Marvel was laying the groundwork for Kang the Conqueror, teasing the character as a badass supervillain who was more wicked than Thanos, and fans were all hyped. But that all changed with the exit of Jonathan Majors, leaving the fate of the MCU in complete chaos. Soon, a hunt began for another sole antagonist, who could match the nefarious aura of Kang, leading Marvel boss Kevin Feige to knock on the doors of Robert Downey Jr to save the MCU once again.
The result was seen at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024, where Robert Downey Jr confirmed his return to the MCU but not as Iron Man. Fans expressed equal parts shock and excitement over the announcement. And let us tell you their reaction was synonymous with that of Downey Jr and his wife Susan, when Marvel boss Kevin Feige first pitched the idea to him.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Downey Jr explained he was only interested in contributing to Disney theme parks, when Feige, who remained good friends even after the end of his stint as Iron Man, pitched him idea of his potential comeback. Kevin Feige reportedly said, “It just keeps occurring to me, if you were to come back..
.” A shocked Susan quickly paused him to ask, “Wait, wait. Come back as what?” It was at that moment Feige explained: “how we can’t go backward, how do we not disappoint expectations, how we can continue to beat expectation.
” The supervillain was named and Feige concluded, “Let’s get Victor Von Doom right.” Robert Downey Jr explains how Kevin Feige asked him about playing Doctor Doom. “[Feige said] how can we not go backwards, how do we not disappoint expectations, how we can continue to beat expectations.
.. Let’s get Victor Von Doom right” (Source: https://t.
co/f5HJfAKDd7 ) pic.twitter.com/uD8R4HiOiG — DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 20, 2024 It was a lot for Downey Jr to process and he asked for a meeting with Disney CEO Bob Iger.
The actor recalled it felt surprising to learn that Iger was on board with the plan. “You want to talk about two guys that are not easy to have their minds blown, let alone at the same time,” he said. Downey Jr was left wondering “What is going on there, right now, is so beyond my expectations of what was possible.
” A post shared by Robert Downey Jr. (@robertdowneyjr) The beloved Iron Man of the MCU will make his return as the supervillain Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, expected to hit the theatres in 2026 and 2027 respectively. Meanwhile, Marvel has lined up the release of Fantastic Four and Captain America: Brave New World next year.
.
