It’s been eighteen years since Universal Studios bought the rights to develop a screen version of Marvel’s Studio comic-books-story “Iron Man”. Eighteen years of script modifications, of seeking the right actor for the main role and of picking the most original director so that the movie would equal the greatness of the comic book.

The movie is scheduled for release on May 2, under the patronage of Marvel Studios, which didn’t want to miss the opportunity to transpose another one of their many successful stories themselves.

After Nicholas Cage and Tom Cruise offered themselves for the lead role, director Jon Favreau chose Robert Downey Jr. , considering Downey is closely linked to Tony Stark’s nature, as the way Downey overstepped the bounds he himself had built through his troubles resembles the manner Iron Man undertakes his actions.

Tony Stark is a billionaire weapon designer who travels towards Afghanistan accompanied by a team in order to introduce his most recently created missile, “The Jericho”. At some point, they are attacked by a terrorist group, named the “Ten Rings” and Stark is taken hostage. He is requested by the snatchers to design a missile for them, putting a workroom at his disposal with this purpose. Being supported by a fellow captive, he makes a bulletproof armor, with configurations galore, such as pacemaker, flamethrowers, jet boots, repulsor rays and cybernetic helmet. After his return in the U.S., he decides to give up his old profession. He becomes Iron Man and sets himself on the idealist path of protecting the world.

Stark hasn’t been conceived as an embodiment of perfection, or of the good force fighting the mean. Moreover, he was neither born a hero nor turned into one by being bitten by a spider or shot by a gamma ray. His hero condition derives from the capacities of the device he assembled and from his personal nature. "Iron Man's different because the hero is pretty flawed," Favreau said, according to the Associated Press. "He wasn't just bit by a spider or shot by a gamma ray. He decided to build a suit. He created the superhero. He didn't become the superhero."

Jon Favreau wanted an accomplished actor to represent Iron Man’s image, because the main character’s route in the plot mirrors maturity and the point when one has a great revelation about what he should do with his own future. At some point in his life, Downey rose above his turbulent past and let his wisdom outshine and lead his actions. Hence there couldn’t be a closer connection between him and Stark.

Downey was also involved in the screenwriting process. His sense of humor can be traced in the film’s lines and his interpretation spices up the plot which might have been thought as being redundant, alike many other comic-book-based movies.

After being awarded an Academy Award, Best Actor in a Leading Role for “Chaplin” and scoring a great success with “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang”, “Good Night, and Good Luck”,”Zodiac” and “Fur”, “Iron Man” is foreshadowed to become a bonanza for him, his most notable accomplishment ever.

When asked how he would feel if “Iron Man” would become a box-office boost, Downey Jr. answered in his characteristic skewed way, as globeandmail.com reports : “Have you ever seen those shows about people who climb Mount Everest? First of all, what's interesting about it is that they're crazy to do it. But guys make it to the top, and when they do, they usually thank some Sherpa who did most of the work, then they take the glory.”

It is not certain whether a sequel will follow after this screening, but both Jon Favreau and Robert Downey Jr. expressed their hope that the present film would be well received, so that it may be a kickoff for a trilogy. However, if this may happen they are sure to work together again, as the way they cooperated was perceived as very special by both of them.