Why Robert Downey Jr. Came Back to Marvel
- Robert Downey Jr will return to the MCU as Doctor Doom in 2026's Avengers Doomsday.
- He was convinced by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.
- Downey discussed the role with Disney CEO Bob Iger.
- He will receive $80 million and exclusive perks.
- Avengers-based Disney rides influenced his decision.
Entertainment
Robert Downey Jr Explains How He Was Convinced to Return to the MCU
Robert Downey Jr shocked and energized various comic book fans earlier this summer when it was revealed he would return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom in 2026's Avengers Doomsday.
More recently, he shared a bit more detail on how he found himself back in line for another massive Hollywood payday.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, the occasional singer and Ally McBeal season 4 star outlined in broad strokes how he was enlisted to return to the most lucrative and perhaps played out franchise in movie history.
Despite leaving the Avengers behind after dying in 2019's Endgame, RDJ said he still keeps in touch with directors Anthony and Joe Russo as well as Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige.
He was set up to meet with Feige in 2023 to discuss reprising his Iron Man role for performances tied to certain Disney theme park attractions when the executive ambushed him with a much bigger proposal.
Feige said, "It just keeps occurring to me if you were to come back," and Susan was like, "Wait, wait, come back as what?" Downey said on the podcast, thinking back to the fateful encounter.
Feige apparently kept talking about all the problems with bringing RDJ back before pivoting to his pitch for Doom.
Downey said, "How can we not go backwards? How can we not disappoint expectations? How can we continue to beat expectations?"
And he brought up Victor Von Doom. "I looked into this character," Downey said. "Later on he goes, 'Let's get Victor Von Doom right.'
The seed planted, the actor said he later met with Disney CEO Bob Iger to survey what was being worked on for the Iron Man-themed Stark Flight Lab ride and other parts of the Disneyland MCU attraction called Avengers Infinity Defense.
"So then I said to Kevin, 'Can I go talk to Bob Iger?' Downey said. He goes, 'About?' I go, 'About everything.'
I'd gone to Bob's house and I don't know how to describe that experience. I've had a lot of really cool experiences but I go to Iger's pad, we sit down and he goes, 'I like it.' I was like, 'He likes it.'
Downey later said that the Avengers-based Disney rides being worked on were mind-blowing but didn't spill any more details about why the same might be said for how he'll be returning to the MCU as Doom.
He also left out the part where he's apparently getting $80 million and lots of other exclusive perks in order to come back and try to revive the currently faltering transmedia comic book hero industrial complex.
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