The Russo Brothers Reveal Robert Downey Jr. Was Always Their First Choice for Doctor Doom
Robert Downey Jr. spent more than a decade as Tony Stark, reprising the role in 10 Marvel films over 11 years. The character’s death in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ felt like a definitive goodbye. That’s what made the actor’s return as Doctor Doom one of the biggest curveballs in Marvel history.
Fans didn’t see it coming. Downey had said in interviews that he was open to returning to Marvel, so the assumption was that he’d come back as Iron Man. Instead, his casting as Victor von Doom was revealed in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con, to shock from the fandom.
Now the directors behind ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ are explaining why they never considered anyone else. According to a Marvel.com article shared by Cosmic Marvel, the Russo Brothers say Downey was always their first choice to play Doctor Doom in the MCU. It’s a bold claim for a role that has been one of the most anticipated villain castings in years.
The path to that casting wasn’t entirely straightforward. The Russos have said the idea to cast Downey as Doom came from Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige. Downey then tried to talk the brothers into returning, but they initially said no because they didn’t have a story yet.
Downey reportedly agreed to make his MCU comeback as Doom on one condition. The Russos, who directed ‘Infinity War’ and ‘Endgame’, had to return as directors for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’. Both parties clearly wanted to work together again.
The Russos have also said Downey was deeply invested in the character early on. Joe Russo said the actor was writing backstory and costume ideas well before filming began.
The Russos say they already knew Downey was perfect after early conversations with him. What solidified the decision was the voice he built for the character. Speaking to PEOPLE at Comic-Con this year, Anthony Russo recalled that the performance was something Downey “surprised us with one day.”
Joe Russo added that he got chills when he first heard it. The moment also reminded him of another iconic Downey scene from ‘Avengers: Endgame’. It’s high praise from the directors who staged some of the franchise’s most memorable moments.
The first full trailer showed Downey as the green-hooded, metal-faced villain, complete with a pronounced Latverian accent. Fan reactions have been mixed, with some praising the boldness and others comparing it to a classic vampire impression. The Russos have said the costume is their favorite out of all 5 Marvel films they’ve directed.
He used to be different.
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 15, 2026
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters everywhere December 18. Get your tickets now: https://t.co/J5PUbxvAkc pic.twitter.com/OUutSMZneq
The Doom on screen is also a blend of performance and technology. The directors have said Downey performed everything on set, while a digital layer gives them a second pass at the character. That approach lets them shape the villain in ways a traditional costume couldn’t.
The stakes are enormous. The film brings together heroes from 3 universes, including the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, the New Avengers and the X-Men, in a collision against an existential threat. Anthony Russo told a Variety-moderated panel at SXSW London that “we’re back to phase zero” for the superheroes.
‘Avengers: Doomsday’ arrives in theaters on December 18, 2026, followed by ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ on December 17, 2027. Before that, ‘Avengers: Endgame Encore’ arrives on September 25 with a special look at the new film. If the Russos are right about their first choice, Downey’s Doom could be the villain the MCU has been waiting for.
What do you think of Robert Downey Jr. being the Russo Brothers’ first choice to play Doctor Doom?
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