I Am Iron ManLists about Marvel's billionaire businessman, playboy, and scientist who wears a homemade powered exoskeleton to fight evildoers and protect the universe.
Updated February 8, 2021 17.9K votes 3.0K voters 159.1K views
Over 3.0K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Robert Downey Jr. Ad Libs In MCU Movies
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Vote up your favorite improvised Iron Man lines!
Robert Downey Jr. is basically the embodiment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There may be no line which more perfectly set the tone for what the Marvel Cinematic Universe would grow to become than Tony Stark announcing to the world in 2008, "I am Iron Man." That original line, amongst many others, was improvised by Downey on the spot.
Downey was practically given free rein to explore Stark's dialogue in each film, and many of the improvised lines ended up being some of the most memorable. Take a look below and vote up the best improvised Iron Man quotes!
The Last Line In 'Iron Man' Set The Course For The MCU
In the script for Iron Man, SHIELD develops the coverup that the guy in the suit is Tony Stark's bodyguard. This is true in the original Iron Man comics, but Downey, being the real-life Stark, decided to switch things up. The MCU was forever defined by Stark declaring, "I am Iron Man." Marvel President Kevin Feige told IndieWire:
If you're changing something for no reason, that’s one thing, but if you're changing something because you want to double-down on the spirit of who the character is? That's a change we'll make. Tony Stark not reading off the card and not sticking with the fixed story? Him just blurting out 'I am Iron Man'? That seems very much in keeping with who that character is.
He Added The 'Hug' Line In 'Spider-Man: Homecoming'
In an interview for The Lost City of Z, Tom Holland spoke about the scene between Peter and Tony in the beginning of Spider-Man: Homecoming. Apparently, most of this scene was improvised. When asked, Tom said:
I think I just tried to hug him. I just thought it would be funny if I hugged him, and Robert's instincts are so good, he was like, 'Oh, I'm not trying to hug you I'm just going to get the door.
One Of The Most Memorable Lines From 'Endgame' Was Inspired By His Kids
"I love you 3000," was one of the best lines of dialogue to come out of Avengers: Endgame. The layers of emotional depth behind it, following the events and fallout of Endgame, really left a mark on audiences. To make things even more emotional, the screenwriters drew the inspiration directly from Downey's relationship with his own kids. When asked about the line, screenwriter Stephen McFeely told Insider:
The line went, 'I love you tons. I love you tons. And so, he says, 'I love you tons,' but his children say to him, 'I love you, 3,000.'
Tom Holland Forgot His Cue To Move In 'Civil War,' So RDJ Reminded Him In Character
In Captain America: Civil War, audiences got a peek at Tom Holland's Spider-Man before Homecoming was released. When Tony speaks to Peter in his bedroom, Tom forgets his cue to move. Hence Tony's line, “I'm gonna sit here, so you move the leg.” A fan on Reddit commented:
This is pointed out by the directors in the audio commentary as a perfect example of what makes Downey such a fantastic actor.
He Ran With Joss Whedon's 'Shakespeare In The Park' Suggestion In 'Avengers'
When Iron Man and Thor meet up for a wild run-in in the first Avengers, Tony quips that he's there for "Shakespeare in the Park." He then asks the god of thunder quite confidently, “Doth mother know you weareth her drapes?” Director Joss Whedon revealed in the DVD commentary that he suggested the first bit earlier in the day, and the follow-up was all Robert. Whedon's also gone on to say:
There’s a reason Tony Stark makes fun of Thor, and mentions 'Shakespeare in the Park' in The Avengers. It’s great to play high drama and comedy alongside a modern story.
Downey's Snacking Habits Made For An Ad-Lib In 'The Avengers'
Since the first Avengers, it's been widely noted that Robert Downey Jr. likes to snack on set. And since he's the real-life Tony Stark, he would typically keep whatever snack with him while the cameras were rolling. When Tony offers Cap a blueberry in The Avengers, it's Downey through and through. GamesRadar tweeted:
Fun fact: Tony Stark offering around blueberries in this scene was improvised. Robert Downey Jr just decided he didn’t fancy putting his snack down. Legend.
