Marvel Hits The Panic Button With Robert Downey Jr. Return
Marvel was left in a very difficult situation when they had to sever ties with Jonathan Majors after his criminal charges. It meant firing the person playing the next big villain for their movies. Many speculated that the studio might simply recast Kang as someone new, but instead Marvel did something nobody expected: they brought back Robert Downey Jr. to play Doctor Doom.
Don’t Expect Iron Man
Marvel unveiled Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom at the Marvel Studios San Diego Comic-Con 2024 Panel. Downey walked out in Doom’s costume and unmasked to reveal himself. Rumors had swirled that he might be returning in some fashion soon, but obviously everyone expected that to mean as Iron Man.
Nobody expected the poster boy of the MCU to be recast as a supervillain.
While this is huge news, it is pretty clearly a move based on Marvel feeling like they were in a “break glass in case of emergency” situation. Doctor Doom has not even officially joined the MCU yet and bringing back Robert Downey Jr. to play the villain feels like a totally out of left field move by Marvel. Some critics are calling the move desperate, feeling bringing Downey back in this way is a shock value decision rather than something carefully planned.
All That Kang Buildup Set Aside
It definitely feels out of character for the MCU to throw away everything they have been building towards. We knew Avengers: The Kang Dynasty was supposed to be next, but now Marvel has made it clear that it is Avengers: Doomsday followed by Avengers: Secret Wars. Marvel is obviously going all in on pivoting to Robert Downey Jr., but now all that groundwork laid for Kang looks like it will have been meaningless.
Marvel, You’ve Got Some Explaining To Do!
It gives off the impression that Marvel is hoping fans will be so excited to see Robert Downey Jr. back that they will be willing to ignore the mess this leaves the MCU in. It is honestly a bit of a gamble since fans are already divided on the move. Unless Marvel can provide a very solid reason as to why Doctor Doom would now look like Iron Man, fans could turn on this decision.
It Could Go A Couple Of Different Ways
Many are already expressing hope that Marvel simply uses Robert Downey Jr. to voice Doctor Doom and that he never takes off the mask on screen. Others are fearful that Marvel won’t be able to resist turning this into an alternate timeline version of Tony Stark who uses his genius to turn to villainy. Done poorly, this could retroactively tarnish the excellent, emotional send off that Stark got in Avengers: Endgame.
There’s Time To Lay The Groundwork
Whatever the case may be, Marvel certainly got what they wanted, as everyone is now talking about Robert Downey Jr’s return. Marvel Studios has everyone’s attention, but now they have the difficult task of providing a logical groundwork to keep this shocking announcement from coming off as a panic move.
Avengers: Doomsday does not arrive until 2026, so they have time. But Marvel can’t afford for this to go down as another meme-able moment like when the comics infamously had Captain America declare “hail Hydra”.
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