When it came time for a critical character moment in Captain America: Civil War, star Robert Downey Jr. had a specific actor in mind for a key role, and was met with some resistance. Alfre Woodard explains:
“Downey Jr. wanted me. When he was making the decision [that] Tony Stark [was] really going to lay down… for the government, he said it had to compel him from a deep level. So he asked me. Of course, they said, ‘No, can’t do it,’ and he said, ‘Got to do it,’ So I got to do it. And I love it. Oh, God, I love him.”
It’s yet another example of how Robert Downey Jr.’s impact as Tony Stark ran deep. Unwilling to compromise his vision for a critical role in an important scene is part of what made his stint as Iron Man so crucial to the massive success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Downey Jr. fighting for Woodard echoes director Jon Favreau’s fight for him during the casting of the first Iron Man film. It’s one of those Hollywood “sliding doors” moments where, had Favreau not succeeded in convincing the powers that be to take a risk with Downey Jr., the movie landscape as we know it today would be entirely different.
The Origins of Robert Downey Jr.’s Bond with Alfre Woodard
Robert Downey Jr. was a full-fledged member of the 1980s brat pack, but as the calendar turned to a new decade, his acting chops took him to a new level. Richard Attenborough’s Chaplin is the definitive biopic on the silent era’s biggest star, with Downey Jr. perfectly slipping into the role as one of the most beloved figures in media history — no small feat.
Downey was catapulted into a new tier of stardom with nominations, accolades, and an abundance of critical praise. What happened next was a mixed bag, but along the way, he and Alfre Woodard crossed paths. In her words:
We met at a really interesting point. We did ‘Heart and Souls’ in San Francisco, and he had just done ‘Chaplin’ before that. I think that brought him into a new recognition of himself as an artist, not just as an actor, but as an artist, a new sense of responsibility and all that. So we became close through a lot of conversations. You know, he’s a grown man, but I kind of became like ‘Auntie Alfre’ in a way. So we just remained close socially all the way through.
What is clear is that loyalty to those who stayed connected with him was worth a lot to Downey Jr. When his performance as Tony Stark changed his career, he repaid the loyalty in one sense by insisting that Woodard be cast. He also stayed true to his dedication to his craft. He knew full well that the character and scene had to carry the proper weight, and for him, it would have to be achieved by playing it opposite a mentor and friend.
It’s no wonder Downey Jr.’s time with Marvel was such a resounding success, and it’s a big reason why everyone is trying to replicate it next year with Avengers: Doomsday putting him on the other side of the hero/villain coin.
Avengers: Doomsday comes to theaters on December 18, 2026.
