Hollywood loves a comeback story. One of the best comeback features is Robert Downey Jr. He almost retired from showbiz due to his addiction, and now he's the highest earning star. A big part of a comeback story is an actor's A-list BFFs.

For the 'Iron Man' actor, Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster played key roles in bringing him back to the fold. In the early 90s, Gibson was on top of the Hollywood pecking order with the Lethal Weapon series and 'Braveheart' which won an Academy Award for Best Picture and a Best Director nod for himself.

Jodie Foster is a two time Academy Award Best Actress. She won the second nod for "The Silence Of The Lambs" which opened the floodgates for the serial killer genre that persists up to now (we're not complaining, though). For more than a decade, they seemed to be infallible. However, that time has passed.

Robert Downey Jr. is very supportive, specifically of Mel Gibson. When he accepted the American Cinematheque Award in 2011 with Gibson beside him, he gave this speech (courtesty of Screenrant): "Unless you are without sin - and if you are, you are in the wrong f***ing industry, you should forgive him and let him work." 

The report from Radar Online has Iron Man flexing his clout by requesting Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster to be a part of The Avengers. He did not specify any role for them, though.

The source is quoted: "He wants to bring Mel and Jodie into the Marvel universe, preferably in one of the Avengers films. It's been a longtime dream of Robert's to help Mel and Jodie reach similar big box office heights like the ones he's achieved in recent years."

However, this might be more difficult than it seems. Gibson was recently disgraced for Anti-Semitic recorded comments that he made, and Marvel has their own share of Jewish partners. Radar Online's source continues:

 "Marvel is run by one of the richest and most prominent Israeli businessmen in Hollywood, and you can be sure even if Robert got down on his knees and begged, there's no place for Mel in the Marvel films." 

Kneeling and begging won't help. How about earning a billion dollars? The speculation is, if Marvel would relent to Downey's request, they need something in return. Negotiations have stalled between Marvel and RDJ with regards to another "Iron Man" sequel. "Iron Man 3" was 2013's biggest box office movie earning $1.2 billion worldwide. It's a no-brainer that they want to do another sequel, but despite Kevin Feige (Marvel president) commenting that they can consider other actors for Iron Man, they are aware that RDJ's charm accounts for much of the franchise's pull.

Apparently, Downey is not suggesting superhero roles for his two friends. Perhaps important peripheral roles like playing the American President in "Iron Man 3"-an idea that RDJ floated, but it was disapproved. After the mammoth success of the movie and the fact that RDJ's contract has lapsed, Iron Man has all the marbles now.