Robert Downey Jr is making his way back to Marvel!
The beloved actor is best known to many for his role as the superheroTony Stark/Iron Man in the blockbuster Iron Man film franchise, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The first Iron Man film, released in 2008, pulled the veteran Hollywood star out of the career doldrums and thrust him back into the spotlight.
Over three Iron Man films and another three Avengers films, he amassed a whole new fan base of moviegoers too young to remember Weird Science, Less Than Zero or Air America.
He has since gone on to enjoy a stellar second phase of his career, including a Best Supporting Actor Award in 2024 for his role in the critically acclaimed movie Oppenheimer.
Is Robert Downey Jr. returning as Dr Doom?
Yes! In a big reveal at the San Diego Comic Con on July 27, it has been confirmed that he’ll be taking on another iconic Marvel character – Fantastic Four villain Doctor Doom.
Avengers director Joe Russo was on stage with a row of masked and caped figures standing behind him when he dropped the news.
“If we’re going to bring Doctor Doom to the screen – he is one of the most complex characters, the most entertaining characters in all of fiction – if we are going to do this, then we are going to need the greatest actor in the world,” Russo said.
The caped figures then stepped aside and another figure in a metal mask and green suit strode to the front of the stage before dramatically pulling his mask off.
The second the crowd realised it was Downey Jr, they erupted into wild applause and loud cheers.
“New mask, same task,” Downey Jr told the audience.
He’ll play Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday (due May 2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars, slated for release in May 2027.
No doubt the team behind the new Avengers films hope to capitalise on the success of Deadpool and Wolverine, which opened to massive box office takings on July 25.
Here’s everything we know about the next two Avengers films and Robert Downey’s role in them.
Is Robert Downey Jr going back to Marvel?
Yes! It was revealed at the San Diego Comic Con on July 27, 2024, that Downey Jr would appear as Doctor Doom in the next two Marvel films, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
What Marvel character does Robert Downey Jr play?
Victor von Doom, AKA Doctor Doom, is a character in the Marvel comic universe, first appearing in The Fantastic Four #5 in July 1962.
He lives to rule through conquest and is the arch enemy of Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four, but also comes into conflict with other characters in the Marvel universe, including Iron Man, Spider-Man, the X-Men and the Avengers.
Doctor Doom is usually portrayed as a villain – although he helps others if it will also serve his own end goals.
Why did Robert Downey Jr leave Marvel?
Downey’s character was killed off in Avengers: Endgame after it was revealed that the actor would not be reprising the Iron Man role again.
“We are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again,” Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige told Vanity Fair in 2023.
“We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.”
Tears were shed during the final day on set.
“We’d already said tearful goodbyes on the last day of shooting. Everybody had moved on emotionally,” director Joe Russo said.
“We promised him it would be the last time we made him do it — ever.”
How does Iron Man become Doctor Doom?
It was the question on many fans’ lips after the big reveal: How could Downey Jr play Iron Man AND Doctor Doom? Are they one and the same character, or totally separate characters?
There are versions of Doctor Doom in the Marvel multiverse who actually are Tony Stark.
In one story line, Victor von Doom, AKA Doctor Doom, swaps bodies with Tony Stark in college. Trapped in his rival’s body, Stark swears revenge and sets out to destroy Doom’s company, called Stark Universal.
This may be the line Avengers: Doomsday goes down, but the plot details of Avengers: Doomsday have not been revealed, so fans will have to wait to find out!
Who will direct the next two Avengers films?
The films will be directed by the Russo brothers, Joe and Anthony Russo.
They’ve directed four Marvel films so far – Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
How did fans react Robert Downey Jr as Doctor Doom?
Once the news had settled in, the reaction was mixed. Many were ecstatic that the actor was returning to the Marvel universe, but others were confused by the casting choice.
Some couldn’t wrap their heads around whether Downey Jr was playing a completely new role or whether Iron Man somehow “becomes” Doctor Doom.
Many felt it was odd to cast Downey Jr after he had made Iron Man so iconic, feeling it would be difficult to separate the two roles.
“Either you become a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become a villain,” one fan noted on Marvel’s Instagram.
“Sorry but this is lazy casting. It tarnishes the legacy of Ironman/ Tony Stark,” one fan grumbled.
“This is because they want him to bring people back to a hurting MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) when it’s really better writing that will do that.
” Bring in lesser known actors with the chops to bring these characters to life and build out the universe using the tested and successful formula that ended in Avengers: Endgame.”
Another was more succinct: “Sorry, I just see Tony Stark.”
Several others pointed out that in the comics, Tony Stark and Doctor Doom were versions of each other.
“Man … people don’t get the multiverse thing,” one fan noted.
“It’s just a version of Doom that happens to be Tony Stark. I can’t wait to see how it plays out.”
“I’m still shocked, but also excited,” said another.
