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RDJ Told Disney He Didn’t Want Avengers: Endgame Oscar Campaign
Robert Downey Jr. personally refused to be included in Marvel Studios' "For Your Consideration" campaign for this year's Oscars with Avengers: Endgame. After kicking off the Marvel Cinematic Universe via Jon Favreau's Iron Man in 2008, the actor reprised the role of Tony Stark/Iron Man nine more times before wrapping out his run in Joe and Anthony Russo's culminating movie. Aside from bringing the character's journey to a poetic end, many commented about how Downey's final outing as the character was arguably his best go in the role. Not long after that, buzz about him possibly scoring an Academy Award nomination for his work in the film started going around.
Fans weren't the only one who supported the idea, even the Russos and Favreau got behind it. That's the reason why when Marvel Studios formally put out their Oscars campaign for Endgame, many were shocked to not see Downey's name in there. The actor's most loyal supporters were understandably dismayed considering that it's probably the best send-off gift for the actor as he formally exits the MCU - an online petition was even created for this specific reason. However, it turns out, the actor himself decided to not put his name on Marvel Studios' "For Your Consideration" selection.
Appearing recently on The Howard Stern Show, Downey was asked why he was never nominated for his work in the MCU. The actor kind of evaded the question, and offered the fact that he didn't want to partake in Marvel Studios' Academy Award campaign despite rumbles of the possibility of him scoring an acting nomination for Endgame. "I'm so glad you brought this up because there was some talk about and I said let's not and because I'm much more like you than you might really want to believe. I listen to the show and I agree with most all of your opinions, varied though they may be. Occasionally, you'll go on some tributary trail of thought I'll go like 'oh that's not how I see it, but I love that you see it that way,'" he said. Sadly, he didn't expound on his decision to skip campaigning for an Oscar altogether as the conversation went on a different tangent.
Downey has been nominated twice before for his acting work on Chaplin (Best Actor, 1992) and Tropic Thunder (Best Supporting Actor, 2008). He lost to Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman and Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight respectively. He did win a BAFTA for Chaplin, however. Considering that the actor wasn't able to fully explain his decision to opt out of joining the Academy Award campaign trail for Endgame, it's difficult to gauge why that's his choice. Nevertheless, now the public knows that Marvel Studios didn't cut him off from their "For Your Consideration" list, he simply didn't want to be included.
Even without any award season nomination for Downey, one would be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't think that he brilliantly played the role of Tony Stark/Iron Man in the MCU. For years, he continued to put consistent great work - regardless if he was the lead, a supporting actor or part of an ensemble. The fact that people had been so invested with his journey for 10 years, capping it off with an emotional outing in Avengers: Endgame is a testament to his work in the universe and the franchise will surely look different without him in it.
Black Widow (2020) release date: May 01, 2020
Eternals (2020) release date: Nov 06, 2020
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) release date: Feb 12, 2021
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2021) release date: May 07, 2021
Thor: Love and Thunder (2021) release date: Nov 05, 2021
Black Panther 2 (2022) release date: May 06, 2022
Spider-Man: Homecoming 3 (2021) release date: Jul 16, 2021
