Iron Man’s Robert Downey Jr. Returns to the MCU as Villain Doctor Doom
The Hollywood Reporter
Despite some disappointments in recent Marvel films, the San Diego Comic-Con meeting on Saturday attempt to regain the favor of the viewers. Starting off the Panel, Madcap praised the success of Deadpool & Wolverine in the theatres, already in the line to become the highest grossing R-rated movie. Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige announced that Anthony and Joe Russo, directors of Avengers: The Russo brothers, who directed the films, Thor: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame would now take up the directing mantle of the next two films from Avengers. However, that was not the only trick up Feige’s sleeve.
“New mask, same task.”
Robert Downey Jr. surprises Hall H to announce his return to the MCU as Doctor Doom. pic.twitter.com/j1SEjzse3p
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) July 28, 2024
Robert Downey Jr. is set to make his comeback to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but not as Iron Man. Instead, he will portray the villain Doctor Doom in Avengers: Secret wars such as Doomsday and Avengers: Secret wars.
In Hall H where the major reveals occur in Comic Con The Hall went berserk. A dozen men dressed in masks wanted the audience to know who is playing Doom in the stage. Next, the whole team came closest to the crowd; one of the figures dropped the hood and turned to be none other than Downey Jr! He lifted up his arms, parodying the famous scene from the first Iron Man movie, where Tony Stark demonstrates his company’s bombs, referencing to the Marvel movie’s successful start.
The audience was ecstatic. It was already widely rumoured that Downey Jr. was coming back to the MCU, but most people assumed that he would come back as Tony Stark / Iron Man, not a brand-new character. The addition of this final kicker really left fans raising their eyebrows.
ROBERT DOWNEY JR RETURNS TO THE MCU AS DR DOOM!!!! 🤯🤯🤯 #SDCC2024 #SDCC pic.twitter.com/sNS2Rgf4ZH
— Mike Wayne (@MikeWayne) July 28, 2024
Entertainment Weekly is thus right when it suggests that Downey Jr. ‘s return is partly fated. Marvel is probably compensating him that way; however, knowing how much he has earned through the Marvel films, it is rather questionable why he is coming back; perhaps he misses it now, or perhaps he feels the obligation to save the franchise that he helped to create.
As for Marvel, they certainly lacked a new powerful antagonist, and Doctor Doom is very appropriate. He is a primary enemy of the Fantastic Four but has also fought the Avengers and the X-Men. Doom is intriguing for the same reasons Iron Man is: Victor Von Doom as like Tony Stark is a man with great intelligence but egoistic That’s why only Downey Jr. can properly act as Doom.
In the multiverse, there may be as many timelines as needed, so in another universe, Victor Von Doom is our Iron Man; or in another Tony Stark who does not have Pepper Potts to remind him of all the good he may turn villainous.
Gwyneth Paltrow who plays Pepper Potts cracked a joke on Downey Jr ‘s Instagram post about a new role, “I don’t get it, are you a baddie now? It would have been equally fun to see Paltrow come back just for the purpose of flirting with Downey jr new character.
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If Marvel is leaning into Doctor Doom’s opponent, this means that the Fantastic Four will be in subsequent films. This is encouraging, especially when the great cast revealed for the new Fantastic Four movie is on the horizon. They get their powers from cosmic radiation after a space flight is featured in the team’s background. The Thing is casted by Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn for Johnny Storm, Vanessa Kirby for Sue Storm and Mr. Fantastic by Pedro Pascal. The idea of Pascal and Downey Jr going head-to-head is exciting.
Despite this, earlier efforts to take Fantastic Four into cinema have not proven to be quite successful, I guess. Still, Russo brothers, who managed to achieve a great success with Infinity War and Endgame’s The Gray Man and Cherry released later were failed critically, which doesn’t give people much hope.
High-cast movies do not always turn out successful. Despite the cast starring actors of the highest category, The Eternals movie did poorly in terms of collections. As for Downey Jr., a good example for Marvel movies, will fans still complain about Marvel is too dependent on the old popular actors and actresses, and not so many new young talents and new hero characters.
However, the charm of RDJ and the Russo brothers’ experience in managing huge casts may make this approach possible. Tony Downey made an arms dealer likeable as Iron Man and people also like stories of people coming back from the dead. However, using a 59-year-old actor, and other experienced actors, two more questions concerning Marvel’s future plans have emerged. To completely rely on the bank of familiar actors would put the brake on new ideas, nevertheless, for many years, Marvel found balance in experienced actors and newbies. Perhaps the Russo brothers and Downey Jr. have novel ideas for Doctor Doom and the whole universe.
I am Praveen Kumar, a 21-year-old passionate about writing and staying informed. On CNA Times, I bring the latest news and updates, offering readers accurate and insightful information with my expertise and dedication.
