Years before he became Iron Man, Downey was once considered for Victor Von Doom — and now, he may finally bring Marvel’s most complex villain to life in ‘Secret Wars’ and ‘Doomsday’.
The idea of Robert Downey Jr. stepping into the Marvel Universe as a villain isn’t new — in fact, it predates his legendary run as Tony Stark/Iron Man.
When Downey made a surprise appearance at San Diego Comic-Con 2023, dressed as Doctor Doom, fans were stunned. The man who once saved the Marvel Cinematic Universe might soon be the one threatening it. But according to Marvel insiders, this wasn’t a sudden shift — it was a long-held idea that Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige has kept close for years.
Director Jon Favreau, who launched the MCU with 2008’s Iron Man, recalled in a 2023 conversation with Feige, “I remember you had all met with [Downey] already for Doctor Doom or something on another project… maybe for [2005’s] Fantastic Four. So everybody sort of knew who he was.”
Ultimately, the role of Victor Von Doom in that film went to Julian McMahon, while Downey would go on to reshape superhero cinema as Iron Man. Still, Feige never gave up on the idea of seeing Downey play Marvel’s most iconic villain.
It wasn’t until recently that the opportunity truly presented itself. According to Joe Russo, one half of the directing duo behind Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, it was Downey himself who pitched the idea of reuniting for a new chapter — this time as Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday.
“Robert tried to talk us into doing it,” Joe told Omelete, “and we said ‘no.’ We just didn’t have a story. We didn’t have a way in.”
But that changed when Steve McFeely, co-writer of the Infinity Saga, brought an idea to the table.
“We went, ‘That’s the story!’” said Joe. “It’s a really powerful story.”
Though the directors remain tight-lipped on plot details, Joe teased that Downey’s Doom would be far from a typical villain.
“We love villains who think they’re the heroes of their own stories. That’s when they become three-dimensional. And when you have an actor like Robert Downey, you have to create a layered, nuanced character. That’s what we’re building.”
As speculation swirls and excitement builds for Marvel’s next phase, one thing is clear: Downey’s return isn’t just a comeback — it’s a reinvention.