Robert Downey Jr., known for his role as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, surprised fans at San Diego Comic-Con by announcing his return as Doctor Doom, or Victor Von Doom. Doctor Doom is one of Marvel’s most notorious supervillains and is set to appear in upcoming films such as “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.” Many online have expressed confusion about the casting choice, speculating on how Downey’s role will work and whether it will be linked to his previous character, Iron Man. It is expected that Downey’s role will mostly involve voice work due to Doctor Doom wearing a face mask.
Gwyneth Paltrow, who co-starred as Pepper Potts in the “Iron Man” franchise, shared her surprise on Downey’s Instagram post about his new role, commenting, “I don’t get it, are you a baddie now?” Memes quickly spread online, joking about Downey’s return to the MCU after winning his first Oscar for “Oppenheimer.” Some criticized the casting choice, calling it a move made strictly for fan service and expressing a preference for a fresh face over a known MCU star. They speculated that Marvel’s decision to bring back Downey may have been a desperate move following disappointing box office numbers for recent films like “Captain Marvel” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.”
Despite the criticisms, some fans were happy to see Downey return to the MCU, regardless of the role he would be playing. Downey’s new role appears to be replacing that of “Fantastic Four” villain Kang the Conqueror, who also garnered attention and became the subject of many memes following the announcement. The speculation about Downey’s portrayal as Doctor Doom continues, with fans eager to see how the actor will bring this iconic villain to life. The casting choice has sparked discussions online, with varying opinions on whether Downey’s return is a welcome one or simply a nostalgic play by Marvel Studios. It remains to be seen how Downey’s portrayal of Doctor Doom will be received by audiences and how it will impact the Marvel Cinematic Universe moving forward.
