Robert Downey Jr. Fought For MCU Co-Star Pay

Also, because Downey was the star of Jon Favreau’s 2008 film “Iron Man,” the film that kicked off the MCU in earnest, he was seen as the “original member.” It was his character that had audience’s imaginations inflamed with the possibility of an “Avengers” team-up film. When Disney purchased Marvel in 2009, plans for multiple “Avengers” movies were planned in earnest, and Downey was to lead the charge in all the crossovers. As such, he was in a much more secure position to dictate terms … much to Disney’s consternation. Downey called himself a “strategic cost” for the studio, adding that Disney was “pissed” at his $50 million payout for certain movies.

As the leader of the Avengers both on and off-screen, Downey knew that he could walk out on the series — or renegotiate his own contract — if the studio threatened to cut or underpay one of his co-stars. As an anonymous source noted:

“[Downey is] the only guy with real power in this situation. And balls of steel, too. He’s already sent a message that he’s not going to work for a place where they treat his colleagues like s***.”

Another source, also anonymous, said that there was an unspoken, and rather succinct, rule to follow during an actor salary dispute: “I have four words for Marvel — ‘F*** you, call Robert.'” It’s unlikely that Downey sat in the room when other actors were signing their contracts, of course, but that any one of the cast members could — at any moment — go over the studio’s head and ask Downey for some moral support was likely threatening. 

The MCU’s future, as of 2024, is decidedly hazy. But, golly, think of all the money it’s already made.