From the moment I heard that Robert Downey Jr. was cast in the original IRON MAN, I thought “Perfect!“. First, I’m a huge fan of damn near every film he’s ever been in and I’m of the opinion that even if a particular movie wasn’t necessarily ‘amazing’, RDJ’s acting and character usually brings a certain something to it.

As a comic book enthusiast Geek, Robert Downey Jr.‘s ability to be debonair and a master of witty sarcasm, to me was a perfect fit for Tony Stark. Thankfully, director Jon Favreau made the right choice but, prior to casting Robert Downey Jr. in the role, he had another actor in mind. The director recently divulged to the LA Times that he once had Sam Rockwell on the shortlist to play Tony Stark.

Favreau explained,

“He was one of the actors I was looking at for Tony Stark, There was some things he would bring to the role that would have been great. Sam is very charismatic and when I was looking at the character there was a list and he had a spot on it, which might have surprised some people. Robert surprised some people, too, though, and now he is Tony Stark, he owns that role. Sam would have come up with interesting and different things.”

As you know, in IRON MAN 2, Sam Rockwell portrays Justin Hammer. Hammer is an envious Stark rival who is frustrated in his attempts to match the more celebrated industrialist’s fame and power. Hammer then has an opportunity to bring Stark down by helping a mystery man with a vendetta, Ivan Vanko, portrayed by Mickey Rourke.

Iron Man 2 hits theaters on May 7th