# In 1996, Robert Downey Jr appeared on TV in handcuffs. A director wrote him a movie in four days: “I felt bad for him”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1996-robert-downey-jr-appeared-on-tv-in-handcuffs-a-director-wrote-him-a-movie-in-four-days-i-felt-bad-for-him/
- Published: 2026-10-24T00:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-24T01:11:15+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/in-1996-robert-downey-jr-appeared-on-tv-in-handcuffs-a-director-wrote-him-a-movie-in-four-days/
- Topics: Business, Entertainment, Film, Markets, TV

## Key points

- Toback wrote a film for Downey after seeing him in court.
- *Two Girls and a Guy* was written in four days.
- Downey later got clean and became Tony Stark in *Iron Man*.

## Summary

Robert Downey Jr was in the midst of severe drug and legal troubles in 1996, when director James Toback saw footage of him appearing in court in handcuffs. Feeling sympathy for the actor, Toback wrote the black comedy *Two Girls and a Guy* in four days, hoping to give him a bold role after rehab.

The film, which also starred Heather Graham, earned about $2 million and did not halt Downey’s troubles: he later served time in prison and underwent mandatory rehab. After further arrests, he got clean around 2006 and was cast in *Iron Man*, beginning his run as Tony Stark and a major chapter in the Marvel films.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.