Robert Downey Jr., the American actor best known for helping launch the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his portrayal of Tony Stark in 2008’s Iron Man, has signed on to play iconic villain Victor Von Doom in two new Avengers films from the Russo Brothers—Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars—but not everyone is happy with the highly paid thespian’s return, according to mounting criticism that has surfaced following the announcement, which Marvel Studios made during a packed panel at this weekend’s San Diego Comic-Con event. The news comes five years after the release of Avengers: Endgame, the 2019 blockbuster that ends with a funeral for Stark after the character uses the Infinity Gauntlet against Thanos, sacrificing himself and dying in the process.
Release dates:
- Avengers: Doomsday (May 2026)
- Avengers: Secret Wars (May 2027)
Critics are saying:
- “RDJ Doom is either the most creatively bankrupt decision ever or it’s going to be the coolest sh*t we’ve ever seen.”
- “It will be terrible. Imagine robert pattinson now playing the joker….absolutely no need. 1000s of actors could of played this. I’d rather Doom be a woman, that a bootleg Stark varient.”
- “Perfectly played role from start to finish over 11 years and now it’s going to get marred. Even if it’s a multiverse thing. I’d rather see a new actor that even looks remotely like RDJ play Doom.”
- “…maybe this is a cope, but this could be mostly to completely a voice role, Dr Doom wears his mask most the time and even without it he’s usually disfigured, so when the movie comes out, we might not even be able to tell it’s RDJ hadn’t they told us.”
- “Can’t wait until Chris Hemsworth is cast as Annihilus! And Benedict Cumberbatch is Blastaar! The Marvel Recycled Universe.”
An online poll that suggests fans are largely divided:
The reveal at SDCC 2024:
A recap of the event from Marvel:
Taking the stage to raucous cheers, Joe and Anthony Russo told the crowd that they jumped at the chance to direct Secret Wars, calling it “the biggest story that Marvel comics ever told” and the reason they first “fell in love with comics.”
The Russos added that there is “one very, very important character that is required to do Secret Wars justice,” setting up the introduction of the notorious Doctor Doom. A group of green cloaked figures then took the stage in Doom masks, before one of them stepped forward to reveal himself as Downey. The Hall H crowd erupted, leading a chant of “RDJ!”
“New mask, same task,” Downey said. “What can I tell you? I like playing complicated characters.”
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Discussion (5 replies)
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I seem to remember some sort of story with a Doom/Iron Man kind of thing but it was after I stopped reading comics in the late 2000s so I don't really know the details but I think it was similar to the Doc Oc/Parker thing that happened around the same time. I could rant on and on but there really are quite a few epic stories to be told without doing this one.
Aside from that, yeah I don't think this was a great move. There are so many great stories left to tell. Doom needs to happen but not like this. The other big news over the weekend was the Galactus light show over Hall H and that alone could lead up something cool. With the FF on the way they could build up to the trial of Reed Richards and mix in some really cool stuff. However I've already been reading some depressing stuff regarding the FF movie.
With X-men around the corner they could finally do the Phoenix story the right way and include the Shi'ar trial plus the battle on the moon where they got their butts kicked and she had to sacrifice herself. They've got the budget so no need to chump it out like Fox did. There's also the mutant annihilation story with Nimrod that had some cool parts to it. Heck, the Dire Wraiths and Rom and could be really awesome.
I'm not a fan of superhero movies to begin with (too much suspense of disbelief for me) but I really hate it when they play fast and loose with portrayals.
If Robert Downey Jr. is coming back to the Marvel Universe, it should in some way be related to Stark.
Maybe Doctor Doom is somehow a Zombie Stark?
They shouldn't be breaking continuity by using different faces for the same character, or different characters with the same face.
"Zarathustra, post: 87639, member: 203" wrote:Maybe Doctor Doom is somehow a Zombie Stark?
I wouldn't be surprised if they go that route, they've already had a parallel universe 'Evil Dr Strange', so it wouldn't be that far fetched (albeit kinda boring). Personally, I hope they don't go this route and they make Doom his own unique separate character.
I don't mind the casting as RDJ for Doom, the character is always masked (and real ugly underneath), and RDJ is talented enough, where they could make Doom his own separate character.
"Peter_Brosdahl, post: 87620, member: 87" wrote:Aside from that, yeah I don't think this was a great move. There are so many great stories left to tell. Doom needs to happen but not like this. The other big news over the weekend was the Galactus light show over Hall H and that alone could lead up something cool. With the FF on the way they could build up to the trial of Reed Richards and mix in some really cool stuff. However I've already been reading some depressing stuff regarding the FF movie.
I'm hoping the title 'Doomsday' signifies a reboot of the current MCU (and its multi-verse), I'd be much more excited for the future of Marvel if Doom ends the current universe, and its rebooted with all of the various Marvel properties (FF, Xmen, Avengers) with new actors and origins.
I could totally see Tony Stark in an alternate universe becoming Doom (or a Doom-like villian) instead of Iron Man.
But given that Doom is already Victor and not Tony - I am not entirely into it, but equally I am not offended enough to really care much about it.
Ran across this after seeing the announcement and it explains the story line they are looking to follow. A "What If?" story line where Tony Stark is Victor Von Doom's roomate instead of Reed Richards. So @Peter_Brosdahl remembered correctly.
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Discussion (5 replies)
Join Discussion →I seem to remember some sort of story with a Doom/Iron Man kind of thing but it was after I stopped reading comics in the late 2000s so I don't really know the details but I think it was similar to the Doc Oc/Parker thing that happened around the same time. I could rant on and on but there really are quite a few epic stories to be told without doing this one.
Aside from that, yeah I don't think this was a great move. There are so many great stories left to tell. Doom needs to happen but not like this. The other big news over the weekend was the Galactus light show over Hall H and that alone could lead up something cool. With the FF on the way they could build up to the trial of Reed Richards and mix in some really cool stuff. However I've already been reading some depressing stuff regarding the FF movie.
With X-men around the corner they could finally do the Phoenix story the right way and include the Shi'ar trial plus the battle on the moon where they got their butts kicked and she had to sacrifice herself. They've got the budget so no need to chump it out like Fox did. There's also the mutant annihilation story with Nimrod that had some cool parts to it. Heck, the Dire Wraiths and Rom and could be really awesome.
I'm not a fan of superhero movies to begin with (too much suspense of disbelief for me) but I really hate it when they play fast and loose with portrayals.
If Robert Downey Jr. is coming back to the Marvel Universe, it should in some way be related to Stark.
Maybe Doctor Doom is somehow a Zombie Stark?
They shouldn't be breaking continuity by using different faces for the same character, or different characters with the same face.
I wouldn't be surprised if they go that route, they've already had a parallel universe 'Evil Dr Strange', so it wouldn't be that far fetched (albeit kinda boring). Personally, I hope they don't go this route and they make Doom his own unique separate character.
I don't mind the casting as RDJ for Doom, the character is always masked (and real ugly underneath), and RDJ is talented enough, where they could make Doom his own separate character.
I'm hoping the title 'Doomsday' signifies a reboot of the current MCU (and its multi-verse), I'd be much more excited for the future of Marvel if Doom ends the current universe, and its rebooted with all of the various Marvel properties (FF, Xmen, Avengers) with new actors and origins.
I could totally see Tony Stark in an alternate universe becoming Doom (or a Doom-like villian) instead of Iron Man.
But given that Doom is already Victor and not Tony - I am not entirely into it, but equally I am not offended enough to really care much about it.
Ran across this after seeing the announcement and it explains the story line they are looking to follow. A "What If?" story line where Tony Stark is Victor Von Doom's roomate instead of Reed Richards. So @Peter_Brosdahl remembered correctly.
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