t's already made $700 million at the worldwide box office, and now Deadline reveals that Robert Downey Jr. has already made over $35 million from Iron Man 3 with his eventual payday set to rise even higher than that. Remember those reports about him taking a whopping $50 million for The Avengers? Well, the site believes that it was actually more along the lines of $70 million - $80 million. However, that's by no means the most interesting part of their piece entitled, "Robert Downey Jr And 'Avengers' Cast Ready To Rumble With Stingy Marvel Over Sequel Money And Strong-Arming". According to Nikki Finke, she has learned, "that Marvel and therefore owner Disney are going to run into big trouble on that sequel because the upfront pay, backend compensation, break even points and box office bonuses aren’t pinned down yet for several big stars and castmates. This is major hurdle which Walt Disney Company Chaiman/CEO Bob Iger hasn’t even mentioned to Wall Street or shareholders although he’s already hyping Avengers 2 like crazy for more than a year now."
While many of the actors are signed for multi-picture deals, they are all said to be, "counting on at least $5 million upfront and better back ends for Avengers 2." Will Marvel replace them if they attempt to strongarm them for more money? Interestingly, the site reveals that The Avengers was only nominated for one Oscar, "because Marvel refused to pay for an awards season campaign for the picture. And even when Disney offered to foot the bill, Marvel still wouldn’t budge." However, rather than turning on Downey Jr., the cast of the superhero ensemble are said to be, "united behind Robert Downey Jr who is seen as the "leader" – like "a big brother" in the words of one rep - for all the younger actors in the ensemble. "He’s the only guy with real power in this situation. and balls of steel, too. He’s already sent a message that he’s not going to work for a place where they treat his colleagues like shit."
The report is very in-depth and it's mentioned that both Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth clashed with Marvel Studios over their returns in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Thor: The Dark World. "Calling it the "weirdest experience", one rep still can't believe Marvel offered "only a $500,000 raise and then would pay another $500,000 when the movie hits $500M. Are they out of their minds?" When it was pointed out to Marvel that Hemsworth already had received $5M for his starring role in Snow White And The Huntsman, the studio shot back, "I don’t know why you’re complaining when Marvel only has hit movies." To which the response was, "He’s happier working at a place like Universal." While Marvel has threatened to sue or recast anyone who doesn't play ball with them, many of those same cast members have responded with a very nonchalant, "Go ahead!" Apparently, "Hemsworth especially wasn’t anxious to go back into that arduous diet and training regimen and subsist primarily on egg whites for Thor: Dark World which hits theaters November 8th. I also understand that Scarlett Johanssen told castmates she’s "not going to cut her quote" for Marvel’s Avengers 2."
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