. Archived from the original on February 4, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
  135. ^ Khatchatourian, Maane (March 8, 2016). "MTV Movie Awards 2016: Complete List of Nominees". Variety. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  136. ^ Vulpo, Mike (May 24, 2016). "Teen Choice Awards 2016 Nominations Announced: See the "First Wave" of Potential Winners". E!. Archived from the original on May 26, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  137. ^ Eliahou, Maya (June 9, 2016). "Teen Choice Awards 2016--Captain America: Civil War Leads Second Wave of Nominations". E!. Archived from the original on June 12, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  138. ^ Chestang, Raphael (January 18, 2017). "People's Choice Awards 2017: The Complete Winners List". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on January 19, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  139. ^ Vulpo, Mike (March 11, 2017). "Kids' Choice Awards 2017 Winners: The Complete List". E!. Archived from the original on June 25, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  140. ^ "Teen Choice Awards: Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. August 12, 2018. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  141. ^ "People's Choice Awards: Complete List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. November 11, 2018. Archived from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  142. ^ Howard, Annie (February 26, 2019). "Kids' Choice Awards: 'Avengers: Infinity War' Tops Nominees; DJ Khaled to Host". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 27, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  143. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (June 17, 2019). "MTV Movie & TV Awards: Avengers: Endgame, Game of Thrones Among Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 18, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  144. ^ Clarendon, Dan (August 11, 2019). "Teen Choice Awards 2019: Complete List of Winners and Nominees". Us Weekly. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  145. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly; Howard, Annie (November 10, 2019). "People's Choice Awards: 'Avengers: Endgame' Named Best Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 11, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tony_Stark_(Marvel_Cinematic_Universe)&oldid=1265369363"