Robert Downey Jr. Makes Surprise Appearance At SXSW Disney Parks Panel, Says Helping With New Stark Labs Disneyland Ride Is the ‘Privilege of a Lifetime’

At South by Southwest, Robert Downey Jr. astonished fans of Disney Parks by unexpectedly appearing and offering a sneak peek into the process of creating a new Stark Labs ride for Disneyland. On stage at “The Future of World-Building at Disney Panel,” Downey was joined by Marvel president Kevin Feige and Walt Disney Imagineering chief creative officer Bruce Vaughn. He shared exclusive footage from the soon-to-be-opened Stark Flight Lab attraction.

Downey referred to it as an extraordinary honor to be asked to collaborate with Disney’s Imagineering team, likening it to ‘the secret base for fun,’ he said. He further explained that these Imagineers are the living embodiment of Stark Enterprises’ mission statement, demonstrating traits such as curiosity, fervor, ingenuity, a touch of drama, and above all, the determination to create something positive and impactful.”

(I tried to keep the same flow and tone while making it easier to read.)

The upcoming ride at Disney California Adventure will immerse visitors in Tony Stark’s workshop, featuring “gyro-kinetic-pods”. This innovative experience draws inspiration from Stark’s mischievous robotic helpers, Dum-E and Dum-U, as seen in the Iron Man movies. Jon Favreau, who portrays Downey, has shared videos of dancers and choreographers collaborating with Imagineers to create movement patterns for the robot arms within the attraction.

Vaughn stated, ‘For the first time in a theme park, we’re moving from a track to a robot arm and then back again, an unprecedented feat!’ We’re thrilled about this innovation! Typically, technology is concealed behind the scenes to let the narrative shine. In this case, the technology itself is the narrative, so we’re showcasing it prominently.’

Downey concluded the discussion, assuring fans that there would be additional partnerships between him and the Imagineers. “I aim to stick around for the long term,” he shared with Feige and Vaughn. “This isn’t a single occasion. There’s a need for more of me.

Read More

2025-03-08 23:47