Key Takeaways
- Robert Downey Jr. to play Doctor Doom in next Avengers film, Avengers: Doomsday.
- Downey Jr. had specific requests, including Russo brothers directing future Avengers films.
- Doom’s casting should address emotional impact of Stark’s sacrifice in previous films.
Marvel Studios surprised fans everywhere when Kevin Feige, with the help of Joe and Anthony Russo, revealed the next Avengers film, The Avengers: Doomsday. More shockingly, however, was the news that former Iron Man actor, Robert Downey Jr., had signed on to play the classic Marvel Comics villain, Doctor Doom in the film. The move was a surprising one, as fans wondered how Doom’s likeness to Tony Stark would be addressed in The Avengers: Doomsday.
Since news of Doom’s casting was unveiled during Marvel Studios‘ Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Downey Jr. has opened up regarding him returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has addressed his demands that needed to happen before he signed on for the role, as well as what ultimately drew him to tackling the role of Doctor Doom. With that in mind, The Avengers: Doomsday has the ability to strike an emotional beat, and Marvel Studios would be smart to do so.
What Led to Downey Returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe
When Iron Man was released in 2008, it wasn’t known whether Kevin Feige’s hopes of launching an interconnected cinematic universe would prove successful. With Marvel Comics’ most popular characters spread out among other studios, including Spider-Man at Sony and the X-Men at Fox, Marvel was forced to try to build its own universe using its not-so-popular heroes. There was no guarantee that the film would be a success, but still Marvel had hopes, and included a tag featuring Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury that indicated they were only getting started. Over the years, as the rest of the core Avengers came together, Iron Man served as the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Not only would he continue to serve as one of the main Avengers, but he would also serve as a mentor to Spider-Man after Sony and Marvel Studios struck a deal to share the character. After Iron Man made the ultimate sacrifice in The Avengers: Endgame, Downey Jr. appeared ready to leave the Marvel Cinematic Universe behind him after a decade of playing Tony Stark. Then he met with Feige earlier this year about playing Doctor Doom, and after conversations were had about what the actor required, he would go on to sign on for a second role within the universe he helped to create.
According to Downey Jr., during a podcast for The Hollywood Reporter, he took the time to familiarize himself with the character after Feige approached him about the idea of returning as Victor von Doom. It was after reading up on Doom that Downey Jr. truly felt excitement over the possibility. To which Feige responded with, “Let’s get him right.” From there, the actor had a handful of requests, perhaps the biggest being that he required Joe and Anthony Russo to return, too, and direct the next two Avengers films. Along with that request, the actor also asked for a substantial payday, private jet travel, a trailer encampment and personal security. With Marvel Studios agreeing to his terms, Downey Jr. is set to play the iconic Fantastic Four villain, and continue moving the Marvel Cinematic Universe forward, rather than backward.
Why Doom’s Casting Needs to Hit an Emotional Beat
When it was announced that Downey Jr. was set to play Doctor Doom, many fans wondered how this would work. Would he be a Tony Stark variant, to explain the likeness of both characters? Or would he simply be playing Victor von Doom without any mention of his work as Tony Stark. From what it looks like, it’s more than likely the latter, which offers Marvel Studios the chance to deliver one heck of an emotional beat in The Avengers: Doomsday. When Stark died in Endgame, we watched his fellow heroes mourn his death, struggling to accept his sacrifice. Choosing to ignore the fact that Doom and Stark look the same would do a disservice to the story Marvel Studios is setting up. The man they watched sacrifice himself to save the world has now come back, in a way, to terrorize them and the rest of the world. There’s not only going to be a shock factor that needs to be addressed, but also a sense of hurt watching as someone they admired goes from superhero to super villain. Even if they defeat Doom, they might see it as defeating an old friend.
The casting of Downey Jr. as Doom has the potential to bring with it an emotional element the Marvel Cinematic Universe so desperately needs. The Avengers: Infinity War and The Avengers: Endgame were full of emotional punches. Whether it was losing two of the original Avengers, or watching as Steve Rogers walked away from life as Captain America for the chance at a life of happiness, or even watching as all the heroes came together to take on Thanos – the emotional beats were there. With the Marvel Cinematic Universe having struggled drastically since then to recapture what made those movies so great, The Avengers: Doomsday has the chance to help bring the important emotional beats with Doom as he comes face to face with Stark’s former Avengers. One can only hope Marvel Studios understands how to handle it properly.
