Is Robert Downey Jr. really playing Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday? The Iron Man actor speaks out about his grand return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The internet had mixed reactions when it was revealed that Robert Downey Jr. would officially be making his return to the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday, now playing the new role of Doctor Doom. This announcement led to the rise of a theory that the version of Doctor Doom he’d be playing would actually be an Iron Man variant. However, during a recent interview, Downey Jr. revealed that he’s playing the true blue Victor Von Doom.
“So, probably a year ago…cause, you know, [Kevin] Feige and I have kept in touch. We’re pals,” Downey Jr. explained in a recent talk with The Hollywood Reporter. “Favreau, Feige, and I have kept in touch. I’m close with the Russo Brothers; we have other business we’re doing.”
“So, there’s this little group of fellow travellers and I had this instinct that I wanted to go to Bob Iger and I had an idea outside of the Cinematic Universe for how I could be of service to what’s going on in the Parks and all their location-based entertainment.”
“Susan [Downey] and I were sitting down with Feige at one point and he said, ‘It just keeps occurring to me that if you were to come back…’ and Susan was like, ‘Wait, wait, come back as what?’ Then we both realised over time that it was another thing that just disproves any doubt anyone could ever have about that guy, a very sophisticated creative thinker, about how can we not go backwards, how can we not disappoint expectations, how we can continue to beat expectations?”
“And he brought up Victor Von Doom. I looked up this character and I was like, ‘Wow.’ Later, Kevin goes, ‘Let’s get Victor Von Doom right. Let’s get that right.'”
This statement confirms that Robert Downey Jr. will indeed be playing Victor Von Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, and not an Iron Man variant. While accurate to the comics regarding the time that Doctor Doom became Iron Man, it’s an idea that might leave some fans disappointed in hoping that Tony Stark would be making his return to the MCU in some form.
The Controversies Around Robert Downey Jr. As Doctor Doom
Though the controversies around Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU return don’t stop at fans disappointed he’s not playing an Iron Man variant. Many online have taken aim at Kevin Feige for not casting a Romani actor to play Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, as Victor Von Doom was born in a Romani camp outside of Latveria’s capital city in the original comics.
Of course, it’s not likely that Robert Downey Jr. will be sticking around the MCU after Avengers: Doomsday. His return as Doctor Doom will likely only be temporary as a way to cap off the multiverse saga, with a new actor being brought in to play a more permanent version of Victor Von Doom in subsequent films.
Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit theaters in May 2026. Stay tuned for the latest news regarding the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content!