Robert Downey Jr. As The MCU’s Doctor Doom? There’s Two Explanations.

                                                         SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: Robert Downey Jr.

 

Robert Downey Jr. As The MCU’s Doctor Doom? There’s Two Explanations.

                    *SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: Robert Downey Jr. speaks onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in ... [+]

Late Saturday at SDCC, Marvel shocked fans when it revealed that none other than Robert Downey Jr. was returning to the MCU, not as Tony Stark, but as Doctor Doom in a new film, Avengers: Doomsday. While it got an explosive reaction from the crowd, the immediate aftermath was... utter confusion. How is this going to work exactly? What exactly are they playing at with this? The way I see it, there are two main options, one that seems more sound and better than the other.

Iron Man Robert Downey Jr. is Playing An Evil Tony Stark Variant

While this wasn’t made explicit, it stands to reason that before Avengers: Doomsday, Doctor Doom will appear in the upcoming Fantastic Four movie, which has been confirmed to take place in a non-MCU universe (even if obviously, they will eventually collide). As such, perhaps Tony in this world took a different path and ended up as a masked, armoured evil guy rather than a masked, armoured good guy.

That’s not just pulled out of thin air; there is actual comic source material precedent for this kind of storyline. There’s one, Infamous Iron Man, where Victor Von Doom takes up the Iron Man mantle. But then there’s another, Anthony Stark of Earth-11029, where Doom and Stark switch minds, and as such, Doom is walking around in Stark’s body. This could technically get around the Russo Bros. stating outright that Downey Jr. was playing Victor Von Doom specifically, not Stark, because technically, he would be.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JULY 27: Robert Downey Jr. speaks onstage at the Marvel Studios Panel during 2024 Comic-Con International at San Diego Convention Center on July 27, 2024 in San Diego, California.

 But I like this less than the other option.

Robert Downey Jr. Is Playing Victor Von Doom With No Stark-Strings Attached

This is a simple explanation. Downey Jr. is a great actor. He can play multiple parts. He can be cast as Victor Von Doom and give an entirely different performance than his decade and a half as Tony Stark. They will likely make him look a lot different as well, and that may go beyond just a lack of a goatee.

The other factor, of course, is that Doctor Doom is wearing a mask almost all of the time. So this role is going to be mostly voicework. This would be the literal, no-asterisk idea of Downey Jr. playing Fantastic Four universe Doom without trying to pull any Tony Stark multiverse shenanigans. And yet this storyline is still about the multiverse, so... who knows?

I know what I hope the answer is, but I don’t know what the answer will actually be. I think this is a huge risk, and I think anyone being cast as Doom (Cillian Murphy was the latest fan-favourite pick) just because Doom is such a legendary character and everyone is pretty relieved to move on from Kang.

But Downey Jr. being cast here is leading to some excitement but a whole lot of confusion and some outright anger, with this seeming like perhaps a cheap trick or a desperate move to lure people back to the MCU. I’m so baffled by it I can’t even say whether it’s good or bad at this point. But I think the above are the only two answers that make sense.

In this exploration of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, the first explanation delves into the possibility of an evil Tony Stark variant. This idea hinges on the notion that before Avengers: Doomsday, Doctor Doom will be introduced in the Fantastic Four movie, confirmed to take place in a non-MCU universe. In this scenario, Tony Stark in this alternate universe may have taken a darker path, transforming into a masked, armoured villain rather than the hero fans are familiar with. This concept isn't without precedent in the comics, with storylines like Infamous Iron Man, where Victor Von Doom assumes the Iron Man identity, and another where Doom and Stark switch minds, leading to Doom inhabiting Stark’s body.

The second, and perhaps more straightforward explanation, is that Robert Downey Jr. is simply playing Victor Von Doom with no connections to Tony Stark. This interpretation capitalises on Downey Jr.’s acting prowess, allowing him to bring a fresh take to the character of Doctor Doom. This approach would likely involve significant changes to his appearance, ensuring a clear distinction from his portrayal of Tony Stark. Additionally, given that Doctor Doom frequently wears a mask, the role would predominantly involve voice acting, further differentiating it from Downey Jr.’s previous MCU role.

                                                              Iron Man

This scenario aligns with the multiverse theme prevalent in the MCU, but it keeps the character distinct from Tony Stark. Despite this logical explanation, the announcement has generated mixed reactions among fans. While some are excited to see Downey Jr. return to the MCU in a new role, others are sceptical, viewing it as a potential gimmick to draw audiences back.

In conclusion, the speculation surrounding Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as Doctor Doom can be summarised in two main theories. The first theory suggests an evil Tony Stark variant, drawing from established comic book storylines. The second theory proposes a straightforward casting of Downey Jr. as Victor Von Doom, leveraging his acting skills to bring a new dimension to the character. Regardless of which theory proves true, the decision to cast Downey Jr. in this iconic role is a bold move by Marvel, one that has sparked both excitement and controversy among fans. Only time will tell how this casting choice will play out in the larger MCU narrative.