Summary
Robert Downey Jr. is officially back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, he is rumored to make his supervillain debut in another superhero movie that will be released ahead ofAvengers 5.
RDJ’s casting as Dr. Victor von Doom, also known as Doctor Doom, was announced at the San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday. He will play the supervillain role inAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars. However, his casting raised several eyebrows. Many were happy that he returned to the MCU, but some questioned it because he was coming back as one of the evil forces, which was a huge contrast to his former role, the fan-favoriteAvengerTony Stark, aka Iron Man. An insider claimed that Marvel fans wouldsee Downey Jr. in his Doctor Doom personain another Marvel movie coming out next year.
Jeff Sneider, an award-winning entertainment reporter and insider, shared additional updates about RDJ’s MCU comeback. He claimed that Marvel skipped a crucial detail about the big announcement – when RDJ will make his supervillain debut.Sneider claimed that Downey Jr. would first appear as Doctor Doom inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. Sneider wrote inThe InSneider, “Of course, they left out the part about the character being first introduced in a mid/post-credits sequence at the end ofThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, but that’s beside the point. The point is that Robert Downey Jr. is back, baby! TherealMarvel Jesus!”
According to Sneider, prior to the big reveal, he had already heard the rumors about RDJ’s casting, but he had a scheduled lunch meeting with Marvel and Disney representatives on May 21, so he waited to inquire about the rumor so he could merit an in-person conversation. However, the lunch was canceled and never rescheduled, so he was left with no choice but to call Marvel, with whom he reportedly had a solid relationship. However, the studio denied it and he accepted their denial at face value because it was from the same rep who “has kept me from getting egg on my face plenty of times.” After Marvel’s announcement at the San Diego Comic-Con over the weekend, Sneider said RDJ’s return was only a matter of time because he loved the people at the Marvel Studios who elevated his fame and fortune. As for hiscasting as Doctor Doom, the insider claimed that Downey Jr. was eyed to play the character in 2005’sFantastic Fourbut lost the role to Julian McMahon. It happened before the MCU days, but Kevin Feige was an EP in theFantastic Fourmovies.
Sneider is one of the trusted Marvel insiders. Weeks ago, he had already announced that the Russo brothers would return to direct the next twoAvengersmovies. He also claimed that either one of the writing partners, Stephen McFeely or Christopher Markus, would return to writeAvengers 6. At the Comic-Con panel, when Marvel announced that the Russo Brothers were back, the duo’s production company AGBO had a press release mentioning thatMcFeely was attached to writeAvengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, thereby confirming Sneider’s scope. So, there is a chance that RDJ will make his Doctor Doom debut inFantastic Four.
Doctor Doom is a supervillaincreated by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. He first appeared inFantastic Four #5, so it made sense if he would appear inThe Fantastic Four: First Steps. Also, Sneider previously said that even if Galactus The Devourer of Worlds will be the main and real antagonist,Doctor Doom is set to appear in the movie. Marvel also has a reputation for introducing some characters with a cameo or making them appear in post-credits of one movie before giving them longer screen times in another film. For instance, Jeremy Renner made an uncredited cameo in Chris Hemsworth’sThorin 2011 before his appearance as Clint Barton, also known as Hawkeye, inThe Avengersin 2012. So, it’s highly likely that fans will see RDJ as Doctor Doom inFantastic Fourand see more of him inAvengers: Doomsday.
Fantastic Four: First Stepswill be released on June 17, 2025, whileAvengers: Doomsdaywill hit theaters on Jun 10, 2025.
