If you need an example of superhero flicks taking risks, Robert Downey Jr. was a massive risk on behalf of the studios. Favreau and Downey fought very hard to nab him that part, but the studios looked at Tom Cruise and other A-listers before accepting him. He didn't even get paid that much, $500,000 (well it's a lot to you and me, but it's cheap for a flick like that). And now he rakes in tens of millions per movie.