Robert Downey Jr. Confronts Elon Musk ‘Cosplaying Tony Stark’ By Saying: ‘I Just Wish He Would Control His Behavior a Little More’

Robert Downey Jr. and Elon Musk briefly shared the screen together in 2010’s Marvel tentpole “Iron Man 2,” in which Downey’s hot shot business tycoon Tony Stark met Musk while at the Monaco Grand Prix. It was a fitting moment, as “Iron Man” screenwriter Mark Fergus once told New York Magazine that Musk partly inspired the screen iteration of Tony Stark due to their technological prowess, cockiness and overall hotheadedness. But what does Downey think about Musk in real life?

During an interview appearance on the “On with Kara Swisher” podcast (via Business Insider), Downey was asked point-blank about his thoughts on Musk “cosplaying Tony Stark” in real life.

“I’ve only met him a few times,” Downey answered. “As an almost 60-year-old recovering white American male, I just wish that he would control his behavior a little more, but that’s not on me. I know that this idea of ‘It’s all okay ’cause we’ve gotta get to Mars’ doesn’t really hold water with me. But again, you know, you have to look at all that he’s done that demonstrates why he’s valuable.”

Iron Man” screenwriter Fergus said in 2022 that the movie version of Tony Stark was a mixture of Musk, Donald Trump and Steve Jobs. He viewed the Marvel character as if “Musk took the brilliance of Jobs with the showmanship of Trump,” adding: “He was the only one who had the fun factor and the celebrity vibe and actual business substance.”

Musk’s current resumé includes being the CEO of Tesla, the founder of SpaceX and the owner of X. He’s one of the more controversial business leaders in the world and is often a target for Hollywood voices. Micheal Keaton, for instance, recently slammed both Trump and Musk and told their supporters that they do not care for them.

“They don’t really respect you, they laugh at you behind your back, they think you’re stupid,” Keaton said. “They don’t want to hang out with you. They have nothing in common with you. They’re not your bros.”

A biopic on Musk’s life based on Walter Isaacson’s authorized biography of him is currently in development from A24 and director Darren Aronofsky. Variety included Downey on a list of actors who’d be able to pull off the role successfully.