Robert Downey Jr.’s return to theMarvel Cinematic Universewas perhaps the franchise’s most shocking announcement ever, and several MCU stars have shared their thoughts on RDJ’s casting asDoctor Doom.Downey’s Iron Man appearanceswere responsible for establishing the MCU and making it the major success that it became. The actor wasactive in the franchise throughout the MCU’s most popular period, departing with 2019’sAvengers: Endgame, which became the highest-grossing film ever for a time.
After Downey left, only a few of theMCU’s best moviescame during the Multiverse Saga. Overall, this new chapter of the franchise has been facing way more criticism than the Infinity Saga. AfterKang the Conqueror actor Jonathan Majors was fired, Marvel turned to Doctor Doom — and Downey — to serve asthe main villain of the next two Avengers movies. The MCU’s star-studded roster has since had a lot to say about RDJ’s Doctor Doom casting.
15Tom Holland
MCU Character: Spider-Man
Tom Holland’s Peter Parker isone of the MCU characters who was the closest to RDJ’s Tony Stark. As such, it will be interesting to see how Spider-Man will react to discovering that Doctor Doom shares his mentor’s face.Holland has commented on Downey’s Doctor Doom casting, and it did not surprise him.
10 Best Peter Parker Replacements For Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Based On His MCU Deadline
Tom Holland has revealed what could be his Spider-Man deadline, and that might lead to other heroes taking over for Peter Parker in the MCU soon.
The reason for that is becauseHolland was one of the few who knew about it before the official announcement. The Spider-Man star recently revealed that he has been “speaking to Downey a lot,” especially about his MCU return. Holland felt it was a hard secret to keep due to his reputation for revealing spoilers.
14Julia Louis-Dreyfus
MCU Character: Contessa Valentina Allegra De Fontaine
Julia Louis-Dreyfus' Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is seemingly the new owner of Avengers Tower, which connects her to Downey’s Tony Stark in a way, even though the two have never shared the screen. As thecreator of the MCU’s Thunderbolts, Valentina has a mysterious agenda, and maybe it could align with RDJ’s Doctor Doom.
Geraldine Viswanathan
Unconfirmed
Speaking toGamesRadar+, Louis-Dreyfus briefly commented on the news of Downey’s MCU return as Doctor Doom, saying, “That’s cool.” Based on how her key role in next year’sThunderbolts*makes Valentinaa kind of darker Nick Fury, it will be intriguing to see her take on the threat Doctor Doom presents.
13Lewis Pullman
MCU Character: Bob (Rumored To Be Sentry)
Lewis Pullman will share the screen with Louis-Dreyfus in Marvel Studios’Thunderbolts*. While Marvel has yet to officially reveal the true identity of Pullman’s Bob, the actor’s character has been teased to be Sentry. Asone of the most powerful heroes in Marvel Comics, Sentry could help the Avengers take down RDJ’s Doctor Doom.
FollowingThunderbolts*’s presentation at San Diego Comic-Con, Pullman also spoke toGamesRadar+about Downey’s MCU return. He had more to say than hisThunderbolts*co-star. Pullman loved the news,noting RDJ’s importance as the origin of the MCUwith 2008’sIron Man.
12Sebastian Stan
MCU Character: Bucky Barnes
Sebastian Stan is one of the MCU’s longest-running stars, having joined the franchise in 2011’sCaptain America: The First Avenger. After some major events in his life, the character will be one of the main stars of next year’sThunderbolts*. Stan’s Bucky Barnes killed Iron Man’s parents when he was still the Winter Soldier.
With Bucky now seeking atonement for his sins, meetingRDJ’s Doctor Doom, who may be a Tony Stark variant, could prove to be too much. As far as Stan is concerned,Avengers: Doomsdayneeds to unite him and Downey. The Winter Soldier actor says, “I hope I’m in a scene with him.”
11Anthony Mackie
MCU Character: Captain America (Sam Wilson)
Sebastian Stan’s longtime MCU scene partner, Captain America actor Anthony Mackie, also wants to interact with Downey’s Doctor Doom. However,Mackie offered a more bloody version of what could come of that meeting. The MCU actor jokingly said toThe Hollywood Reporter, “I better kill him first.”
Footage from Mackie’sCaptain America: Brave New World, the actor’s first MCU movie as a lead, teases thatSam Wilson will lead the new Avengers. Like Chris Evans' Steve Rogers, the new Captain America should play a big role in the next two Avengers movies. As such, Mackie could end up seeing his Doctor Doom wish come true.
10Elizabeth Olsen
MCU Character: Scarlet Witch
Elizabeth Olsen has become one of the MCU’s most popular stars afterWandaVision. Currently,the Scarlet Witch is dead. However, given howAgatha All Alonghas been teasing Wanda’s return, the character could be back inAvengers: Doomsday. In the comics, the Scarlet Witch is found in a relationship with Doom after going missing for years.
10 Clues That Rio Vidal Is Really Lady Death In Agatha All Along Explained
Aubrey Plaza’s Rio Vidal is one of the best parts of Agatha All Along, and the MCU series seems to be setting up a Lady Death twist through teases.
Given her love for Vision in the MCU, perhapsMarvel could make Olsen’s Scarlet Witch and RDJ’s Doctor Doom allieswithout romance.Olsen was surprised by Downey’s MCU return. The actress revealed that many people asked her if she knew, but the MCU star did not, saying, “[I] had to go on the internet to find out.”
9Don Cheadle
MCU Character: War Machine
Don Cheadle is one of the MCU stars who will be the most interesting to see opposite RDJ in his return.Cheadle’s Rhodey was Tony Stark’s best friend. Having War Machine fight Doctor Doom could be heartbreaking due to that long MCU connection between the stars, especially if Doom and Tony have any in-universe links.
Cheadle was shocked that Downey chose to come back to play Doctor Doom, saying, “‘What the f*ck?'” Cheadle then noted how he could not share anyAvengers: Doomsdayteases, given howMarvel is rewriting and reworking the movie. With Doctor Doom taking over from Kang the Conqueror, major changes are certainly needed.
8Charlie Cox
MCU Character: Daredevil
Charlie Cox still has to appear in an Avengers movie. With Matt Murdock now an active part of the MCU,2025’sDaredevil: Born Againcould set him up for a big screen adventure.Cox’s Daredevil could be one of the leaders of a street-level Avengers teamthat takes on Doctor Doom and any minions who try to take over the planet.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige said that Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will be the faces of the MCU’s street-level heroes.
While Daredevil might not present much of a challenge to the powerful Doctor Doom,Cox wants to meet RDJ’s new MCU villain. The actor is excited about his future at Marvel Studios. Talking about Downey’s Victor von Doom,Cox said, “[It] feels like now anything can happen, and I hope that it does!”
7Jeff Goldblum
MCU Character: The Grandmaster
Jeff Goldblum had a very Goldblum-like answer to RDJ’s MCU return, full of the actor’s signature flair. When asked on theHappy Sad Confusedpodcast about Downey’s shocking MCU comeback, the Grandmaster actor said, “I’d heard whispers on my peripheral” and"Victor von Doom… I like that name.“Check out the full quote below:
“Excellent news. I think I vaguely heard the… yes, yes, I’d heard whispers on my peripheral. Yes, channels. Victor von Doom… I like that name. If my name had been Victor von Doom, I’d be a long further along than I am now. That’s a great name. Or Von to anything. Or Van.”
Goldblum’s Grandmaster has no project set to return to the MCU. The character is one of the Elders of the Universe in Marvel Comics, beings who could go on to live forever. Based on his vast experience, Doctor Doom could either befriend the Grandmaster or steal his knowledge for himself to conquer the multiverse.
6Gwyneth Paltrow
MCU Character: Pepper Potts
Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr. created a bond through their MCU roles. As Marvel Studios’ first onscreen couple, Paltrow’s Pepper Potts and Downey’s Tony Stark would face several threats together.Pepper was by Tony’s side when he died, and the character finding out that Doctor Doom shares her dead husband’s face would surely make for an emotional moment.
Paltrow was one of the first to comment on RDJ’s return. In hilarious fashion, Paltrow asked Downey on Instagram,“I don’t get it, are you a baddie now?“Previously, the star said she stopped appearing in the MCU because Iron Man died, but with Downey back, perhaps Paltrow could be included to return inAvengers: Doomsday.
