Part 3/10:
Marvel’s Countermeasures: Heavy Promotion of Robert Downey Jr.
In an apparent bid to prop up Iron Heart’s faltering reputation, Marvel heavily leaned on Robert Downey Jr., the franchise's biggest star and the face of Iron Man. This isn’t new; Marvel staged a cringe-worthy appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America (which Disney owns) to promote the series, illustrating how much the studio was scrambling for relevance. Downey Jr. appeared in scripted interviews, phone calls, and promotional videos aimed at tying the new character to Iron Man's legacy, even though Marvel publicly tried to distance Iron Heart from being a replacement or direct successor.