Robert Downey Jr. recently revealed in an episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast how he will be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom in the upcoming film “Avengers: Doomsday.” Downey explained that his return stemmed from a meeting with Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige and Disney CEO Bob Iger, where they discussed his potential contributions to the company’s theme parks. During this meeting, Feige proposed the idea of bringing Downey back on screen, despite his character, Iron Man, having met a dramatic end in “Avengers: Endgame.” The concept of portraying Victor Von Doom, the iconic Fantastic Four villain, was brought up, and Downey expressed his excitement about the prospect. He emphasized the importance of evolving and surpassing expectations with this new endeavor.
In a surprising turn of events, it was revealed that Robert Downey Jr. is set to take on the role of Doctor Doom in the Marvel universe. The decision came after a meeting between Downey and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, followed by a discussion with Disney CEO Bob Iger at Iger’s house, where the concept received Iger’s approval. Downey’s return as Doctor Doom was officially announced at the end of a Comic-Con panel. The actor made a dramatic entrance by walking onto the stage wearing a Doctor Doom mask, only to reveal himself by taking it off. Joe Russo, the director, expressed his excitement about Downey’s return, citing it as evidence of the vast possibilities within the Marvel multiverse. He also praised Downey as the perfect fit for the character, referring to him as “the one person who could play Victor Von Doom.”
However, this casting decision raised many questions among fans, especially regarding the potential connection between Doctor Doom and Downey’s previous Marvel character, Iron Man. Some speculated that Doctor Doom might be portrayed as an evil version of Tony Stark from an alternate universe. On the other hand, some argued that Doctor Doom might resemble Tony Stark without any substantive connection to the character, similar to how actors like Gemma Chan have portrayed multiple unrelated Marvel characters. The ambiguity surrounding this casting choice has created a sense of anticipation and curiosity among Marvel fans.
Robert Downey Jr. did not confirm which theory is correct on the “Awards Chatter” podcast, but his statement about Kevin Feige wanting to get Victor Von Doom “right” could imply that he will be portraying a comic-accurate version of the character, rather than an evil Tony Stark variant. This Iron Man variant concept was met with controversy among fans, with some feeling disappointed in the idea that Marvel might deviate from the character’s comics history.
Downey’s return marks a significant shift for Marvel, as the original plan was for Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror to be the villain in the next “Avengers” film, previously titled “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.” For Downey, this return marks a homecoming following his recent Oscar win for best supporting actor for his role in “Oppenheimer.”
While it was widely assumed that Downey would eventually return to the MCU, most fans thought he would reprise an alternate universe version of Tony Stark, not take on a new villainous character. Gwyneth Paltrow, who played Tony Stark’s love interest Pepper Potts in the “Iron Man” and “Avengers” films, also expressed confusion about Downey’s return when she commented on her former co-star’s Instagram last month, asking, “I don’t get it, are you a baddie now?”
