Robert Downey Jr as Ironman!

Just like the comic book character Tony Stark, Robert Downey Jr. has faced some serious internal struggles and demons in his life. I hope he is over them and can really make the comic fandom proud of his portrayal in the upcoming Iron Man movie. And its directed by Jon Favreau, who will certainly lend the film its needed grit.

And according to the story, he is kidnapped and forced to build a weapon, just like his original storyline when the hero was introduced in Marvel. Back then, it was the Viet Cong. Who will it be now? Muslim extremists? I hope Marvel has the balls to make it so.

From Reuters here:

Robert Downey, Jr. is suiting up to star in “Iron Man,” a superhero movie based on the Marvel Comics character.

Jon Favreau is directing the Paramount Pictures release. Filming is slated to begin in February in Los Angeles.

Downey will portray Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Using his intelligence and ingenuity, Stark instead builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. Upon his return to the U.S., he uncovers a plot with global implications and must don his armor and protect the world.

“The Marvel characters are not just about how high they jump or how fast they fly, they’re about their character flaws,” Feige said. “They’re about their inner demons. They’re about the struggles that they go through between being a man and being a hero.”

Downey, who has battled his fair share of inner demons, worked hard to get the role, getting in shape and even growing a goatee like the one Stark sports in the comic books.

“The point is, we looked at everybody, and we found the best person for the role. It’s as confident a casting move as we’ve ever done. The proof will be in the pudding, but he is Tony Stark.”