RDJ Opens Up About the Effort That Was Required to Bring Him Back to the MCU as Doctor Doom

At this year’s SDCC, fans were stunned to learn that Robert Downey Jr. will be making a return to the MCU—not as Iron Man, but as Doctor Doom, one of Marvel’s iconic villains. The announcement received a mixed reaction, with some fans concerned about separating Downey from his previous role as Tony Stark.

In a recent interview on The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter Podcast, Downey confirmed his return and shared the story of how he was persuaded to reprise his role in the franchise that revived his career.

Robert Downey Jr. recently revealed his plan to contribute to Disney’s Parks and location-based entertainment beyond the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After discussing his idea with Kevin Feige and exploring new character possibilities like Victor Von Doom, Downey pitched his proposal to Bob Iger. Iger’s enthusiastic response led to a visit to the Imagineering Campus, where Downey and Feige were astonished by the cutting-edge developments, though specifics remain under wraps.

So, probably a year ago…cause, you know, [Kevin] Feige and I have kept in touch. We’re pals. Favreau, Feige, and I have kept in touch. I’m close with the Russo Brothers; we have other business we’re doing. So, there’s this little group of fellow travellers and I had this instinct that I wanted to go to Bob Iger and I had an idea outside of the Cinematic Universe for how I could be of service to what’s going on in the Parks and all their location-based entertainment.

Susan and I were sitting down with Feige at one point and he said, ‘It just keeps occurring to me that if you were to come back…’ and Susan was like, ‘Wait, wait, come back as what?’ Then we both realised over time that it was another thing that just disproves any doubt anyone could ever have about that guy, a very sophisticated creative thinker, about how can we not go backwards, how can we not disappoint expectations, how we can continue to beat expectations? And he brought up Victor Von Doom. I looked up this character and I was like, ‘Wow.’ Later, Kevin goes, ‘Let’s get Victor Von Doom right. Let’s get that right.’

So then I said to Kevin, ‘Can I go talk to Bob Iger?’ He goes, ‘About?’ I go, ‘About everything. I’d gone to Bob’s house and I don’t know how to describe that experience. I’ve had a lot of really cool experiences, but I go to Iger’s pad, we sit down and he goes, ‘I like it.’ I was like, ‘He likes it.’ He said, ‘Come by the Imagineering Campus.’ Feige and I go to the Imagineering Campus and you want to talk about two guys that are not easy to have their minds blown, let alone at the same time…I can’t say too much, but what is going on there right now is so beyond my expectation of what was possible.

The details of Robert Downey Jr.’s return as Doctor Doom remain shrouded in mystery, with speculation suggesting he might portray an alternate version of the character from a different reality—possibly the one from which the Fantastic Four will enter the MCU.

What are your thoughts on this? Share your predictions in the comments below!