any lingering financial pressures have been further eased by the success of The Avengers. Downey has taken pride in being deeply involved in every stage of the solo Iron Man movies, but for The Avengers he fitted into Joss Whedon's wider vision. "I really just showed up, hit my marks," he says. "Joss would write some lines or I would come up with a line. It was very easy—it was so easy I didn't see how it could work." Whatever contract Downey signed when he agreed to appear in multiple movies as Iron Man allowed him a share of The Avengers' payday far bigger than anyone could have anticipated. The Hollywood Reporter recently suggested that the true figure was around $50 million. It's not the kind of thing most actors are prepared to talk about, but I ask Downey anyway.
"Yeah," he says, smiling.
Is that number about right?
"Yeah." A broader smile.
That's amazing.
"Isn't that crazy?" he says. "They're so pissed. I can't believe it. I'm what's known as 'a strategic cost.' "
Watching this tonight while I sculpt and just noticed that the Not-FinFangFoom thing that Hulk and Thor take down into grand central station... Right after it crashes there is a final jolt of lightning that explodes it's right eye. It just pops and fluid bursts out. 
