2008年超級英雄電影《Iron Man》，除咗令當時負債累累嘅Marvel Studios起死回生，更開創令全球影迷為之瘋狂嘅MCU電影宇宙，同時令主演Robert Downey Jr.走出人生低潮邁向事業巔峰，即使近年陸續有新英雄誕生，但對唔少Marvel迷嚟講，RDJ飾演嘅Iron Man永遠都係No.1。不過最近英國媒體《The Sunday Times》就提出一個觀點，認為對觀眾嚟講，呢個角色比演員更重要，幾乎任何人都可以飾演Irom Man，隨即遭到Marvel粉絲炮轟。

The big titles of the past decade are brands and franchises established in numerous prequels and sequels. Robert Downey Jr is a leading man, but his Iron Man could be played by almost anyone with wit; the character is more important to audiences than the actor. pic.twitter.com/Cjpmyp2U6L

— The Sunday Times (@thesundaytimes) August 1, 2021

毫無疑問，呢番說話瞬間得罪大量Marvel迷，唔少人都認為只有RDJ先可以完美扮演傲慢、花花公子、冷嘲熱諷嘅Tony Stark。另外亦有人直接貼出Marvel之父Stan Lee曾經講過嘅一番說話「呢個人生出嚟就係要演Tony Stark」。

I'm sorry but I disagree. You can't just have anyone playing that character. He had the entire MCU on his shoulders and @RobertDowneyJr played him perfectly... The arrogance, the playboy, the snark and the love and belief he had in his team. The father figure for Spiderman.

— Iffy_k2002???? (@IffyK2002) August 1, 2021

Stan Lee once said Robert Downey Jr. was born to play Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man. pic.twitter.com/KQogFkE9gz

— In My Mind (@MeAloneInMyMind) August 1, 2021

其中《Guardians of the Galaxy（銀河守護隊）》導演James Gunn更留言表示，「我睇過RDJ試鏡，你呢番說話簡直係Bullsxxt」題外話，當年Marvel有搵過Tom Cruise出演《Iron Man》，但因為佢要拍《Mission: Impossible》，同埋對使用大量綠幕特技嘅超級英雄電影冇太大興趣，所以先有今時今日嘅Iron Man。

I've seen the screen tests. This is bullshit.

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) August 1, 2021