Yahoo Lifestyle Robert Downey Jr. Is ‘So Immersed’ in Doctor Doom and ‘Writing Backstory’ and ‘Costume Ideas,’ Russo Bros. Say Ahead of ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Filming
Joe and Anthony Russo said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight that it has been a “very intense process developing the character” of Doctor Doom with Robert Downey Jr., who is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the iconic comic book villain after spending a decade playing the superhero Iron Man. With “Avengers: Doomsday” on the release calendar for May 2026, filming on the Marvel tentpole is expected to begin soon.
“He is so immersed in it. He is so dialed in,” Joe Russo said about Downey’s commitment to Doom. “He’s writing backstory, costume ideas… We were just on the phone with him this morning before we got here talking about it. He just loves really rich three-dimensional characters. He sees a real opportunity here with the character.”
More from Variety
Downey and Marvel Studios revealed his Doom casting to much shock and awe at Comic-Con last year. The Oscar winner helped birth the MCU by playing Tony Stark in 2008’s “Iron Man,” the first installment in the long-running film universe. The actor would go on to reprise the superhero in 10 Marvel films over the next 11 years, including two standalone “Iron Man” sequels and four “Avengers” movies. The character died in 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,” making Downey’s return as a villain all the more surprising.
Doom will be at the center of 2026’s “Avengers: Doomsday,” which also brings the Russo Brothers back to Marvel following 2019’s box office record-breaker “Avengers: Endgame.” The filmmaking duo will helm both the 2026 movie and its 2027 follow-up, “Avengers: Secret Wars.”
Downey’s MCU return as Doom sent shockwaves, not only through the Marvel fandom, but also among his former Marvel cast members. Hawkeye actor Jeremy Renner told US Weekly that Downey did not give any of the original “Avengers” stars a heads up about his return.
“The son of a bitch didn’t say anything to me,” Renner said. “We’re good friends. There’s the Avengers family chat. The original six. He said not a peep. I got online and started blowing up his phone like, ‘What’s going on? You’ve been hiding this from us the whole time?’ It’s exciting news. I’m really, really excited about it.”
“Doctor Strange” star Benedict Cumberbatch spoke to Variety earlier this year about Downey’s return, revealing that he immediately grabbed his phone to message Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige after the news went public.
“I texted, ‘What the fuck?’ and then quickly added, ‘Good what-the-fuck. I mean, good what-the-fuck,’” Cumberbatch said.
One Marvel star who did know about Downey’s plan was Tom Holland, hardly a surprise given the close connection between Downey’s Tony Stark and Holland’s Peter Parker across several Marvel movies.
“I’ve been speaking to [Robert Downey Jr.] a lot, especially about him making his [Marvel] return, which is super exciting,” Holland said on the “Rich Roll“ podcast last fall. “That was a tough secret to sit on because I have a reputation for ruining things and I strategically have done no press.”
“Avengers: Doomsday” is set to release in theaters May 1, 2026 from Disney and Marvel Studios.
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
