‘Come Back As What?’: Robert Downey Jr. Explains His Decision To Return To The MCU As Doctor Doom

‘Come Back As What?’: Robert Downey Jr. Explains His Decision To Return To The MCU As Doctor Doom

As a lifelong Marvel fan who has witnessed the incredible journey of the MCU unfold, I must say that Robert Downey Jr.’s decision to take on the role of Doctor Doom is nothing short of electrifying! The fact that Tony Stark’s alter ego will now face off against one of the most iconic villains in the Marvel Universe is a testament to the enduring appeal of these characters and the creative vision of the Marvel Studios team.


In July, a significant announcement hit comic book movie enthusiasts: Robert Downey Jr. would rejoin the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but this time as the menacing villain, Doctor Doom. This news was more than just surprising; it was earth-shattering! Ever since the revelation, fans have been expressing their opinions about Downey stepping into the role of Doom. Apart from a playful social media post, the actor himself has kept fairly silent on the matter. However, recently, the Academy Award winner shared some insights as to why he chose to accept this new challenge.

As a hardcore gamer, I was totally hyped when they announced my role in the Oppenheimer star at this year’s San Diego Comic Con. I remember striding onto that Hall H stage, cloaked in green and masked in metal, before making a grand reveal – it was quite the spectacle! Of course, as one of the original Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) players, I can’t dish too many details about my new comic book gig. But during a chat with THR’s Awards Chatter Podcast, I did share some intriguing tidbits about how I managed to snag this awesome part. It’s funny, but even though I’m still pals with Kevin Feige and other Marvel Studios heavyweights, it all kicked off when I decided I wanted a sit-down with Bob Iger from the Walt Disney Company to talk about an idea I had.

Feige, Favreau, and I have maintained a connection, we’re friends. Additionally, I’m tight with the Russo Brothers. We’ve got various projects ongoing, so it feels like we’re part of a shared journey. At one point, an idea popped up in my mind about approaching Bob Iger, offering suggestions for enhancing the parks and their location-based entertainment beyond the cinematic universe. Susan [Downey] and I had a meeting with Feige at some point, and he mentioned, ‘The thought just keeps crossing my mind that if you were to return…’ Susan asked, ‘Hold on, what do you mean return as what?’

Initially, the Downey family was surprised to hear about Robert’s potential return for future Marvel films. After all, Tony Stark’s death at the end of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame seemed final, as even Kevin Feige had firmly stated that this particular event wouldn’t be reversed. However, it was later revealed that Feige had a different plan in mind, and eventually, the Downeys had a sudden realization:

And then we both realized, over time, that it was another thing that just disproves any doubt anyone could ever have about [Feige] – a very sophisticated, creative thinker – about how can we not go backwards, how can we not disappoint expectations, how can we continue to beat expectations? And he brought up Victor von Doom, and I looked into this character, and I was like, ‘Wow…’ And, later on, [Feige] goes, ‘Let’s get Victor von Doom right. Let’s get that right.’

It could be assumed that the matter was settled following that discussion. Yet, there remained another individual whom the actor portraying Sherlock Holmes wished to confer with before making a final decision.

In this scenario, I asked Kevin if I could speak with Bob Iger, to which he inquired about the topic. I replied that I wanted to discuss everything with him. Later, we went to Bob Iger’s house, and after sitting down, I began expressing my desire to be involved in various aspects of his endeavors. He seemed receptive to my ambitions. This version aims to maintain the informal, conversational tone while providing a clearer understanding of the dialogue.

More on Robert Downey Jr.

‘Come Back As What?’: Robert Downey Jr. Explains His Decision To Return To The MCU As Doctor Doom

In a humorous outburst that has since gone viral on TikTok, Anthony Mackie playfully expressed his hope to have an action scene with Robert Downey Jr. in their upcoming Marvel project.

Robert Downey Jr. has been chosen to portray Doctor Doom in the movies “Avengers: Doomsday” and its follow-up “Secret Wars”. These films will bring him back together with directors Joe and Anthony Russo. Some fans are thrilled at the thought of Downey playing this iconic villain, but others express concern about his suitability for the role. However, given Downey’s acting talent, there’s a possibility that he could deliver an impressive performance as Doctor Doom.

It seems clear that the iconic Avengers character is deeply invested in rejoining the MCU and delivering an exceptional performance. However, it remains to be seen when we’ll get a real taste of his acting in this role. Fingers crossed that he can capture lightning in a bottle once more, breathing life into another fascinating Marvel figure on the silver screen.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but share that you can revisit Robert Downey Jr.’s iconic roles in the Iron Man series and beyond by subscribing to Disney+. For a truly immersive experience, why not take a journey through the Marvel Cinematic Universe and stream all the movies in sequence? This way, you’ll fully appreciate the epic narrative of the Infinity Saga!

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2024-08-21 01:07