Should Marvel Have Saved Robert Downey Jr.’s Casting For Avengers: Doomsday?

Should Marvel Have Saved Robert Downey Jr.'s Casting For Avengers: Doomsday?

As a gamer with over three decades of comic book and movie fandom under my belt, I must say that Marvel seems to be struggling to find its footing these days. The excitement I felt when Kevin Feige first unveiled the grand plan for the MCU is long gone, replaced by a sense of déjà vu and disappointment.


As a devoted fan, I’ve been wondering if it might be time for Marvel to mix things up a bit and step away from their familiar strategies. The first unforgettable moment was when Kevin Feige unveiled a grand plan with projects mapped out over a decade – an incredible sight! But every subsequent attempt to replicate that has felt more like damage control or a warning shot, rather than genuine excitement. They seem to be losing momentum, and Robert Downey Jr.’s departure left them scrambling for a solution. Marvel played their trump card nearly two years before the release of Avengers: Doomsday, which feels a tad desperate, don’t you think?

In the movie “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” the breaks for audience applause are a frequent annoyance. These pauses serve as persistent reminders of Marvel’s primary objective at the moment, which is not creating timeless masterpieces but focusing on the film’s initial box office performance. The decision to reintroduce familiar faces in both the cast and crew appears to prioritize short-term applause over long-term movie quality.

Why did Marvel reveal Robert Downey Jr.’s Doom at SDCC?

Should Marvel Have Saved Robert Downey Jr.'s Casting For Avengers: Doomsday?

Essentially, the big unveil from Marvel earned the anticipated applause. Regardless of its predictability, it was still a delightful experience. The SDCC crowd appeared ecstatic when Robert Downey Jr. emerged wearing Doctor Doom’s mask. Seeing RDJ in any setting is thrilling, and the enthusiasm in the room seemed contagious. It seems like this was their tactic to counteract the negative trend in Marvel’s recent developments – an effort to revitalize interest.

As a devoted Marvel fan, I must admit that some of their recent films haven’t performed as well as we’d hoped. For instance, Black Widow, which was initially hit hard by pandemic-related delays and subsequent streaming release concerns, didn’t manage to double its production budget – a traditional benchmark for success in the industry. Eternals followed suit, while Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania also fell short despite a $50 million tax break from the UK government. Most recently, The Marvels has become the studio’s biggest flop yet, failing to even cover its production costs and potentially losing hundreds of millions.

Would the reveal work better in the film?

Should Marvel Have Saved Robert Downey Jr.'s Casting For Avengers: Doomsday?

As a die-hard fan, if I were to unintentionally spill the beans about Robert Downey Jr.’s role in Avengers: Doomsday, I’d be seen as a villain myself! Keeping that surprise intact was crucial for the movie’s impact. Picture it: walking into the theater, not knowing who’d portray the menacing title character, only to hear RDJ’s voice muffled behind a mask. Whispers would ripple through the audience throughout the film, building tension. Then, when his face was finally unveiled, the collective gasp and screams would send shivers down my spine! The thrill of that revelation would be simply captivating.

Presently, many fans express their displeasure over Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Doctor Doom. This choice diminishes opportunities for a Romani actor, merges a fresh character with an established icon, and appears to be a tactic to attract returning viewers. It’s not that RDJ was the ideal choice for the role; instead, he was selected due to his involvement in the previous films when they were more financially successful. Anticipating this revelation might have spared Marvel some future challenges, as fans who dislike it may choose not to watch the movie. This decision could have been a unique opportunity to win back hardcore fans while deterring numerous viewers. Despite the disappointing SDCC reveal, it might be more acceptable than the alternative.

Are Marvel press releases getting worse?

Over the years, the excitement surrounding Marvel’s previews hasn’t been as intense as before. However, what follows often falls short of expectations. Back then, their teasers hinted at something innovative and seemed well-thought-out. But now, many of their announcements include projects that fans don’t seem to care about, leading to changes in plans or projects being dropped altogether. Recently, instead of promising new and exciting content, they’ve been reassuring fans that the less-than-stellar movies will eventually return to the quality level they once had. This is a disappointing turn for the franchise.

There isn’t any real way to make Marvel’s Doom announcement without coming off as desperate. It was always going to seem like a cop-out, but the context of the reveal would change its impact. Saving Robert Downey Jr. for the big screen would suggest some degree of confidence in the choice, but it would also prompt the same fury fans are expressing now. People know what they’re going in for now. Many lost faith in Marvel when they brought their pinch-hitter back from the dead. They would likely have been even angrier to see it in the theater. Robert Downey Jr. could still be the MCU’s Doom.

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2024-08-03 03:04