The series that launched the MCU and ensured Marvel's permanent place in comic book fan's hearts, Iron Man was a success in every way. Even with a surplus of behind-the-scenes issues and frustrated actors, Iron Man became more than what anyone likely had anticipated. While its sequels are certainly divisive, even they achieved considerable success, with Iron Man 3 crossing the billion dollar mark.

While there are plenty of people to thank for making these films (and the MCU itself) possible, success would've been far less likely had the casting director chosen poorly. This is the case with any film, but when looking back in hindsight, the very framework and durability of a cinematic universe was decided with that initial film, so it's very lucky they got who they did. Imagine if Tom Cruise ended up getting the role of Tony Stark, or if they ended up sticking closer to Nick Fury's physical appearance in the comics. It likely wouldn't have worked nearly as well.

That being said, not every casting decision worked out so perfectly. After all, simply casting a talented performer isn't always enough. Someone may be extremely talented, but may not be suited to the material provided for the character, leading to an uneven overall product. For every RDJ, there's someone who feels like they'd have been better utilized elsewhere. Let's get into both types of casting choices for characters originating in Iron Man 1-and explain why some decisions worked far better than others.

Here are 10 Casting Decisions That Hurt Iron Man Movies (And 10 That Saved Them).

Hurt: Guy Pearce as Aldrich Killian

Guy Pearce in a scene from Iron Man 3

Sorry Killian, but you aren't the Mandarin. This is the first of many examples of talented actors in this series who fell victim to characterization and writing. Pearce, while very good in other roles throughout his career, simply didn't bring enough to the material he was provided.

He only had several key scenes to establish his character, but never brought anything memorable outside of a standard sly, evil businessman.

Due to a lack of any real compelling set-up for Killian, there's no reason to fear or have any interest in him. Then, once he starts breathing fire and the plot gets a lot more outlandish, the audience isn't willing to suspend their disbelief because there's no reward in doing so. While Pearce could've been a strong choice, his mostly subtle approach to his performance was not the right portrayal to take.

Saved: Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts

Pepper Potts in Iron Man

Tony Stark may have the over-the-top confidence and personality of a superhero, but with Pepper Potts at his side, Tony's grandiose nature is leveled out and he's able to be human and relatable. Picking the right person for this role was likely no easy task as you've got to find the right counterbalance, but Gwyneth Paltrow thankfully was able to pull it off.

Her ability to effortlessly humble and humanize Tony feels natural and authentic. You feel that Pepper cares deeply for Tony, but will not hold back on calling him out for his transgressions. The relationship feels real and has blossomed across the films, allowing for one of the few properly developed romances in the MCU. Paltrow may not have been everyone's first choice, but her chemistry with RDJ was too good to be without.

Hurt: Rebecca Hall as Maya Hansen

MCU Maya Hansen Iron Man

The role of "assistant to the bad guy who eventually turns good" is rather cliché and predictable, but it doesn't seem Iron Man 3 got the memo. The movie includes the character of Maya Hansen as someone to connect with on the Mandarin's side, but much like her evil counterparts, there's nothing to do but be increasingly bothered by what the antagonist is doing.

Quite frankly, Rebecca Hall never had a chance.

Much like Guy Pearce, Hall plays "troubled evil accomplice" subtly and in a movie that isn't exactly subtle itself, her role gets drowned out in all the noise. There should've been interesting choices made with her character, but Hall plays her straight. Without any help from the writing given to her, Hall's Hansen was an all-too-easily-forgotten presence.

Saved: Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow

Black Widow hacking into SHIELD ship computer in Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Black Widow spent years as the lone central female presence in the MCU. Introduced in Iron Man 2, the role had to be played by a multi-faceted talent. She'd have to nail action scenes, have a certain intimidation factor, and even have a bit of a sarcastic wit. Thankfully, Scarlett Johansson eventually got the role and she nailed it.

Johansson is able to adopt Black Widow's personality in every way. Living up to her character's training, her personality-switching abilities are unmatched. Her chemistry with fellow cast members is rather impressive as well, never allowing herself to feel out of place. Without her, the MCU would've lacked a strong female voice in the Avengers. Thankfully, that was never an issue.

Hurt: Terrence Howard as James Rhodes

Terrence Howard as Rhodey in Iron Man

Who knows if Terrence Howard may have ended up being a great Rhodey had he stuck around, but in Iron Man, War Machine just wasn't there yet. Similar to another Iron Man cast member later on in this list, Howard never felt engaged with the project. Because of this, he never offered much value to the film.

Perhaps he was saving it for the sequels?

His relationship with the studio is infamously tense, leading to the character being recast in Iron Man 2. Nevertheless, his performance made a weak first impression, and sometimes that's all you get before you're cast aside.

Saved: Paul Bettany as J.A.R.V.I.S/Vision

Vision in Avengers Infinity War

J.A.R.V.I.S was an immediately likable presence thanks to Bettany's soothing voice. Thanks to the A.I's back-and-forth with Robert Downey Jr., audiences could connect with them without ever needing to really see him. Then, just to illustrate how perfect Bettany's casting was, his role shifted onto the screen, and he nailed that as well.

Selling the" A.I with a soul" persona, Vision never feels like an outsider, but doesn't just blend into the background either. A lesser actor wouldn't have brought as much heart or finesse to the role at the level Bettany does. Even if he's just a voice in a holographic display or a sweater-wearing android, Vision's got a special place in fans' hearts thanks to Paul Bettany.

Hurt: Mickey Rourke as Ivan Vanko

Iron Man 2 certainly suffered from a host of different issues, and Mickey Rourke's Ivan Vanko was unfortunately one of them. Again, writing is likely the biggest culprit here, as well as a disgruntled actor who grew tired of studio changes. Rourke credits Marvel for robbing Ivan Vanko of his depth in favor of making a more standard villain, and it's difficult to say if he's incorrect in that.

Mickey Rourke didn't exactly provide a memorable on-screen villain with the scenes that were there.

Relatively one-note line delivery and hopelessly overshadowed by the film's other antagonist (more on him later), Ivan Vanko only served to anchor Iron Man 2 even further from greatness.

Saved: Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan

Happy Hogan with his suitcase armor in Iron Man 2

A background in comedic roles was likely behind Favreau's decision to cast himself, but it ended up being the right call. There are only so many people who can handle Tony Stark on a regular basis, and Happy Hogan has to believably be one of them. Someone who isn't Stark-esque but isn't lacking in a sense of humor, Jon Favreau's personal comedic style allowed for each IM film to hit multiple kinds of humor.

His value as a casting continues to prove itself as films like Spider-Man Homecoming where Favreau's excellent, dry humor was a breath of fresh air. With many characters in the MCU offering the same style of humor, Happy's comedic qualities are much appreciated. There may have been someone else who could've pulled the role off, but Favreau more than earned his keep.

Hurt: Ty Simpkins as Harley Keener

Ty Simpkins Harley Iron Man 3 Photo

Casting child actors is no easy call, especially when they play such a prominent role. However, as recent projects like Stranger Things and It have shown, plenty of child actors can hold their own among older castmates.

Ty Simpkins in Iron Man 3 was disappointing as his performance never rose above "fine."

While the great child actors transcend any labels put on them based on their age, Simpkins never goes for that goal. Instead, his Harley Keener is just a kid who doesn't get on the audience's nerves, but never does anything worth talking about. Hopefully Simpkins will nail the role when he reprises it in Avengers 4.

Saved: Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer

Sam Rockwell Iron Man

Why has the character of Justin Hammer not appeared outside of Iron Man 2? Hammer is easily one of the MCU's most underrated personalities, and it's all thanks to Sam Rockwell. The eventual Oscar-winner was no stranger to being criminally underrated, but surely execs noticed Rockwell's undeniable charisma and screen presence?

After all, it's no easy task trying to out-charisma Robert Downey Jr, but Rockwell came close. He took Justin Hammer, a character that could've just been another slimy executive persona, and make him still endlessly-enjoyable is a credit to the man's talent. Rockwell truly makes any film better, and is likely the primary reason why anyone would ever call IM2 underrated.

Justin Hammer in Phase 4. Make it happen Disney.

Hurt: Leslie Bibb as Christine Everhart

Leslie Bibb in Iron Man

A consistent problem that has plagued the Iron Man movies is its consistent lack of strong female presences. Outside of Black Widow and Pepper Potts, there's rarely any recurring characters even worth discussing. Christine Everhart is one of the few reappearing female characters, but she never goes beyond generic reporter/ex-fling. Leslie Bibb, although certainly not to blame for the writing, doesn't elevate the material either.

Her role in each film is extremely minimal and her presence simply isn't felt.

She's another woman in Tony Stark's life who he hooks up pre-Pepper and only served the role of "familiar face" in IM2. It's unclear if this role could work in anyone's hands, but Bibb never is able to get more out of the material and is too-forgettable as a result.

Saved: Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury

Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury

Was there ever someone more qualified to recruit the Avengers than Sam Jackson? The concept of a live-action Avengers was a pipe dream, but the moment Nick Fury mentions The Avengers Initiative in IM, everyone believed it could happen. That's an example of what Sam Jackson infuses in Nick Fury: credibility, authority, and authenticity.

Jackson's ability to command the screen and demand the audience's attention without saying a word is unquestionable. With Nick Fury, the actor portraying him needs to be able to do exactly that. The characterization and casting choice was so pitch-perfect. Jackson is Nick Fury, and fans didn't dare to disagree with him.

Hurt: Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stone

MCU Iron Man Obadiah Stane

Jeff Bridges gave Iron Man legitimacy, even if it was more because of his name and not because of his actual performance. His Obadiah Stone was a tstandard villain whose character arc never goes beyond exactly where you'd expect. In similar fashion, Bridges' performance fits that same description.

Even The Dude can't have a perfect track record. 

While his sheer presence is appreciated, he just never does anything interesting as the character. As previously mentioned, Iron Man suffered with numerous rewrites. This didn't jive with Bridges' preferred work format, but admitted that after he stopped taking the film seriously, he didn't mind it. This indifference, while understandable, hurt the film overall as the primary villain's actor didn't care about the movie.

Saved: Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson

Agents of SHIELD Wake Up Coulson

Coulson may not have been a super agent, but Clark Gregg brought an endearing quality to him that could've been sorely lacking otherwise. He's able to give off an aura of professionalism, all while being able to drop it once he stops and fanboys over Captain America. There's a mix of playfulness and effectiveness that Gregg manages to maintain.

There's no Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. without him, and while he may be absent in the current movie universe, his second life on television served him exceptionally well. Gregg's balanced portrayal made him an excellent component for a series and offered a consistent presence throughout each season. With his return to the big screen coming in Captain Marvel, the MCU clearly loves him.

Hurt: Garry Shandling as Senator Stern

Garry Shandling was an exceptionally funny person, but when watching him in Iron Man 2, you get the feeling there are hundreds of places he'd rather be. With his very one-note line delivery and visible disinterest, he doesn't seem interested in anything going on in the film.

It's not a major role, so it's easier to ignore, but it's still noticeable.

Shandling was an inspired casting for the role, but it ultimately comes across as him doing a favor for someone rather than him doing something he felt passionate about. Overall, it may have been better if they went for someone who was at least interested in doing something with the role, rather than merely existing in it.

Saved: Ben Kingsley as Mandarin/Trevor

Iron Man 3 The Mandarin Ben Kingsley

The Mandarin plot twist in Iron Man 3 will always be divisive and will never work for everyone. Hate it, love it, to each their own. However, something that must be acknowledged by both sides is Ben Kingsley's extremely underrated performance as both sides of the character. When he's the Mandarin, Kingsley is exceptionally intimidating and believable. When switched to the absent-minded Trevor, there's no lack of authenticity.

Kingsley is the primary reason why this twist works in any sense. The duality he showed in this role allowed both sides of the "Mandarin" to be drastically different, yet still believably portrayed by the same person. If the role went to anyone below Kingsley's talent level, it would've been irredeemable in every sense. If there's anything to be thankful for, it's that Kingsley's the one who got the job.

Hurt: Faran Tahir as Raza

The last underwritten villain on the list, Raza was another character that likely could've been much more, had his role been altered. Unfortunately, Faran Tahir's version of Raza ended up being  a stock war-hungry antagonist. They're obsessed with violence and destruction, but isn't really much more than that.

To be fair, there wasn't a whole lot for Tahir to do, but in the hands of someone else, this role may not have have felt quite so superfluous.

The guy's a descendent of Genghis Khan, so there should've been interesting directions taken with him. After considering his role was more of a red herring, taking the place of the "real" villain, he feels even less purposeful. It seems that Marvel's villain weakness originated here.

Saved: Don Cheadle as James Rhodes (2.0)

War Machine in Avengers Infinity War

They didn't get it quite right the first time, but it seems the second time's the charm. Don Cheadle's Rhodey, much like Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper, serves as a perfect counterbalance to Tony Stark's constant gears-turning personality. He's the straight man in the comedic duo, but isn't lacking in personality or humor. His chemistry with RDJ is essential too, allowing the films to include banter that can properly service this connection between actors.

Where Terrence Howard failed to add that necessary memorability, Cheadle opens himself up so Rhodey never gets lost in the background. This is why even when his character goes beyond the IM movies, he's able to hold own among even the Avengers. He earns his place, and is treated like one of them.

Hurt: William Sadler as Ellis

The role of national leader in a film tends to be equal to including the Statue of Liberty in a disaster movie: they're going to be taken, destroyed, or both. They're typically disposable characters that don't have much to do except eventually be in danger. William Sadler's Ellis isn't much different in this category, but also never really feels like a real leader.

His presence never feels like it reaches a true level of authority and he's just relegated to hostage duty.

He lacks the over-the-top nature of Bill Pullman's president in Independence Day and simply just exists so the plot can escalate. Not everyone needs to be over the top, but Sadler's Ellis just never went beyond what you'd expect.

Saved: Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr working out

It's difficult to think about the MCU without Robert Downey Jr. at its core. The sarcastic, grandiose Tony Stark became the universe's foundation, and only RDJ could have pulled it off with such flair.

Although now it feels like a no-brainer casting, this was a pretty bold casting back in '07.

RDJ was on the mend and there was a lot of pressure on the project. Yet, director Jon Favreau fought for the casting and took the risk. Downey was already well-regarded for his charisma, and he was able to turn it up to eleven with Stark. He avoids being one-note too as there's a noticeable maturity that has gradually developed across nine appearances throughout the MCU. He'll be making his tenth (and possibly final) appearance in next year's sequel to Infinity War.

---

Who's your favorite actor in the Iron Man movies? Let us know in the comments!