Robert Downey Jr. returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe — not as Iron Man/Tony Stark (RIP), but as Doctor Doom in 2026’s Doctor Doom Avengers: Doomsday— was one of the biggest bombshells to come out of San Diego Comic-Con. While money was certainly a factor in the studio and star’s reunion, Downey recently explained there were other key reasons: his deep relationships with Marvel and Disney bosses, and his appreciation for Disney’s advancements in filmmaking technology.
“[Kevin Feige] Keep in touch with me. We are friends. [Jon] I keep in touch with Favreau and Fitch. The Russo brothers and I are very close; we have other things to do. So there was a small group of fellow travelers,” Downey explained to The Hollywood Reporter Awards chatter podcast. “I had an instinct that I wanted to go to Bob Iger, and I had an idea that was outside the box. [Marvel] Cinematic Universe, thank you for how I contribute to what happens in the parks and all the location-based entertainment.
But Downey recalled that before that meeting, he, his wife, and producing partner Susan Downey were chatting with Feige, and the Marvel boss floated the idea of Downey returning to the Marvel Universe. “Susan said, ‘Wait, what are you doing back here?’ and I was like [speechless confusion]? Over time, we all realized, here’s another thing that disproved any doubt that anyone had about that man – a very complex creative thinker – about how do we not regress? How can you live up to expectations? How can we continue to exceed expectations? He trained Victor von Doom.
Out of curiosity, Downey observed the character of Victor Von Doom. “I was like, ‘Wow,'” he recalled. “later, [Feige] Say, ‘Let’s get Victor von Doom right. Let’s get it right. And I said to Kevin, “Can I go talk to Bob Iger?” He said, “About [what]? I said, “About everything.” And I [went] Arriving at Bob’s house, I don’t know how to describe the experience. I’ve had a lot of cool experiences. We went to Egger’s place and sat down and started saying, ‘I really want to be…’ and he said, ‘I love that.’ He loved it,” Downey said. Later, Iger invited Feige and Downey to visit Disney’s R&D center, Disney Imagineering Park.
“[We] To imagine campus, you want to talk about two guys who are not easily swoon-worthy, let alone at the same time – I can’t say much [it]but what’s happening there now exceeds my expectations of what could happen,” he joked. “It’s also the only way I feel like I can provide some entertainment-seeking audience with something that they might be craving to experience, in a way that I can continue to develop my interest in the future of entertainment… So it’s a crazy, weird thing. things are happening.
Mysterious – but also fascinating! When the Russo brothers direct, maybe we’ll realize what he’s hinting at here Avengers: Doomsday Will arrive on May 1, 2026.
Listen to The Hollywood Reporter’s full interview with Downey here, in which he also shares memories of being cast as Iron Man nearly two decades ago.
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