Robert Downey Jr is all set to return to the MCU with a new role as the baddie. Fans have expressed the excitement for his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after a long hiatus. However, history about the character, its on screen representation and more has revealed that RDJ could have been destined to play to role of Dr Doom.
In an old interview it was revealed that long before Iron Man, RDJ has auditioned to the bad guy in Fantastic Four. Fantastic Four led by Chirs Evans in 2005 was one of the easy superhero movies and first time ever featured the role of comic book baddie Victom Von Doom. In a video shared by Marvel Entertainment last year, director Jon Favreau talked about the same with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.
When talking about the m aking on Iron Man in 2008, he revealed that 'Downey had already been in the Marvel orbit'. John told Feige, “I remember that Robert had come in for a general [meeting] on [‘Iron Man’] and you had already met with him for Doctor Doom or something." For the unversed Feige was an executive producer for the 2005 Fantastic Four series.
The part of Victor Von Doom aka Doctor Doom eventually went to Julian McMahon. But Favreau added that he had to fight to get Downey on Iron Man. He said in the interview, “I remember sitting down with the guy and I was like, ‘He’s got that spark in his eye and he’s ready.
’ That’s when we were in your office and we were putting to his headshot and saying we’ve gotta try and figure this out for Iron Man.” Before RDJ's audition for Doctor Doom in 2005, the actor had been suffering from several legal problems. He had also served 15 months for drug abuse but was arrested again four months after his release for drug possession.
According to reports, it may have been his reputation that cost him the role at the time. Last year, in an interview, Marvel Studios’ former president David Maisel revealed that he too wanted to cast Downey, but “my board thought I was crazy to put the future of the company in the hands of an addict.” He added, “I helped them understand how great he was for the role.
We all had confidence that he was clean and would stay clean.” Listen, do I love RDJ? Yes. Am I excited to see him back in the MCU? Of course.
Do I think he’ll do fine as Dr. Doom? No doubt. But man.
..Cillian Murphy or Ben Mendelsohn would have been absolutely PERFECT casting choices for this role.
— Josh Sanders (@J_SAND3RS) I can't wait to see what our new Dr. Doom sign will look like, and will it be Robbie Downey Jr. — chaotic_Hart17 (@CurtisH75549041) Now more than 20 years later and after being synonymous with the hero Iron Man, as fate would have it RDJ is set to play Doctor Doom.
He will be seen playing the role in not one but two movies. He reportedly has a pivotal role in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday and 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars. Both films are set to be directed by the Russo Brothers, and their collaboration has fans highly excited for the series.
.
