Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom in a new “Avengers” movie titled “Avengers: Doomsday,” which will be directed by Joe and Anthony Russo in their return to Marvel.
The directing duo will direct two new “Avengers” movies: “Doomsday”,” which will introduce Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom, and “Avengers: Secret Wars”
The directing duo will direct two new “Avengers” films: “Doomsday”,” in which Victor von Doom/Doctor Doom is introduced, and “Avengers: Secret Wars”
While Downey had said in recent interviews that he was open to returning to Marvel, fans naturally assumed that meant he would return as Iron Man/Tony Stark.
Downey’s return in the role of villain Victor Von Doom was a huge shock to the fanbase, including the ecstatic audience at Marvel’s San Diego Comic-Con presentation.
Robert Downey made a triumphant appearance in Hall H on Saturday night to announce his return.
Downey’s first appearance as playboy and super-genius Stark was in 2008’s “Iron Man,” the first installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe developed by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.
Over the next 11 years, Downey played the role in 10 Marvel films, including “Iron Man 2″,” “Iron Man 3″,” “The Incredible Hulk”,” “The Avengers”,” “Captian America: Civil War”,” “Avengers: Age of Ultron”,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming”,” “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame”
in “Endgame”, the death of Iron Man is shown. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige emphasized to Vanity Fair last December that he had no interest in messing up Downey’s emotional exit.
“We are going to hold on to that moment and not touch it again,” Feige said at the time of Iron Man’s death. “We have all worked very hard for many years to get to this moment, and we would never want to magically undo it.”
Downey is now returning to Marvel, but not as Iron Man. The actor had spoken quite openly this year about his interest in returning to the franchise. In an interview with Esquire magazine after his Oscar win for “Oppenheimer”,” the actor was asked if he would ever return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe now that he has officially won an Academy Award. The actor didn’t hesitate to answer yes.
“Happily. It’s too much a part of my DNA,” Downey said. “This role chose me. And look, I always say, ‘Never bet against Kevin Feige.’ It’s a losing bet. He’s the house. He’s always going to win.”
The news about Victor von Doom continues a big year for the actor. In March, he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer”.
Downey was most recently seen in the cast of Park Chan-wook’s miniseries “The Sympathiser” on HBO, where he played CIA agent Claude and several other roles. He received an Emmy nomination for Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Anthology.
Marvel announces “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars” directed by the Russo brothers
Marvel announces “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars” directed by the Russo brothers
“Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” has been given a new title and has taken a turn. The next Avengers films will be “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars”, and both will be directed by the Russo brothers.
Directors Joe and Anthony Russo — who helmed four films in the MCU, including 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame” — have reunited with Marvel Studios to direct the next superhero team-up movie.
On Saturday night, they made their return official, taking the stage in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con to thunderous applause.
“When we directed ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ we believed that this was the end for us in the Marvel Cinematic Universe,” Joe Russo told the audience.
“Those four movies were incredible and drained us creatively.” In the meantime, however, the duo found a “very special story” that convinced them to come back. In fact, “it’s the greatest story Marvel Comics has ever told. It’s the reason Anthony and I are up here” And that movie is “Avengers: Secret Wars”
But to build towards the epic battle of “Secret Wars”,” the story would need the kind of instrumental character that is “required” to do “Secret Wars” justice.
So in comes Dr. Victor Von Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr, the man who put the MCU on the map with his diabolical role as Iron Man/Tony Stark.
The first film is titled “Avengers: Doomsday” and will hit theatres in May 2026, with “Avengers: Secret Wars” following in May 2027.
The Russo brothers’ independent studio, AGBO, will co-produce the film in a rare partnership with Marvel. Stephen McFeely, who has co-written all four of the Russos’ Marvel films (including “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”,” “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War”), will take over the screenplay for “Doomsday” and “Secret Wars”, replacing Michael Waldron (“Loki”), who was originally tasked with the screenplay for “The Kang Dynasty” and “Secret Wars”
The Russo brothers are stepping in for Destin Daniel Cretton, who left “Kang Dynasty” in November 2023 to focus on other Marvel projects, including a possible sequel to his 2021 film “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”