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Robert Downey Jr. Returns to the MCU as Doctor Doom

This weekend has been quite remarkable for Marvel Studios. Deadpool & Wolverine, the only Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film releasing this year, premiered in theaters last Thursday night. By Friday morning, almost all of its surprise cameos had already been revealed on Twitter, even making it to the trending topics section. For those who had hoped to enjoy seeing the Merc with a Mouth team up with the Ol’ Canucklehead without being spoiled beforehand, you have my sympathies.

Thursday also marked the return of San Diego Comic-Con, where Marvel Studios lit up Hall H as they’ve done many times before. Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, along with director/co-writer Shawn Levy, showed up to promote Deadpool & Wolverine. They thrilled the audience by announcing that they would screen the film in its entirety and watch it alongside the audience.

The weekend’s most earth-shattering news came from Marvel at Comic-Con on Friday. Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige appeared on stage with directors Joe and Anthony Russo, who are returning to the MCU to direct the next two Avengers films. They revealed that the fifth Avengers film will be titled Avengers: Doomsday and announced the casting of Doctor Doom. And the chosen actor to play this significant role? Robert Downey Jr.

The Internet exploded with reactions to this casting announcement. On one hand, some fans were ecstatic at the idea of seeing Downey Jr. return to the MCU as a more malevolent variant of Tony Stark. On the other hand, many expressed disappointment, seeing this casting choice as lazy and uninspired. Critics argued that a character as vital as Victor Von Doom should have been introduced as his own person, and suggested that other actors, possibly of Romani heritage, could have been given a chance to shine in this iconic role.

Regardless of where one stands on the issue, it’s clear that Marvel and Disney are striving to regain their former glory by bringing back one of their most beloved stars. Downey Jr. has already made a lasting impact in the MCU, starring in the film that launched the franchise and going out in dramatic fashion with the snapping of the Infinity Gauntlet to defeat Thanos. The fact that he recently spoke about enjoying non-MCU roles that challenge his acting abilities only to return to Marvel speaks volumes about the offer he received.

In other Marvel news at San Diego Comic-Con, the cast of The Fantastic Four — Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach — appeared on stage with director Matt Shakman to discuss the film before production starts in the U.K. on Monday. They revealed the film’s official title, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and gave a glimpse of the alternate universe 1960s setting, including shots of Marvel’s First Family in spacesuits, a spacecraft taking off, and a glimpse of Galactus. Composer Michael Giacchino will score the film.

For Captain America: Brave New World, Harrison Ford, who plays President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, joined the cast on stage. He humorously mentioned avoiding “current history” references while discussing his MCU role. Giancarlo Esposito revealed he’ll be playing Seth Voelker, a.k.a. Sidewinder, president of the Serpent Society, debunking other online speculations about his role.

Thunderbolts* also got attention at Comic-Con. The asterisk beside Thunderbolts* remains a mystery, with speculation that the team might actually be the Dark Avengers. David Harbour appeared in costume as Red Guardian, only to find himself the only one suited up. Footage of film stunts included a fight sequence between Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and John Walker (Wyatt Russell). Julia Louis-Dreyfus expanded on her character Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s motivations as power-driven and combative.

Don’t expect any teaser footage shown at Comic-Con to appear online soon, as it was exclusive to the event. Unauthorized footage uploaded online will likely be swiftly taken down by Marvel Studios.

No matter your feelings about Marvel and Disney’s recent announcements, their goal to get everyone talking was undoubtedly achieved. The buzz has mostly been positive, with fans eagerly looking forward to what’s next in the MCU. If you’re still frustrated by Robert Downey Jr. being cast as Doctor Doom and view it as coasting on nostalgia, actor O’Shea Jackson Jr. offered some solace with a humorous tweet.

Captain America: Brave New World premieres on February 14, 2025. Thunderbolts* follows on May 5, 2025; The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25, 2025; Blade on November 7, 2025; Avengers: Doomsday on May 1, 2026; and Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027.

Source: Twitter, Deadline Hollywood

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