How Much Did Marvel Pay Robert Downey Jr. To Shill For Ironheart?

It looks as if part of Robert Downey’s mammoth $100 million Marvel deal to return to the MCU in a desperate attempt to save the franchise includes promoting Ironheart.

For the second time, the former Iron Man – who gets replaced by Riri Williams in the comics – promotes the upcoming Ironheart series coming to Disney+ next week.

You can’t tell me Robert Downey Jr. is doing it for free (seriously).

Robert Downey Jr. “Surprises” Ironheart Cast on Good Morning America

The cast of Ironheart, Domique Thorne and Anthony Ramos, appeared on Good Morning America to promote the series. As if they all didn’t know, they were “surprised” when Robert Downey Jr. appeared and had a video message from the set of Avengers: Doomsday.

Downey Jr. cracks a joke about Ramos’ character replacing him as Doctor Doom. Ramos plays The Hood, so the villain of the series is “The Hood” (is that the joke?). Downey also tells Thorne that he “couldn’t be happier” to see her “bring Riri Williams to life” and forms a heart with his fingers and says, “Long story short, Iron Man loves Ironheart.”

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Ironheart is economically repressed

Last month, Thorne also revealed that Downey approves of her series, as she told Empire, “Robert Downey Jr and I spoke just after we wrapped, and he shared some very lovely words about my journey. He told me how excited he was and that he’s rooting for it, too. I literally got two thumbs up. It’s really reassuring to know you’re not embarrassing Iron Man.” 

She added how economically repressed her character is compared to Tony Stark, “She’s dumpster-diving, whereas Tony Stark [was] this bajillionaire. What she’s able to accomplish is remarkable.”

Gangsters turned activists

With the reveal of the MCU’s first drag queen, Shea Couleé confirmed the plot is about gangsters turned activists in Chicago, which is what Ramos previously said.

“I help a group of urban Robin Hoods to take away from the privileged and help give back to the community,” Shea said. “I’m there to help out on all the missions that go down, trying to shift this power dynamic in this version of Chicago we see in the show.”

Marvel desperate for a hit following string of failures

Marvel also used both Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio to shill for Ironheart, and of course, Ryan Coogler previously sold out as well, who executive produces.

Ironheart premieres on Disney+ on June 24 with its first three episodes in another desperate attempt to get a Marvel series on the Nielsen rating charts, just like Disney did with Andor.