Robert Downey Jr. Has A Shelved Movie Directed By Jamie Foxx That Can’t Be Released
Robert Downey Jr once teamed up with Jamie Foxx for a sports movie, but you are never going to get to see it.
Since Robert Downey Jr. left his role as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, audiences have been clamoring to see one of their favorite actors return to his comedy roots. The actor who is best known for his role as Tony Stark started his career in film as part of the so-called Brat Pack in movies like Weird Science. Taking on more roles in the decades that followed, the two-time Academy Award-nominee is famous for his take on eccentric characters. Now, a movie that Robert Downey Jr. made with Jamie Foxx will be shelved for the foreseeable future.
According to a report by Variety, All-Star Weekend will remain shelved until further notice, primarily because of the sensitive nature that comedy films have found themselves in at the present time. All-Star Weekend stars Robert Downey Jr. in a movie directed by Jamie Foxx, alongside an ensemble cast that includes Eva Longoria, Jeremy Piven, Ken Jeong, Gerard Butler, and Benicio del Toro. The movie centers around two friends (Foxx and Piven) who form a rivalry concerning their favorite NBA players, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry. The movie was filmed in 2016 with an anticipated release date of 2018 and has sat idle ever since.
While All-Star Weekend could have been a massive step as a director for Jamie Foxx, the controversy surrounding Robert Downey Jr.’s character may have stalled the movie’s release indefinitely. According to an interview Foxx gave with CinemaBlend, he revealed that Downey’s role as a Mexican has complicated the movie, even though he only filmed his part for one day on set. Although test screenings proved the comedy worked on many levels, with audiences laughing at Downey’s part, the studios behind the film are weary of the current climate. Similar movies are often ridiculed for casting white actors in roles that people of color typically would be seen in.
Unfortunately for Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx, the irony of All-Star Weekend’s shelving is very apparent. Downey was previously nominated for an Academy Award for playing Kirk Lazarus in Ben Stiller’s Tropic Thunder, an Australian actor who subscribes to method acting to play any role. His dedication to his craft resulted in the fictional Lazarus undergoing surgery to temporarily turn his skin darker to play a Black character in the movie within the movie. The role was considered controversial then, but it was also one of the actor’s most successful parts to date. Tropic Thunder went on to gross over $195 million at the box office against a budget of $92 million.
Further complicating All-Star Weekend from being released is star Jeremy Piven’s noted past sexual harassment allegations that surfaced after the film wrapped production. US Weekly reports that eight women have accused the actor of sexual misconduct over an extended period since 2017, which coincided with the #MeToo movement that swept through Hollywood. The scandal mixed with Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of a Mexican man has put the Jamie Foxx-directed film into a tailspin, and it looks like audiences will likely not be able to see the movie at all.
