Random Best Robert Downey Jr. Ad Libs In MCU Movies (14 items)

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  (#1) Joss Whedon Thought The Galaga Quip Was Hilarious In 'Avengers' 

  One of the most memorable gags in The Avengers is when Stark calls out a SHIELD employee, saying, "That man is playing Galaga! He thought we wouldn't notice, but we did."

  In the DVD commentary, director Joss Whedon explains that Robert Downey Jr. improvised that line, and he thought it was so funny they added a Galaga screen on the man's computer in post-production. 
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  (#2) The Last Line In 'Iron Man' Set The Course For The MCU

  In the script for Iron Man, SHIELD develops the coverup that the guy in the suit is Tony Stark's bodyguard. This is true in the original Iron Man comics, but Downey, being the real-life Stark, decided to switch things up. The MCU was forever defined by Stark declaring, "I am Iron Man." Marvel President Kevin Feige told IndieWire: 

  If you're changing something for no reason, that’s one thing, but if you're changing something because you want to double-down on the spirit of who the character is? That's a change we'll make. Tony Stark not reading off the card and not sticking with the fixed story? Him just blurting out 'I am Iron Man'? That seems very much in keeping with who that character is.
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  (#3) He Added The 'Hug' Line In 'Spider-Man: Homecoming'

  In an interview for The Lost City of Z, Tom Holland spoke about the scene between Peter and Tony in the beginning of Spider-Man: Homecoming. Apparently, most of this scene was improvised. When asked, Tom said: 

  I think I just tried to hug him. I just thought it would be funny if I hugged him, and Robert's instincts are so good, he was like, 'Oh, I'm not trying to hug you I'm just going to get the door.
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  (#4) One Of The Most Memorable Lines From 'Endgame' Was Inspired By His Kids

  "I love you 3000," was one of the best lines of dialogue to come out of Avengers: Endgame. The layers of emotional depth behind it, following the events and fallout of Endgame, really left a mark on audiences. To make things even more emotional, the screenwriters drew the inspiration directly from Downey's relationship with his own kids. When asked about the line, screenwriter Stephen McFeely told Insider:

  The line went, 'I love you tons. I love you tons. And so, he says, 'I love you tons,' but his children say to him, 'I love you, 3,000.'
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  (#5) He Made Up The Shawarma Suggestion That Led To The 'Avengers' Post-Credits Scene

  It's hard to overstate the energy in the movie theater as the universally loved shawarma scene rolled after The Avengers. Thankfully, Robert Downey Jr. must've been craving shawarma because the line came out of nowhere during The Battle of New York. Director Joss Whedon spoke with Entertainment Weekly about Tony's off-script delivery:

  The line that made the final cut was a slightly more random one: Stark learns that there is more fighting left to do, and says fine, as long as the others agree to hit a good shawarma restaurant he knows in the neighborhood.
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  (#6) He Ran With Joss Whedon's 'Shakespeare In The Park' Suggestion In 'Avengers'

  When Iron Man and Thor meet up for a wild run-in in the first Avengers, Tony quips that he's there for "Shakespeare in the Park." He then asks the god of thunder quite confidently, “Doth mother know you weareth her drapes?” Director Joss Whedon revealed in the DVD commentary that he suggested the first bit earlier in the day, and the follow-up was all Robert. Whedon's also gone on to say:

  There’s a reason Tony Stark makes fun of Thor, and mentions 'Shakespeare in the Park' in The Avengers. It’s great to play high drama and comedy alongside a modern story.
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  (#7) Putting Peter In His Place Was All Downey In 'Infinity War'

  When New York is first attacked in Avengers: Infinity War, Peter is adamant about staying by Tony's side. When Spider-Man offers himself as backup, Tony turns around and states, "The adults are talking." Brutal, yes, but also extremely on-brand for the character. Tom Holland spoke to this exchange at a fan Q&A, revealing the comeback was all Downey. 
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  (#8) Downey's Snacking Habits Made For An Ad-Lib In 'The Avengers'

  Since the first Avengers, it's been widely noted that Robert Downey Jr. likes to snack on set. And since he's the real-life Tony Stark, he would typically keep whatever snack with him while the cameras were rolling. When Tony offers Cap a blueberry in The Avengers, it's Downey through and through. GamesRadar tweeted:

  Fun fact: Tony Stark offering around blueberries in this scene was improvised. Robert Downey Jr just decided he didn’t fancy putting his snack down. Legend.
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  (#9) Tom Holland Forgot His Cue To Move In 'Civil War,' So RDJ Reminded Him In Character

  In Captain America: Civil War, audiences got a peek at Tom Holland's Spider-Man before Homecoming was released. When Tony speaks to Peter in his bedroom, Tom forgets his cue to move. Hence Tony's line, “I'm gonna sit here, so you move the leg.” A fan on Reddit commented:

  This is pointed out by the directors in the audio commentary as a perfect example of what makes Downey such a fantastic actor.
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  (#10) Most Of The Hydra Bunker Scene Between Tony And Jarvis Was Unscripted In 'Age of Ultron'

  Say what you will about Age of Ultron, but Iron Man was on top of his game. And, fittingly, so was Downey. Most of the dialogue delivered by Tony Stark while he and Jarvis investigate the Sokovian Hydra bunker was unscripted. This includes the line, "Please be a secret door." Screen Rant reports:

  All of that dialogue was improvised by Robert Downey Jr. on the spot.
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  (#11) He Added His Own Flair To Drunk Tony In 'Iron Man 2'

  In the climax of Iron Man 2, the audience sees Tony and Rhodey at an impasse. Tony is drunk on power and also very-literally-drunk when Rhodey confronts him after his house party is broken up. What follows is an improvised line so funny, RDJ cracks up and they kept it in the movie: "Yo, Goldstein. Put on a phat beat for me to beat my buddy's a** to."
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  (#12) Gwyneth Paltrow's Slight Cold Inspired The 'Surgical Mask' Line From 'Iron Man 2'

  In Iron Man 2, without skipping a beat, Tony asks Pepper if she has the sniffles, and if so to keep her distance. There's no evidence anywhere that Pepper is under the weather, but apparently Gwyneth Paltrow was in real life. Her slight cold was worked into the film by way of improv. At the end of the scene, he also asks her to wear a mask. Reddit user /u/nairshark writes:

  In Iron Man 2, Tony tells Pepper to wear a surgical mask because she’s sick. This is an ad-libbed line made up by Robert Downey Jr. on the spot because, in this scene, Gwyneth Paltrow was actually sick.
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  (#13) He Added The 'Liar' Jab At The Beginning Of 'Endgame'

  Things are tense at the beginning of Endgame. Well, technically, all of Endgame. This improvised line doesn't help clear the air. After Tony comes back from space, he ends his confrontation with Steve by calling him a "liar." Cinema Blend notes: 

  Downey improvised the line where Tony Stark calls Steve Rogers a liar, according to co-director Anthony Russo.

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