Downey the New Depp?

Jon Favreau, the actor (Swingers, Daredevil) and increasingly successful director (Elf, Zathura and now the whopping Iron Man), had this to say about casting Robert Downey Jr. in the role of billionaire arms manufacturer Tony Stark, aka Marvel Comics' heavy metal superhero dude.

"Iron Man was always a very important figure in the Marvel universe, and to have Robert play him really brought dimension and character to the role. As a filmmaker, quite honestly, it relieved me because I knew that Robert would elevate the project, and his involvement ended up attracting a very, very good cast."

That would include, of course, Jeff Bridges, shorn of locks and sporting a beard, Terrence Howard, looking fit in Air Force officer's uniform and Gwyneth Paltrow, as Stark's girl Friday, the all-business Pepper Potts.

Favreau had only met Downey once at a premiere before they started the Iron Man discussions, but "I knew his body of work, of course." However, "it wasn’t until we sat down and I saw how good a shape he was in and how healthy he looked and how enthusiastic he was that I realized that he was entering into a phase of his life where it would be really wonderful to collaborate with him.

"He was really ready to play this guy, and I thought that he could bring a certain depth to the role and a level of interest, publically. The way I presented it to Marvel [Studios] was this could be like when they cast Johnny Depp in Pirates.”

So look out for Iron Man II. Favreau and Depp -- I mean, Downey -- are already plotting sequel scenarios.