Robert Downey Jr. gain more than 20 pounds of muscle in five months to look like he "had the power to forge iron". "Iron Man" was globally released between April 30 and May 3, 2008, grossing over $585 million worldwide and receiving rave reviews which cited Downey's performance as a highlight of the film. By October 2008, Downey had agreed to appear as Iron Man in two "Iron Man" sequels, as part of the Iron Man franchise, as well as "The Avengers", featuring the superhero team that Stark joins, based on Marvel's comic book series "The Avengers". He first reprised the role in
Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2008 and "I've Loved You So Long" • France/Germany Runners-Up: "Doubt" – John Patrick Shanley and "Frost/Nixon" – Peter Morgan Runners-Up: Josh Brolin – "Milk", Robert Downey Jr. – "Tropic Thunder" and Philip Seymour Hoffman – "Doubt" Runners-Up: Penélope Cruz – "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and Viola Davis – "Doubt" Runners-Up: "Continental, a Film Without Guns (Continental, un film sans fusil)" and "Up the Yangtze" Toronto Film Critics Association Awards 2008 The 12th Toronto Film Critics Association Awards, honoring the best in film for 2008, were given on December 17, 2008. Runners-Up: Sean Penn – "Milk" and Jean-Claude Van Damme – "JCVD"