SOURCE: FILMSCHOOLREJECTS.COM

Though the title may imply it, this article is by no measure about the physical prowess or sexual desirability of Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. I am perhaps the worst person to comment on such things as I do, in fact, dig chicks. Though, it goes without saying that RDJ is a pretty handsome dude — if I were a lady, I would want to stalk him.

But alas, this article is not about all of that, it is about the fact that with his resurgence into the mainstream with his role in Iron Man, Downey has become one of Hollywood’s hottest commodities of the moment. In fact, as Nicole Sperling at EW.com reports, Downey is currently being courted by just about every major studio for an impressive handful of high-profile projects. Twentieth Century Fox would love to lock him into Travis McGee, based on a popular detective series by John D. MacDonald; Warner Bros. is after him to star in Sherlock Holmes, a project that has already roped in director Guy Ritchie; Universal is interesting in him for Dog Years, a fantasy/comedy from Seabiscuit director Gary Ross as well as the much talked about Hugh Hefner biopic which is currently still in the hands of Brett Ratner. Not to mention the fact that negotiations should begin soon with Marvel Studios and Paramount around Iron Man 2, a project thats survival could depend on the involvement of both Downey and director Jon Favreau.

Needless to say, Downey has become red-hot in the summer of 2008, and he’s not even done at the box office yet. He will make his most interesting appearance of the year in Ben Stiller’s satirical action comedy Tropic Thunder, where he plays an award-winning Australian actor whose vanity drives him to die his skin black in order to play an African American character.

All of this has brought a media circus to his doorstep, with studios and journos alike flocking to him as if he were the next big thing. But at 43, Downey isn’t an actor who is rising to his prime, he is an actor whose prime has gone under-recognized. Too many of us (in the world of film journalism) have been left to sit back in our office chairs, pounding our fists on the desk and screaming “this is what we’ve been telling you..” when it comes to the career of Mr. Downey.

With his recent roles in films such as David Fincher’s Zodiac and the under-marketed, yet brilliant Charlie Bartlett, Downey solidified for many that he is still has the chops to be a big star. And now, with the success of Iron Man, he is not only a great actor, but a significantly more marketable one. So when you look at his future, as bright as it may seem, remember that it wasn’t just the big summer of 2008 that did it — Robert Downey Jr. has been doing it all along. He is just now getting the credit he has deserved for a long, long time.

Sound Off: What is your favorite Robert Downey Jr. performance, besides Iron Man? Also, which of the projects listed above do you think would be most interesting?

Robert was at the 36th AFI Life Achievement Awards yesterday. He looked great! I added pictures to the gallery.

From Iron Man to Sherlock?

Entertainment Weekly reports that Robert Downey, Jr. is considering a role in Guy Ritchie’s upcoming Sherlock Holmes movie. The role isn’t known, but one could assume it is the lead role of Sherlock Holmes himself.

Downey is in demand in Hollywood right now following the success of Iron Man. He is already wanted to play Hugh Hefner in Brett Ratner’s Hefner biopic, Playboy, and also for Gary Ross’ Dog Years and the detective film Travis McGee.

Credit: IGN.com

‘Iron Man’ director Jon Favreau has ruled out the possibility hitting screens in 2010.

The director says he and the film’s star, Robert Downey Jr. were not consulted about Marvel’s decision to schedule a release date two years after the first movie was released, and branded the plan “unrealistic”.

Posting on an ‘Iron Man’ MySpace page, Jon said: ”It’s been five weeks since the one and only phone call my reps have gotten from Marvel. I know their hands are full with the ‘Hulk’ and I’m sure they will get into it shortly, as they tell me they intend to. I ran into the Marvel guys at the ‘Hulk’ premiere and everyone sounded eager to get to work on ‘IM2′.

“I am concerned, however, about the announced release date of April 2010. Neither Robert nor I were consulted about this and we are both concerned about how realistic the date is in light of the fact that we have no script, story or even writers hired yet.

“This genre of movie is best when it is done thoughtfully and with plenty of preparation. It might be better to follow the ‘Batman Begins’/'Dark ‘Knight’, ‘X-Men’/ ‘X-Men 2′ three year release pattern than to scramble for a date.

“It is difficult because there are no Marvel 09 releases and they need product, but I also think we owe it to the fans to have a great version of ‘IM2′ and, at this point, we would have less time to make it than the first one.

“Robert and I speak a lot and can’t wait to get started developing the script for ‘IM2′.”

‘Iron Man’, which also starred Gwyneth Paltrow opened in cinemas in April.

Robert Downey Jr. has publicly thanked Burger King for helping him overcome his problems with addiction. The fast food chain, he says, also helped to resurrect his career.

The fast food epiphany happened in 2003 when the ”Iron Man” star  was driving a car piled with “tons of f—ing dope,” Downey Jr. told Britain’s Empire magazine. The actor decided to pull over for a burger and everything changed.

“I have to thank Burger King,” he said. “It was such a disgusting burger I ordered. I had that, and this big soda, and I thought something really bad was going to happen.” Downey Jr. says he then tossed all of his drugs into the ocean, deciding right then and there to clean up his act.

Downey Jr. hints that a fateful moment in “Iron Man,” when his character Tony Stark requests a cheeseburger from Burger King after being released from his captors, is a reference to his own experiences.

I have added the video Making The Movie - Iron Man. It is in two parts and you can download it here. I also added screencaps from it to the gallery!