Robert Downey Jr. was paid a whopping $50 million to appear as Iron Man Tony Stark in last years summer blockbuster The Avengers, according to a recent interview with GQ.
Isnt that crazy? Downey Jr. said. Theyre so pissed. I cant believe it. Im whats known as a strategic cost.'
Iron Man 3 Trailer Offers Dark Peek at New Film
The actor wasnt even supposed to have gotten the role in the first place when Marvel initially announced the firstIron Man film: according to the films director, Jon Favreau, the studio had said Under no circumstances are we prepared to hire him for any price. But Downeys persistence won him a screen test and ultimately the role. The third installment of the series is set to open on May 3rd.
Downey also spoke rather bluntly about his place in the upper echelon of actors in his generation, saying he does not doubt hell pick up an Academy Award at some point in his career.
Because Im young enough, and Im running down being occupied with these kind of genre movies, close enough, he said. Even the next thing were doing with [wife, Susan Downey], Im so confident about it. Its the best script the studio has; its the best thing Ive read in years
Downey who has been nominated twice for an Oscar, first in 1993 for Chaplinthen in 2009 for Tropic Thunder later backpedalled a bit, saying he didnt care if he won, but pointed out: Look, even if I dont get one directly, eventually theyre just going to have to give me one when I get old. So no matter how you slice it, Im getting one.