A crowded room. A stage full of people in masks. One man pulls off his mask, and the crowd goes wild. RDJ is back!
Robert Downey Jr. is no stranger to acting for Marvel. He’s made his fair share of money (and status as an actor) off the franchise playing the role of Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man. However, during the events of the film Avengers: Endgame, the beloved character tragically loses his life, leaving fans everywhere shocked and heartbroken. Five years later, at one fateful Comicon, Downey announces his return to the MCU.
While Scarlett Johansson (actress for Natasha Romanoff or the Black Widow) came back to the MCU after her character’s death, it was to film Black Widow, which was set before Endgame on the chronological timeline. However, the story of Iron Man had already been told in the span of three different movies. There’d be no reason for the character to return for another film. So why the actor?
Ever since Endgame came out, fans have been contemplating a possible return for Downey. Some expected him to come back as a holograph or reincarnation. However, at the same Comicon, it was announced that he’s returning to the Marvel universe, but as a villain. After the defeat of Thanos in Endgame, Marvel has been desperately needing a new baddie for the heroes to fight, and there was an almost perfect option: Fantastic Four’s Dr. Doom. An enigmatic genius desperate for validation, Doom is much like Tony Stark, so it’s no wonder Downey wishes to take his role in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
Recently, Marvel Studios has been churning out quite a lot of lazy content which could be described by many as cash grabs. It’s made the overall timeline confusing and difficult for the average viewer to understand, alienating almost their entire fanbase. Plus, many fans have complained that the new content isn’t captivating enough to grab their attention like past Marvel movies. Marvel Studios have also been missing out on many awards. After the blatant lack of success in films like Dr Strange: Multiverse of Madness, Ant Man: Quantumania, and Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, it was clear they needed something new, something the audience could latch onto.
Similarly, Downey has also been having problems with his acting career (as an example, Doolittle was a major flop), and he has expressed how much he loved working on Marvel films. He even described the character of Tony Stark as “like me, but cooler”. Fans have stated that Downey’s return is like him “coming home” to the MCU.
In all, Marvel fans are eager as well as intrigued to see how Robert Downey Junior plays the role of Dr. Doom. He may act as another character now, but to us, he is Iron Man.
