Throwback to when Robert Downey Jr. was the highest paid Marvel actor. But he didn’t like that his co-stars were underpaid.
Robert Downey Jr. and the Marvel Cinematic Universe go hand in hand. Downey Jr.’s career was revitalised by his role as Iron Man, and his interpretation of the character provided the MCU the boost and likeability it sorely needed when it first began. Tony Stark’s death in the MCU had a significant effect on fans since over time he developed become the studio’s face. The journey wasn’t without its bumps, though. Due to compensation discrepancy, Marvel may have lost him and several other performers. But RDJ came to the rescue in classic Iron Man fashion.
Fans of the MCU are aware that Robert Downey Jr.’s pay was much more than that of his other cast members. Don’t worry if you think it’s unfair; the Sherlock Holmes actor shared your opinion. And he made every effort to fix the problem.
A shocking article concerning Marvel’s salary inequality was published by Deadline in 2013. According to the source, Robert Downey Jr. earned a healthy $50 million, but the rest of the MCU cast barely made it to $200,000. That’s not all, though.
According to some claims, MCU executives even threatened some performers with legal consequences or an abrupt ejection from the franchise if they didn’t adhere to their standards. Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, and Chris Evans were among the affected actors. Be aware that if Robert Downey Jr. hadn’t been there, Marvel Studios would have also gotten away with it.
The actor defended his co-stars so vehemently that Marvel was nearly compelled to raise the pay of his cast members. One journalist stated:
“He’s the only guy with real power in this situation. and b*lls 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 sh*t.”
Another said: “I have four words for Marvel – ‘F–k you, call Robert.’”
His warnings were heeded, and the performers received significant salary raises. One of the reasons Robert Downey Jr. is so well-liked by his fan base is his unselfish activity for the benefit of his co-stars, whom he refers to as friends. Regular MCU watchers continue to ask Kevin Feige and the studio to bring him back up to this day. Due to his difficult history, casting Robert Downey Jr. was initially a hazardous move for the company, but he exceeded everyone’s expectations and rose to fame.