Robert Downey Jr’s MCU Return: Can Marvel Capture the Magic Again?

Is it really so shocking that Robert Downey Jr is set to return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, not as Iron Man/Tony Stark, but as the supervillain Doctor Doom? Well, yes, because nobody had anticipated this twist when the actor was revealed at Comic-Con in San Diego last weekend. Despite the introduction of the multiverse after Stark’s death in Avengers: Endgame more than five years ago, the studio had chosen not to bring the superhero back as an alternate reality version of himself. The widespread belief was that Downey Jr was done with superhero roles, and any return of Iron Man would be far off in the future, likely featuring a new actor.

The announcement that Downey Jr will return in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, both expected to hit cinemas by 2027, has almost certainly dashed the chances of him ever playing Stark again. Marvel’s decision is ingenious in many ways. Downey Jr is the actor who launched the studio’s most popular phase with 2008’s Iron Man. Given he is now portraying an entirely new character, producers cannot be accused of rehashing old material. This isn’t akin to Sean Connery reprising his role as 007 in Never Say Never Again or Arnold Schwarzenegger returning as the T-800 repeatedly. There’s potential for creating something far more intriguing with Downey Jr as Doctor Doom. Victor von Doom, the role that demands an actor with significant weight, is one of Marvel’s most complex supervillains.

Despite being a central figure in the comics as the terrifying, magic-and-science-wielding nemesis of the Fantastic Four, Doom has largely been a joke on the big screen. Julian McMahon’s portrayal in 2005’s Fantastic Four was more disgruntled tech bro than sinister monarch. The character’s return in 2007’s Rise of the Silver Surfer saw Doom engage in forgettable mediocrity. Toby Kebbell’s portrayal in the misguided 2015 reboot lacked charisma, adding to the list of disappointments.

However, those films were not produced by Marvel Studios in its modern form. With Downey Jr’s savvy in the role, there’s no reason why the memory of those previous failures should linger if Doomsday lives up to its potential. Consider how audiences of 1978’s Superman fondly remember it, despite the weaker portrayal in 1951’s Superman and the Mole Men, a film long since overshadowed by its more successful successors.

Downey Jr as Doom is a major upgrade over Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror, considering the latter’s significant legal troubles. The decision to replace Majors seems to have alleviated Marvel’s concerns. Instead of reminding audiences of past missteps, this new Victor von Doom will likely make his debut in the highly anticipated 60s-set The Fantastic Four: First Steps, due out in 2025. Now, director Matt Shakman faces the challenge of integrating this new Fantastic Four and their nemesis into the main Marvel universe.

How Marvel will address the fact that Von Doom looks exactly like Tony Stark remains a mystery. It’s unlikely that the studio would ignore this key detail or spend a reported $80 million to rehire such a high-profile actor just to keep his face hidden behind a mask. Could it be that in the Fantastic Four’s reality, Tony Stark ended up becoming Doctor Doom rather than Iron Man? If so, why did the Russo brothers introduce RDJ on stage at Comic-Con specifically as Victor von Doom?

These tantalizing “What if?” scenarios could lead to fans rejoicing at the multiversal high jinks. However, it might also mean that we may never see the true Von Doom in the MCU. Downey Jr as the supervillain is not a mere gimmick like the cameo appearances in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. This role needs to have longevity, as he is set to be the new Marvel big bad in two Avengers movies. He can’t be just a Stark variant who gets replaced by the real Von Doom.

What if this plan doesn’t work out? The sports world is full of stories about middle-aged athletes returning to their former glory only to fade away quickly. It’s challenging to replicate success a second time, and Marvel is attempting something even more ambitious. This casting decision is like trying to capture lightning in a bottle—twice. Even if Iron Man and Doctor Doom were locked in a room for decades, they might struggle. Yet, is that the sound of Marvel gearing up we hear?

Source: The Guardian