Robert Downey Jr. Says Jon Favreau Is the ‘Elon Musk of cinema’ & Some Fans Are Sure That’s an Insult

Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Favreau have one of the most important connections in the MCU, both off-screen and on-screen. Favreau, who directed the first two ‘Iron Man’ films, was instrumental in casting Downey as Iron Man, a decision that became the foundation of the MCU. Their collaboration was the bedrock of the success of ‘Iron Man’, which launched the MCU and set the tone for the entire franchise.

On-screen, their characters also share a close relationship. Favreau plays Happy Hogan, Tony Stark’s loyal friend, bodyguard, and head of security. Throughout the MCU, Happy is a constant presence in Tony’s life, providing both comedy and emotional support. Favreau most recently appeared in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ and was the one to break the news to Deadpool that he did not get into the Avengers.

Favreau and Downey are frequent collaborators which is why RDJ recently commented on the director during The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast. Downey compared him to Elon Musk, saying that Favreau is the Elon Musk of cinema.

“He’s always been a tech friendly guy… as evident by [his projects]”

The statement was most certainly meant as a compliment, but fans did not perceive it as such. Elon Musk started out as the “real-life Iron Man” due to his interest in technology, seemingly unlimited funds, quick wit, and overall charming demeanor. However, Musk’s activity on social media, particularly on Twitter / X, has often sparked controversy.

His posts range from memes to bold, sometimes unfounded claims, which have led to misinformation concerns. For example, his tweets about COVID-19, including skepticism about its severity and promotion of unproven treatments, attracted significant criticism back when the pandemic was a thing.

In recent times, the businessman has attracted negative attention due to fighting the “woke” virus, allegedly “sparking” violent protests in the UK via his platform and “misinformation,” supporting J.K. Rowling’s fight against transpeople and funding Gina Carano’s lawsuit against Disney.

Musk is a pretty staunch defender of free speech on his platform, and the fact that he refuses to censor certain views that are currently unwelcome in social and political discourse means that he would have a target on his back even without the aforementioned “issues.”

But in any case, Musk is no longer synonymous with innovation, and fans are worried that RDJ’s statement might read like an insult more than a compliment:

What do you think about Downey’s comparison? Let us know in the comments below!

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