Any MCU fan would love to see Robert Downey Jr. come back to the long-running franchise. However, his return as Doctor Doom caused confusion and disappointment amongst fans.
When you think about it, the Oscar-winning actor's triumphant MCU return is written in the stars, and here are 5 reasons why Robert Downey Jr's Doctor Doom casting makes sense in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
It's Called the Multiverse Saga For A Reason
Ever heard of comic books? The idea of crossovers and variants across different universes had long existed even before the Marvel Multiverse took place in its Cinematic Universe. Still, fans lean more on the fact that it all feels too much of a deus ex machina.
Considering that the MCU hasn't ever been the same since the ending of Avengers: Endgame, bringing back the Iron Man/Tony Stark star feels like a cheap ploy to redirect old and new fans' attention to the original hero that started it all.
But again — anything can happen in the Multiverse Saga. Just because RDJ is coming back doesn't mean he's reprising the Avengers' millionaire.
It's Better Than Resurrecting Earth-616 Tony Stark
Entertaining the concept of the Multiverse also means variants of Earth-616 are bound to make their appearance on the big screens, one way or another.
While casting Robert Downey Jr. plays with the possibility of using his variant's face and image as a source of weakness against the Avengers when they face him, it's better than surprising fans with an Iron Man resurrection.
If anything, bearing Tony Stark's face would prove to be Doctor Doom's advantage once he comes up against the Avengers team in Avengers: Doomsday.
What If...? Series Explored Potential Plot Twists for Tony Stark
In the Marvel Comics, Iron Man: Demon in an Armor #1, Victor Von Doom and Tony Stark switched their bodies, all so the former could take advantage of the latter's riches and inventions with ease.
Tony, on the other hand, utilized his gifts and talents of inventing to organize a new plan to give people what they wanted: a clean source of energy.
The comic issue proved why Tony Stark is still Tony Stark, no matter which body he ends up in. In this case, when Victor wanted to switch their bodies back to normal, Tony was far too intelligent to come on board again, seeing as Victor corrupted Stark Industries' image in his lead.
A Hero-Turned-Villain Trope Would Make Tony Stark All the More Compelling
The legendary hero once sacrificed himself to save the universe, and tragically spiraling into a villain introduces endless possibilities of what the Tony Stark variant or Doctor Doom is capable of reaching in Avengers: Doomsday and eventually, in Avengers: Secret Wars.
What's another hero-turned-villain trope going to hurt in the MCU, though? And who better to do it than Iron Man as the new looming main big bad behind conquering the Multiverse?
And most important of all —
RDJ Was the Original Choice to Play Doctor Doom in 2005's Fantastic Four
Before Downey Jr. went on to become the MCU's first original hero, he was initially considered to play Doctor Doom in the 2005 Fantastic Four movie.
Iron Man director Jon Favreau detailed it in The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of The Marvel Cinematic Universe (2021), "Marvel had already met with [Robert Downey Jr.] before, I think, to play Doctor Doom."
But ultimately, it was Julian McMahon who got handed the Victor Von Doom role, leaving most of the imagination on how that happened to fans.
It remains to be seen if RDJ passed on the opportunity to jump on becoming Tony Stark, but as Marvel President Kevin Feige said at the 15th anniversary of Iron Man, "'We wouldn't be in this mess if it wasn't for [Robert Downey Jr.]' Meaning, we wouldn't have a studio if it wasn't for him."
This would serve as Downey Jr.'s unanswered potential as the overarching villain in the upcoming Avengers films.
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Avengers: Doomsday is currently slated to hit theatres in May 2026.
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