Robert Downey Jr. at the viewing party for the 81st Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Golden Globes 2024/Golden Globes 2024 via Getty Images

Robert Downey Jr. now has one less obstacle on his road to redemption after leaving Marvel high and dry

Hang in there, Charles Melton nation!

The Best Supporting Actor race is arguably the fiercest of this Awards season. So many incredible performances drawn from alluring real-life narratives, not least of which is Robert Downey Jr.‘s. Following the Oppenheimer actor’s Golden Globe win and the announcement of the SAG Awards nominees, it’s looking more and more likely that he will get his triumphant finale.

Recommended Videos

A fantastic character actor whose career has been monopolized by an increasingly one-note role in an entropic and sanitized sprawling franchise makes his big comeback to critically-acclaimed cinema with a performance no one saw coming in one of the biggest films of the year. It’s hard not to see the appeal of this particular redemption arc, with the Oscar as the vindicating cherry on top.

Downey’s biggest threat seems to be losing steam

Charles Melton operates a grill in 'May December'.
Image via Netflix

For a while there, there was one other actor’s story that seemed even more exceptional than RDJ’s. Charles Melton, who gained attention for playing a stand-offish jock in the CW’s quizzically outrageous teen show Riverdale, stunned critics and viewers alike in a transformative display as a victim of grooming in Todd Haynes’ May December. What’s a better headline than Tony Stark winning an Oscar? Reggie Mantle winning one.

Melton collected wins at a number of different Critics Associations awards, including two of the four major ones — the New York Film Critics Circle, and the National Society of Film Critics. He was also named Best Supporting Performance at the Gotham Awards. Things were looking up for the 33-year-old, until the BAFTA nominees were shared. RDJ was featured, but Melton didn’t even make the longlist.

Soon after, the May December actor watched from the dinner table at the Beverly Hilton as Downey picked up the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Male Actor in a Film. A few days later, Melton was also shunned from the SAG Awards, not even receiving as much as a nomination. The latter snubbing was a particularly big blow to his Oscar chances, considering the significant overlap between the SAG Awards voting body and that of the Academy.

With a few days to go until the Oscars nominations are revealed, and a couple more months left until the ceremony, it is now looking less and less likely that Melton’s Riverdale underdog success story will beat out Downey’s big comeback to the world of “real” cinema.

Although it would be a welcome change to see such an unexpected, young talent win a prize that seems so often reserved for the veterans, there’s something undeniably remarkable about Downey’s multiple-decade-long trajectory that has culminated in a fantastic scene-stealing outing as Cillian Murphy’s antagonist in the impressive Oppenheimer. Either would make worthy winners, but it’s disappointing that Melton is now tracking so far behind. Let’s hope he at least makes it into the group of nominees when they’re announced on Jan. 23.


We Got This Covered is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
related content
Read Article What happened to Chip Gaines?
Fixer Upper's Chip Gaines
Fixer Upper's Chip Gaines
Fixer Upper's Chip Gaines
Read Article Chrisean Rock’s surprisingly normal life before Blueface, explained
Read Article Is Sabrina Carpenter dating Marvel’s Barry Keoghan?
Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan on the set of 'Please Please Please'.
Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan on the set of 'Please Please Please'.
Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan on the set of 'Please Please Please'.
Read Article Prince Harry may be overcome with ‘regret’ over giving King Charles a taste of his own medicine but Meghan Markle couldn’t care less
ABUJA, NIGERIA - MAY 10: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit Lightway Academy on May 10, 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria.
ABUJA, NIGERIA - MAY 10: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit Lightway Academy on May 10, 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria.
ABUJA, NIGERIA - MAY 10: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit Lightway Academy on May 10, 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria.
Read Article Amy Winehouse’s cause of death confirmed
British singer Amy Winehouse performs at the Riverside Studios for the 50th Grammy Awards ceremony via video link on February 10, 2008 in London, England. Winehouse won 5 out of her 6 nominations including, record of the year, best new artist, song of the year, pop vocal album and female pop vocal performance. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images for NARAS)
British singer Amy Winehouse performs at the Riverside Studios for the 50th Grammy Awards ceremony via video link on February 10, 2008 in London, England. Winehouse won 5 out of her 6 nominations including, record of the year, best new artist, song of the year, pop vocal album and female pop vocal performance. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images for NARAS)
British singer Amy Winehouse performs at the Riverside Studios for the 50th Grammy Awards ceremony via video link on February 10, 2008 in London, England. Winehouse won 5 out of her 6 nominations including, record of the year, best new artist, song of the year, pop vocal album and female pop vocal performance. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images for NARAS)
Related Content
Read Article What happened to Chip Gaines?
Fixer Upper's Chip Gaines
Read Article Chrisean Rock’s surprisingly normal life before Blueface, explained
Read Article Is Sabrina Carpenter dating Marvel’s Barry Keoghan?
Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan on the set of 'Please Please Please'.
Read Article Prince Harry may be overcome with ‘regret’ over giving King Charles a taste of his own medicine but Meghan Markle couldn’t care less
ABUJA, NIGERIA - MAY 10: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit Lightway Academy on May 10, 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria.
Read Article Amy Winehouse’s cause of death confirmed
British singer Amy Winehouse performs at the Riverside Studios for the 50th Grammy Awards ceremony via video link on February 10, 2008 in London, England. Winehouse won 5 out of her 6 nominations including, record of the year, best new artist, song of the year, pop vocal album and female pop vocal performance. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images for NARAS)
Author
Francisca Tinoco
Francisca is a pop culture enthusiast and film expert. Her Bachelor's Degree in Communication Sciences from Nova University in Portugal and Master's Degree in Film Studies from Oxford Brookes University in the UK have allowed her to combine her love for writing with her love for the movies. She has been a freelance writer and content creator for five years, working in both the English and Portuguese languages for various platforms, including WGTC.