Robert Downey Jr. On Elon Musk 'Cosplaying Tony Stark': Wishes Billionaire Would 'Control His Behavior'

Benzinga · 10/25 20:57

Billionaire Elon Musk partially inspired the on-screen portrayal of Tony Stark by actor Robert Downey Jr. The SpaceX founder was even featured in a cameo role in the 2010 film "Iron Man 2."

But Downey Jr. had some choice words to say about Musk in a recent interview.

“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," Downey Jr. said of Musk on a recent episode of the "On with Kara Swisher" podcast, as reported by Variety.

The response came from Kara Swisher asking about Musk "cosplaying Tony Stark" in real life.

"I know that this idea of ‘it's all okay ‘cause we've gotta 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," Downey Jr. added.

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In 2022, "Iron Man" screenwriter Mark Fergus said the movie version of Tony Stark was a mixture of Musk, Steve Jobs and Donald Trump.

Fergus said it was as if "Musk took the brilliance of Jobs with the showmanship of Trump."

"He was the only one who had the fun factor and the celebrity vibe and actual business substance," Fergus said.

Downey Jr. played Tony Stark/Iron Man in multiple Marvel movies for The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS).

Downey Jr. will return to Marvel and play the villain Doctor Doom in at least two movies. His appearances are set for the 2026 film "Avengers: Doomsday" and the 2027 film "Avengers: Secret Wars."

While Musk inspired Tony Stark, Downey Jr. could complete the circle and play the billionaire on screen. A biopic of Musk written by Walter Isaacson is being turned into a film by Darren Aronofsky. Variety previously listed Downey Jr. as one of the actors who could best play Musk.

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