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Robert Downey Jr. is a bonafide star in his own right and one of the most esteemed (and highest paid) actors of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Of course, the sprawling franchise is filled with plenty of other heavy hitters, including Chris Pratt. Downey’s Tony Stark/Iron Man and Pratt’s Peter Quill/Star-Lord first crossed paths in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War, and the results were hilarious, to say the least. What surprises me now is that Downey is opening up about being “mad” at Pratt amid filming, but he means this as a major compliment.
Honestly, it’s hard to believe it’s been over eight years since Infinity War hit theaters, crushed at the box office and delivered that dreary ending. Downey and co-director Joe Russo recently sat down to reflect upon the making of the movie and discuss some of their favorite on-set moments. Eventually, the duo discussed the first scene they shot for the film – Tony Stark concocting a plan with the Guardians of the Galaxy on Titan. Downey recalled went on to recall Pratt’s comedic prowess and why he knew he’d be ready to play:
If I want to entertain myself for an afternoon, I’ll just watch Chris Pratt outtakes from Parks and Rec. And I go, ‘OK, so he was already primed to be able to just go next level.
Downey is certainly no slouch when it comes to comedy, but it’s true that Pratt can operate on an entirely different level. The Jurassic World star’s performance as Andy Dwyer on Parks and Recreation alone is indeed evidence of his ability to generate laughs. During their interview with CBR (part of which was shared to TikTok), Russo asked Downey if he felt “threatened” by Pratt. The Oscar winner admitted to being “mad,” but his reasoning is quite nuanced:
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I was mad at him. …. I was made, because [I was] like, ‘Hey, man. That’s my….’ No, it isn’t it’s him. The great thing is when you have players around you that are better than you in areas. You go, ‘Oh, okay, that’s not a threat. That’s a gift.’ So, again, where Tony’s at, I just had to keep going, ‘Alright, what’s his new position?’
So, while the Sherlock Holmes star was initially miffed over Pratt getting in some great lines, he came to the realization that it was a benefit to be working with a skilled performer. To that point, Stark and Quill’s on-screen interactions are comedic gold, as their specific brands of bravado clash with each other perfectly. It’s that initial conflict that eventually makes it so satisfying when the characters – and their allies – decide to work together to stop Thanos from acquiring the Time Stone.
As for Infinity War as a whole, the movie remains a visceral experience and a defining chapter in the MCU continuity (which can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription). Much of the cast and crew still have plenty of memories from making the movie. For example, Vision actor Paul Bettany has recalled filming his character’s death and having no frame of reference for it. Benedict Cumberbatch – who plays Doctor Strange – has also discussed the deleted scene in which his character wears the Iron Man suit.
Chris Pratt’s prior comments also suggest he enjoyed his time making the third Avengers movie as well, though he can also still remember the passionate responses to Peter Quill’s infamous Thanos moment. In terms of Pratt’s work with Robert Downey Jr., I would hope that he also holds their time working together in high regard.