Robert Downey Jr. Says Spider-Man Star Tobey Maguire Motivated Him to Join the MCU

Robert Downey Jr. has credited Tobey Maguire with motivating his decision to be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Speaking on The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, Downey, who shared the screen with Maguire in the 2000 dramedy Wonder Boys, said the Spider-Man star helped influence his decision to play Iron Man as he got some insight from him about what it's like to play a superhero.

"In real-time, I saw how difficult they were, how rewarding they could be, and how popular [comic book films] were becoming," Downey explained, adding, "I had been clean long enough... hungry even longer, and I could feel [the] obsession coming back with manifesting the best version of myself. I had strangely been furiously strength training six times a week before I even knew [this role] was coming, and my shrink had told me, 'Just start acting like something great is gonna happen and get ready for it.'"

Downey ended up playing Tony Stark/Iron Man in the MCU for eleven years, which he calls "some of the best work" of his career. He played a critical role in the success and expansion of the franchise and even attracted more big names to sign on in the early years, even though Marvel initially had reservations about casting him.

Rumors that Marvel Studios was considering bringing back Downey and actors from the original Avengers film for a new project started swirling last November. However, the Russo brothers asserted that they had "closed that book." Downey wasn't as definitive, as he expressed that he would "happily" return to the MCU in the future.

Downey made good on that statement as he was unveiled as Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom during the Marvel Studios panel at San Diego Comic-Con in July. He will play the iconic villain in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, both of which will be directed by the Russo brothers as part of the MCU's Phase 6.

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on X/Twitter here.