Photo Credit: Marvel Sudios
Robert Downey Jr., known for his portrayal of Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, recently defended his friend and co-star Chris Hemsworth, who plays Thor, against criticisms regarding the character's depth.
In a candid interview with Vanity Fair, Chris Hemsworth Hemsworth confessed to feeling overshadowed by his fellow Avengers, expressing doubts about the complexity of his character, Thor. He believed that other characters had more exciting storylines and better dialogue, leaving him questioning Thor’s development. "Sometimes I felt like a security guard for the team. I would read everyone else’s lines, and go, ‘Oh, they got way cooler stuff. They’re having more fun. What’s my character doing?’ It was always about, ‘You’ve got the wig on. You’ve got the muscles. You’ve got the costume. Where’s the lighting?’ Yeah, I’m part of this big thing, but I’m probably pretty replaceable.”
Enter Robert Downey Jr., who portrayed Tony Stark (Iron Man) in the MCU. Downey recognized the challenges of adapting Thor as a character, given the implied limitations. He praised Hemsworth’s performance saying, "First off, Thor as a character was super tricky to adapt, lots of implied limitations, but he and Ken Branagh figured out how to transcend, making him somehow relatable but godlike. Hemsworth is, in my opinion, the most complex psyche out of all us Avengers. He’s got wit and gravitas, but also such restraint, fire and gentleness.” He referred to Hemsworth’s portrayal in “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Avengers: Infinity War,” and “Avengers: Endgame” as “a formidable hat trick” .
Interestingly, while Downey defended early Thor, Hemsworth himself expressed dissatisfaction with his performance in “Thor: Love and Thunder.” He admitted “I got caught up in the improv and the wackiness, and I became a parody of myself,” Hemsworth said. “I didn’t stick the landing.” Downey acknowledged that the role of Iron Man was integral to his DNA, even after his character’s demise in “Avengers: Endgame.” He humorously stated, “Never, ever bet against Kevin Feige. It is a losing bet. He’s the house. He will always win."
Despite Hemsworth's self-criticisms, both actors are open to return to the MCU, acknowledging its significance in their careers. Downey Jr. emphasized, "That role chose me." While fans eagerly await news of Thor’s return, the actor is currently preparing for his latest project, “Furiosa”.
