Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but this time he is not playing the beloved hero Iron Man. He is stepping into the role of the iconic villain Doctor Doom for the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday. With the movie set to hit theaters in December, the actor is well aware of the immense pressure to deliver a film that lives up to the legacy of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
In a recent interview with entertainment outlet CBR, alongside the film’s co-director Joe Russo, Downey Jr. addressed fan concerns head-on. He promised that the film has been carefully crafted to meet the sky-high expectations set by its predecessors. The actor revealed that the creative team has been working hard to solve the difficult question of how to make a follow-up that is not a disappointment.
“I think will more than suffice,” Downey Jr. said of the film’s current state. “There’s something going on in Doomsday and forward that is literally the only antidote to: How do you not have these films be let down after an Infinity War and an Endgame? And boy, have we labored long and hard to bring that down.”
A New Approach for Doctor Doom
Downey Jr. explained that the team is taking a fresh approach to the character, even acknowledging that they are building this version of Doctor Doom “from scratch.” He said the process has involved experimentation and shifting ideas, but they have landed on a structure that he believes will be satisfying.
“It’s not even about how I executed it. It’s about the way it’s been structured, and the other characters,” he added, highlighting that the film’s success is a team effort.
Joe Russo Promises Emotional Depth and Surprises
Joe Russo, who directed the previous Avengers blockbusters with his brother Anthony, also weighed in on the film’s quality. He promised that audiences can expect a lot of surprises. More importantly, he described Avengers: Doomsday as the most emotionally layered entry in the entire franchise.
“I think [Doomsday] is the most emotionally complex of all of them,” Russo said. “And in a lot of ways, the most mature of all of them.”
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The Pressure to Succeed
The MCU has seen a mixed track record since Endgame concluded the Infinity Saga in 2019. While films like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Deadpool & Wolverine were massive successes, other projects like The Marvels and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania failed to meet box office expectations. This has put significant pressure on Doomsday to be a return to form for the studio.
A Stacked Cast and a Future Epic
Avengers: Doomsday features a star-studded cast including Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Anthony Mackie, and Paul Rudd. The film is also setting the stage for a future epic, Avengers: Secret Wars.
Downey Jr. expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of this new chapter. “There’s an incredible amount of gratitude we have going into these two,” he said. “One epic at a time. Doomsday… just the gratitude to be able to do it.”
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on December 18, 2026.
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