After an impressive $585 million global haul at the box office with “Iron Man,” some would think the pressure would be on to duplicate the success with “Iron Man 2,” which hits theaters on May 7.
Not so, says franchise star Robert Downey Jr.
“My stress levels are at an all-time low because it’s already gone well,” Robert told Access Hollywood’s Tony Potts at the film’s press junket in LA on Monday.
However, the star warned not to confuse his “Iron” Zen approach with apathy.
“It was really tough, I think, trying to get it right and more so, pretending that we could remember how we caught that lightning in a bottle,” he told Tony, referring to the success of the first film. “It was a very intuitive process last time.”
When fans flock to the theater to see the latest installment in the franchise, complete with superstar additions Scarlett Johnasson, Mickey Rourke, Don Cheadle and Sam Rockwell (amongst others), Robert said he hopes the hard work everyone put into the project comes across on-screen.
“As a filmgoer and a film lover, I can tell I fell like when people have rested on their laurels or I can see where creative conversations went wrong or where somebody that didn’t deserve it had too much power or say-so in something,” he explained. “I think we did alright.”
Of course, the man making the bulk of the decisions in the “Iron Man” family is director Jon Favreau, who returned to helm the second film – and according to Robert, he and the director have a special relationship.
“We’re like these dysfunctional brothers who only seem to be able to put their best foot forward when we are together,” he continued. “I just love the guy and I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him.
“And he definitely wouldn’t be here if not for me,” he grinned.
CLICK HERE for more of Access’ interview with Robert!
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