Guardians of the Galaxytrilogy director and DC Studios CEOJames Gunnshares his thoughts on Robert Downey Jr.‘sMCUreturn as Doctor Doom inAvengers: Doomsday. Robert Downey Jr. bid farewell to Iron Man inAvengers: Endgame, where Tony Stark sacrificed his life to defeat Thanos. However, Marvel Studios is bringing Downey Jr. back in the Multiverse Saga, not as a new Iron Man variant, but as the MCU’s next big bad — Doctor Doom, who will be Kang the Conqueror’s replacement as the main antagonist inthe Russo Bros.‘Avengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars, released in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Speaking to Josh Horowitz in an episode ofHappy SadConfused,James Gunn praises Marvel Studios’ decision to cast Robert Downey Jr. as the MCU’s Doctor Doom, saying"I thought it was a smart move, I was excited about it. And I also love Robert, so it’s… I think that’s cool. I think it’s… I think it’s a great idea, and I think that… you know, there’s no better than him.“Gunn also reveals that he’s"totally okay"with whatever the MCU does with the Guardians of the Galaxy, saying that Marvel has his blessing to move in new directions with the characters. Watch Gunn’s full interview below:
What James Gunn’s Comments About RDJ’s Marvel Return Mean
Robert Downey Jr.’s Casting As Doctor Doom Was Always Going To Be A Win For Marvel
Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom casting announcement was undeniably the biggest highlight at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, as Downey Jr.’s MCU retirement was though to be definitive, or at least much longer.Seeing the MCU’s biggest star return at the end of the Multiverse Saga, regardless of the plot, is an automatic pull for audiences.How RDJ’s Doctor Doom will differ from Iron Man, where the villain comes from, and what Doom’s interactions with the Avengers will look like are questions that will inevitably bring audiences to theaters whenAvengers: Doomsdayarrives.
Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU Return MUST Include This Reversal of His Very First Iron Man Scene
Robert Downey Jr.’s very first scene in 2008’s Iron Man can be perfectly repurposed to introduce him as Doctor Doom, and Marvel already proved it.
From a business perspective, Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU return is indeed"a smart move”, as James Gunn describes it. Doctor Doom’s introduction inAvengers: Doomsdayoffers Downey Jr. the chance to show off his acting chops in a brand-new role, and it also avoids undoingIron Man’s perfect MCU storyin the process. Besides, the Multiverse Saga may provide reasonable explanations for this decision due to the concept of alternate timelines.
Our Take On James Gunn’s Comments About RDJ’s Marvel Return
Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Needs To Live Up To The Hype
While Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Doctor Doom is enough to attract a huge crowd,Marvel Studios needs to justify the RDJ’s villain casting inAvengers: Doomsday. MCU villains like Loki and Thanos have left the bar really high for MCU antagonists, and Doctor Doom is one of the most important villains in comic book history. If RDJ’s Doctor Doom fails to meet expectations, the actor’s return could backfire, as it could be seen as a last resort to raise interest inAvengers: Doomsdayafter Marvel Studios scrapped its plans for Kang the Conqueror.
