Feige on Downey Jr. and the MCU’s early unification

Kevin Feige, the producer and president of Marvel Studios, has often highlighted the pivotal role of actor Robert Downey Jr. in shaping what would become the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In a special YouTube feature marking the 15th anniversary of the first Iron Man film, Feige reflected on Downey Jr. as more than a star in the cast. He described Downey Jr. as a driving force behind Marvel’s shared creative universe, emphasizing that the project would not have reached the same scale without his collaboration, energy, and vision. Feige recounted how the actor helped unite the different elements of the production, turning a standalone origin story into the seed that grew into a sprawling cinematic landscape. According to Feige, Downey Jr. brought a depth and momentum to the character that drew in other performers and creative voices, solidifying the transition from a single movie to a connected series of stories across multiple films.