Robert Downey Jr. reprises the much-awaited role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing the titular villain Doctor Doom in the next two “Avengers” films, “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars.” Both movies are to be directed by the Russo Brothers, the directors of the blockbuster hit “Avengers: Endgame.”
Robert Downey Jr. pretty much single-handedly endowed the MCU with success through his work on Tony Stark/Iron Man. It was a strong, witty, and deep personality thanks to which this superhero came alive and is at this moment considered one of the fan-favorites in the branch. Years of acting by Downey have given Marvel’s story one support after another, helping it extend the MCU to every nook and cranny and make it a commercial success.
Robert Downey Jr. is getting paid ‘significantly more’ than $80M to star as Doctor Doom in the next two #Avengers movies
He reportedly only agreed to return if The Russo Brothers directed the films
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In the new role, Downey is going to play Doctor Doom, who is known for his intelligence, power, and complex personality. Such a shift from the hero to the villain glasses up the new dynamic for the Avengers storyline. “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars” promise to tangle deep into the conflict and chaos Doctor Doom is about to bring into the MCU, giving fans a brand new and exciting viewpoint.
The Russo Brothers Joe and Anthony are no strangers to the MCU either, having directed some of the most famous Marvel films out there: “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Captain America: Civil War,” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” together with “Avengers: Endgame.” With their direction come some great sequences of action, complex storytelling, and brilliant character development in these upcoming Avengers movies.
The deal to bring Downey back was not inexpensive for the box. Rumors have it that he will make “way more” than $80 million, but some suggest he will essentially walk away with over $100 million. This combined with the jolt of an Oscar win for his work on “Oppenheimer” boosts his market value considerably. Besides, there will be more inflations on the already quite healthy earnings from box office cuts with Downey’s Marvel contracts.
Of course, Robert Downey Jr. had some conditions under which he would continue the filming. Among other things, he stated the conditions in which the Russo Brothers must direct the films. This shows his belief in the vision and talent of the brothers. On top of that, the new deal came with various perks: there is a private jet for traveling and a personal security detail, with a dedicated trailer encampment on the set. All this was granted by Marvel Studios, really needing Downey for their franchise and marketing strategy.
It is within bringing Downey back to play such major roles that set the definition of what Marvel Studios have in mind when combating archetypical enemies in their bid to keep the MCU relevant. This Doctor Doom will be a source of interest along with complexity in the Avengers story, certainly attracting both old-timers and newbies. This, of course, is part and parcel of the Marvel cinema assault marketing strategy at large: using the major star power, Downey has created to extend the hype around incoming films.
The face of the Avengers movies will shift to having Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. With the Russo Brothers at the helm, one would only imagine that this formula will properly blend in the mix of high-octane action with heavy, deep, and poignant character arcs. Downey is expected to bring a fresh and innovative dynamic to the MCU, which shall be the living scenario of this new chapter in the Avengers saga.
