The Russo Brothers Say They Got Chills Hearing RDJ’s Doctor Doom Voice for the First Time

The Russo Brothers have revealed that Robert Downey Jr.’s first attempt at creating Doctor Doom’s voice gave them chills and made them realize they had something special for Marvel’s upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

Downey Jr. is making his shocking return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after the emotional ending of Avengers: Endgame, but this time he will not be playing Tony Stark. Instead, the actor is taking on the role of Victor Von Doom, one of Marvel’s most famous villains and a major threat from the Fantastic Four comics.

During an interview with PEOPLE at San Diego Comic-Con, directors Anthony and Joe Russo opened up about the moment they first heard Downey’s take on Doctor Doom. The brothers explained that they had spent a lot of time discussing the character with the actor before hearing the final version of his voice.

According to Anthony Russo, Downey’s understanding of the character and the importance of the voice were major parts of building Doctor Doom’s identity. Since the villain wears a mask, the way he sounds is one of the most important parts of making the character feel intimidating and powerful.

Anthony explained that Downey eventually surprised them during a conversation about the role.

“That was something that Robert surprised us with one day,” Anthony told PEOPLE. “You know, we were talking about all the details of the character — the voice, of course, is a key part of it, especially in the mask.”

He continued, “So one day I think it was in the trailer, we were just sort of talking about some ideas and he broke out into the voice. And we knew at that moment, that was it.”

Joe Russo shared an equally strong reaction, saying that hearing Downey’s Doctor Doom voice for the first time gave him chills. He compared the moment to one of the most memorable scenes in Marvel history: Tony Stark’s final moment in Avengers: Endgame.

“I mean, it was one of those moments. It’d probably be one of the more memorable moments — that and the ‘I Am Iron Man’ [sequence] when he snapped his fingers,” Joe said. “Robert tends to present a lot of those super memorable moments.”

Downey Jr.’s return has become one of the biggest talking points surrounding Avengers: Doomsday. After more than a decade as Iron Man, many fans believed his Marvel journey was finished after Tony Stark sacrificed himself to defeat Thanos. His casting as Doctor Doom completely changed expectations for the next phase of the MCU.

The film will also bring together three major Marvel groups for the first time: the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men. According to the official synopsis, the heroes from these different worlds will have to work together against a threat powerful enough to destroy everything they know.

The movie is also expected to continue the story of several returning characters, including Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers and Chris Hemsworth’s Thor. The first trailer surprised fans by showing Steve Rogers in its final moments, creating even more questions about how Marvel’s biggest characters will connect in the upcoming event.

With Doctor Doom positioned as one of Marvel’s most important villains, the Russo Brothers believe Downey Jr. has already created something unforgettable. Fans will find out how his new character fits into the MCU when Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters on December 18.

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