Robert Downey Jr. has suggested that Elon Musk should “control his behavior,” despite admitting they’ve only met “a few times.” While Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Tony Stark in Iron Man shares a technological connection with Musk, the two generally move in different circles.
Musk has been seen at Donald Trump rallies, launching rockets, and discussing these events on Twitter. During an interview on the On With Kara Swisher podcast, Downey Jr. was asked about Musk’s public persona.
Swisher suggested that Musk may have been “cosplaying” as Tony Stark, first portrayed by Downey Jr. in the 2008 Iron Man movie. Although the character is based on a Marvel Comics figure, Iron Man director Jon Favreau revealed in 2016 that Musk had influenced Stark’s portrayal. Favreau explained that while Iron Man’s character was rooted in the comic books, Musk collaborated with Downey Jr. to provide insights on what it would be like to live as Tony Stark. Musk even allowed part of Iron Man 2 to be filmed at SpaceX, with Favreau calling him a “very good friend of the Marvel family” at the time.
With Musk’s increased visibility, particularly after his acquisition of Twitter and public support for Trump, Downey Jr. expressed that Musk should tone down his behavior. He remarked, “I’ve only met him a few times. I just wish he would control his behavior a little more.”
Referring to Musk’s ambition to colonize Mars, Downey Jr. added, “This idea of ‘It’s all okay because we’ve gotta get to Mars’ doesn’t really hold water with me.” However, he also acknowledged Musk’s accomplishments, stating, “You have to look at all that [Musk has] done that demonstrates why he’s valuable.”
Downey Jr. noted that it’s difficult to separate a person from their actions in today’s world, where the flow of information often creates divisions instead of fostering meaningful discussions.
In addition to Musk, Iron Man screenwriter Mark Fergus mentioned in a 2022 interview with New York Magazine that Tony Stark’s character was also inspired by figures like Donald Trump and Steve Jobs.