Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man Costar Expresses Confusion Over His New Marvel Role

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Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man Costar Expresses Confusion Over His New Marvel Role

Highlights

  • Robert Downey Jr. is back in the MCU as Doctor Doom, not Iron Man, confusing fans like Gwyneth Paltrow.
  • Downey Jr.’s return as a supervillain raises eyebrows as he was previously a superhero in the franchise.
  • Iron Man and Doctor Doom have a history in the comics, prompting speculation on how Downey Jr. will portray the character.

As a longtime Marvel fan and avid gamer, I must admit that I was initially taken aback when I heard the news about Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Doctor Doom. Having grown up with Iron Man as one of my favorite superheroes, it was hard to imagine RDJ in any other role, especially a villain.

Robert Downey Jr., known for his role as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), is back despite having perished in Avengers: Endgame. However, instead of reprising his heroic character, he appears as the antagonist Doctor Doom, a switch that leaves his former co-star Gwyneth Paltrow somewhat puzzled.

Gwyneth Paltrow has featured in several Marvel movies. She first joined the Marvel Cinemic Universe (MCU) as Pepper Potts, Iron Man’s assistant later wife, in the 2008 release “Iron Man” with Downey Jr. portraying the lead character. They collaborated again in “Iron Man 2” (2010) and “Iron Man 3” (2013). Furthermore, they appeared together in “The Avengers” (2012), “Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017), “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018), and “Avengers: Endgame” (2019). Tony Stark (Iron Man) and Pepper shared a tumultuous romantic relationship, but he proposed to her in “Infinity War,” and they eventually got married and started a family. However, in “Endgame,” Stark made the ultimate sacrifice, giving up his life to save the universe from Thanos.

At San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel revealed that Downey Jr. had joined the MCU once more, but this time he wouldn’t be portraying the iconic character of Tony Stark again. Instead, he was set to take on the role of the primary adversary in the Fantastic Four, known as Doctor Doom. The news sparked a range of reactions, with some fans expressing confusion due to Downey’s previous heroic roles within the franchise. Among those perplexed by this casting decision was Paltrow herself.

Downey Jr. was part of the initial six Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, joining Chris Evans as Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and Mark Ruffalo as Hulk. Therefore, when news broke that Downey Jr. would be portraying a villain in the MCU, many were puzzled, including Paltrow, who questioned on Instagram, “Are you a bad guy now?” Many others shared similar feelings, expressing confusion over Downey’s new role in the franchise. As one user put it, “She’s always confused, but this time we can hardly blame her.”

At a initial glance, it may appear that there is no relationship between Doctor Doom and Iron Man. However, these two characters share a significant history. In “Mighty Avengers” published in 2007, they had a major confrontation when Doom was suspected of involvement in an attack on New York City. He was subsequently taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, with Stark as the director. In “Secret Wars” from 2015, Doom underwent a change and supported Iron Man despite his reluctance. Furthermore, when Stark fell into a coma following “Civil War II”, Doom assumed the role of Iron Man. In the “Infamous Iron Man” series published later, Doom created his own Iron Man armor to continue Stark’s heroic legacy and safeguard Stark Industries from The Hood and his accomplices, resulting in him losing his healed face once again.

Demon in Armor” (2010), Doom and Stark exchanged bodies during college, leading to Stark seeking revenge against Doom’s company. This connection may be explored in MCU. It is also possible that Marvel cast RDJ without any link to his previous role. Doom sports a scarred face from a mishap with one of his inventions and will wear a mask and armor, concealing Downey Jr.’s features. However, combining Doom’s sorcery and magic with Stark’s technology could make him even more menacing. The idea of Iron Man transforming into Doctor Doom is challenging for fans to accept, but the truth will be revealed in future Avengers films.

The film titled “Avengers: Doomsday” is scheduled for release on May 1, 2026, while “Avengers: Secret Wars” is set to premiere in cinemas on May 7, 2027.

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2024-07-30 16:44