Robert Downey Jr. As Tony Stark

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Credit: USA Today

Robert Downey Jr. has been slated to play the role of Tony Stark/Iron Man in Jon Favreau’s Iron Man due out next year for some time now, but we haven’t had much to look at.

Until now.

Below you will see one of the first images of Downey as Tony Stark, a recovering alcoholic millionaire trying to get his life back in order.

Downey, who has been arrested on drug and alcohol related charges before, said he is doing a lot to get prepared for the role both mentally and physically. Downey is looking to get in excellent shape for the role by lifting weights five days a week and practicing martial arts. He also wants to prepare his mind and really get into the role showing others that his rough past is really behind him.

I’m more diligent than I used to be. I want to show Jon he was right to have faith in me. Whatever questions might have arisen about my life weren’t issues with him.

As for how he feels about the comic book role he is playing, Downey continued, ““Fans need the heart of the comic to be in” the movie. Tony Stark had a substance abuse problem. He was built up and torn down many times. I think when people heard Robert Downey was going to play the part, there was actually a big relief.

He struggles with his lifestyle, he struggles with the drinking. He faces the same issues a lot of people do.

The story of Iron Man will take Stark who was involved in a life threatning accident and needs assistance in living. He builds a life support system that he realizes is much stronger and more useful then he imagined it being. Stark takes the technology and creates his alter-ego of Iron Man to defeat evil.

The film is tentatively set for release on May 2 of next year.