Iron Man writer/director Jon Favreau has broken the news that he's found the man to play Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, in his upcoming adaptaion of the Marvel comic. That man: Robert Downey Jr. Playing a billionaire industrialist who helps protect the world inside a state-of-the-art suit of honor, Downey steps into a part once-rumored to interest Tom Cruise.
Downey may not seem like the most obvious choice to play a superhero, but those familiar with the character will pick up on similarities between past Downey roles and echoes of the actor's personal life. Stark's traditionally characterized as a brash charmer who listens to virtually no one and does occasional battle with substance abuse.
The part of Stark's faithful manservant Jarvis remains uncast as of this writing and there's probably little chance that Downey's Stark, unlike the comic book Stark, will spend his early adventures battling the Communist threat.