Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom Dominates Marvel's Phase 5 Reveals at D23 Expo
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Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom Dominates Marvel's Phase 5 Reveals at D23 Expo
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It has been a blockbuster week for Robert Downey Jr., who has dominated both Hollywood headlines and Marvel fandom chatter as Marvel Studios finally gave fans their most revealing tease yet of Downey’s jaw-dropping turn as Doctor Doom. At Disney’s Destination D23 event in Florida, Marvel showcased a sizzle reel for the upcoming Avengers Doomsday, culminating with Downey himself in the spotlight—no mask, just his trademark cool as he stared straight into the camera and shushed the room, sparking deafening applause from the packed crowd. Marvel fans still talk about 2024’s San Diego Comic Con reveal, when Downey surprised everyone by removing a Doctor Doom mask onstage—that moment marked his first appearance as Victor von Doom, and set the internet ablaze.
Now, the newly released promotional footage and first official stills have reignited speculation that bringing back the original Iron Man in a villainous role is a masterstroke or a risky move. The Hollywood Handle and FandomWire ran the images on September 11 and September 20, respectively, showing Downey’s Doctor Doom in all his imposing glory, setting the stage for the character to become the new centerpiece of the MCU’s next phase. Downey’s return is loaded with significance, both creatively and commercially: Variety reports his salary will top $80 million, eclipsing even Adam Sandler’s record income last year, with lavish perks such as private jet travel and a dedicated trailer encampment—underscoring how essential Marvel views his comeback.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, out digitally September 23 and in physical formats October 14, ties directly into Downey’s new role. The widely shared mid-credits scene has Downey’s Doom—mask off—interacting ominously with Sue Storm and her son Franklin, confirming that Downey filmed scenes with the cast and donned Doom’s cloak, as per director Matt Shakman and actress Vanessa Kirby’s confirmation. Social media, especially X and Threads, exploded after these reveals, with hashtags like #DoctorDoom and #AvengersDoomsday trending and fans divided: some thrilled to see Downey’s charisma back, others worried his casting pulls focus from the Fantastic Four’s own legacy.
The specter of Tony Stark looms large, and the Russo brothers have cryptically hinted Downey’s Doom may be a multiversal twist on Stark, a narrative fast-tracked after Jonathan Majors’ exit as Kang. In any case, Downey’s reentry—coming less than two years after his Best Supporting Actor Oscar win for Oppenheimer—cements him as possibly the highest paid and most influential Marvel actor to date, and the general audience response at D23 hints that, for better or worse, the MCU’s future is still written in Stark letters.
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