In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the characters of Iron Man and Spider-Man have been inseparable. The characters built a bond over the course of several films, so it's not too surprising that actors Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Holland have done the same. The pair have become close, though the fact that Iron Man is now gone from the Marvel Cinematic Universe now means that Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr. don't get to make movies together anymore.
Spider-Man: Far From Home is the first time that the MCU Spider-Man has made a movie without his buddy Iron Man, but the two clearly still have a strong connection. It turns out Tom Holland even has the perfect nickname for his buddy Robert, as he recently admitted that Downey's phone number in his phone is labeled with more than just a name. According to Holland...
He's The Godfather in my phone. Yeah, he's like, RDJ The Godfather. Yeah, that's what I have him as.
It's a fitting nickname. In many ways, Robert Downey Jr. is the godfather. While he certainly didn't realize it back when he was making the first Iron Man movie, he was starting to build his own legacy as well as one that one expand far beyond him, with which his career will always be linked.
Now Iron Man is gone, but Robert Downey Jr. is still the Godfather. The MCU just wouldn’t be the place that is if it wasn’t for him. It’s his empire. The proof of its success is that it no longer actually needs him to survive and thrive.
It’s unclear if Robert Downey Jr. knows that Tom Holland thinks of him as “The Godfather.” If he does, he probably loves it.
While Tony Stark might not be a character in Spider-Man: Far From Home, he does cast a shadow over the film. The fact that Iron Man is gone is something that Peter Parker has to deal with, and has trouble dealing with, throughout the new film.
Tom Holland actually reveals to Marvel at the premiere of Spider-Man: Far from Home that the pair spoke the evening before, so the friendship between the two actors is clearly still strong. It had to be a little strange to be there and not see Downey. Not only have Iron Man and Spider-Man been in all of Spider-Man's previous MCU appearances, but the two characters have always performed alongside each other. Working together like that you're either going to become friends or drive each other crazy.
Check out Holland's full comments in the clip below.
Hopefully, the Godfather and Tom Holland will be able to remain friends even if they’re not working together as often anymore. Perhaps Tom Holland will become the new Godfather. There’s a vacuum at the top and Spider-Man could become the most important part of the MCU going forward.
