Kevin Feige Reveals Robert Downey Jr.’s Reaction to Being Asked to Play Doctor Doom in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
Robert Downey Jr’s decision to step back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Victor Von Doom remains one of the most jaw-dropping casting reveals in franchise history, and the story behind how it came together has only grown richer with each new interview Kevin Feige gives.
The Marvel Studios president has spent much of the past year unpacking the thinking that led to bringing back the actor most associated with Tony Stark, this time as the villain who could unravel the entire multiverse.
Feige has explained that the idea took shape around early 2023, right as Downey was inching toward his first Academy Award win for Oppenheimer, prompting the Marvel boss to think the timing was finally right. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly at CinemaCon 2026, Feige recalled telling Downey the studio wanted him to take on the most iconic villain Marvel Studios had ever put on screen, framing the whole idea around the creative freedom the multiverse allowed.
Now Feige has shared what he says was Downey’s actual reaction when the offer was put to him. Feige revealed that Downey’s exact words were that he played the best hero, so he could play the best villain.
“His exact words were, ‘I played the best hero… I can play the best villain.’”
Feige has echoed a nearly identical sentiment in his own words during that same CinemaCon conversation, saying the studio figured since Downey had already played the most iconic hero, they might as well let him play the most iconic villain. Feige also noted that Marvel Studios never lost touch with Downey after his run as Tony Stark ended, and that conversations about a potential return had been ongoing for years before anything was finalized.
The reveal at San Diego Comic-Con in 2024 caught even Downey’s own castmates off guard. Benedict Cumberbatch has said he found out live during the announcement and immediately texted Feige a blunt reaction before clarifying it was meant as a good surprise. Jeremy Renner similarly admitted he had no idea the casting was coming despite being close friends with Downey, joking that he started blowing up Downey’s phone in their group chat once the news broke.
Do you think Robert Downey Jr. can succeed as a Marvel villain after playing Iron Man?
Downey himself has spoken about why he said yes, describing the moment as someone telling him they believed he could pull off something audiences had never seen him do, and admitting his instinct afterward was pure shock before a sense of obligation to prove himself took over.
The Russo Brothers, who directed Downey during his Avengers run and are back behind the camera for both Doomsday and Secret Wars, have described this version of Doom as a character whose immense power gives them room to dig into real vulnerability underneath.
‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is set to release in theaters on December 18, 2026, with ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ following on December 17, 2027, to close out Marvel’s current saga. As more of these behind-the-scenes stories continue to surface ahead of release, it’s becoming clear just how much thought went into convincing Downey that trading his hero cape for a villain’s mask was worth the risk.
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