Fans Petition For Support of Robert Downey Jr. Oscar Campaign
The other day, we told you about Robert Downey Jr. not being in Disney’s “for your consideration” campaign for the upcoming Academy Awards.
As per usual, fans are annoyed with the House of Mouse.
Fans Feel Disney/Marvel Studios Snubbed RDJ
Citing a whole lot of online feedback, Complex.com reported:
Disney begins #AvengersEndgame's Oscar campaign which includes consideration for:
• Best Picture
• Best Director
• Best Cinematography
• Best VFX
• Best Adapted ScreenplayRobert Downey Jr. has not been listed for Best Actor
(via @Disney | https://t.co/290hOFwHdw) pic.twitter.com/RqJKPDLRAX
— Fandom @ NYCC (@getFANDOM) October 3, 2019
“Robert Downey Jr deserves an Oscar for his great performance in each Marvel movie and deserves credit for starting the biggest film franchise currently,” a petition created by Aamod BK read.
Another petition from Diana Whatley states the undersigned “were so moved by Mr. Robert Downey Jr.’s performance as Tony Stark in Avengers: Endgame that we believe he is unquestionably deserving of the Academy’s Award for Best Actor.”
Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo also expressed interest in seeing Downey nominated for the award. In September, Joe Russo told the Daily Beast that the effort Downey put into his character shouldn’t be overlooked simply because of the movie’s commercial success.
Take A Deep Breath, Kids
Now, even as a huge fan of Papa Stark, this is not a national tragedy. As I pointed out in my own story on the subject, RDJ has nothing to prove awards-wise; although it is odd that Disney/Marvel Studios declined to back a “Disney Legend.”
Unaunted, the fans persist in their efforts toward a nomination.
Several Change.org petitions to have been started in hopes of swaying the Oscars into nominating Downey for its Best Actor category. Per Comicbook.com, the campaigns started months ago but started to generate more activity after Downey was left off Disney’s list.
Meanwhile, Joe Russo said:
“It’s certainly as difficult as it gets—without question… I don’t know if I have ever seen—in movie history—a global audience react to a performance the way they did to Robert Downey in that movie. There were people bawling in movie theaters, hyperventilating. That is a profound performance, when you can touch audiences all over the world to that degree. We’ve never seen anything like that, and if that doesn’t deserve an Oscar, I don’t know what does.”
There is, of course, still hope. The Academy has not yet posted their nominations.
But what do you think? Who is your nominee for “best actor” this year? Let us know in the comments.