Kevin Feige Was the Force Behind Robert Downey Jr. Playing Doctor Doom and the Russos Initially Said No to Directing
Robert Downey Jr. stepping into the armor of Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers movies is going to be madness, and fans are going flip out when we get our first look at him in the MCU.
According to Avengers: Doomsday co-director Joe Russo, this surprising casting choice came straight from the top at Marvel, telling Omelete:
"That was Kevin [Feige]. Interestingly enough about that, that conversation was had a while ago."
The reveal that Feige was behind the decision might not shock longtime fans who’ve seen Feige make other big decisions before. But bringing back Downey Jr., who effectively launched the MCU, to now play one of its most iconic villains? That’s wild.
Still, even with Feige’s push, the Russo brothers weren’t instantly on board to return. Their reason is because there was no story hook. Joe said:
"Then Robert tried to talk us into doing [the Avengers movies] and we said no. Weirdly, because we said we wouldn't come back. We just didn't have a story. We didn't have a way in. We were resistant for a while.
“One day, [writer] Steve McFeely, one of our chief collaborators, said, 'I have an idea.' We went, 'That's the story.' That story has to be told; it's a really powerful story."
That “powerful story” remains under wraps, but Russo did drop one hint that paints Doom as more than a mustache-twirling villain.
"The one thing I will say about the movie: we love villains who think they're the heroes of their own stories. That's when they become three-dimensional and become more interesting. When you have an actor like Robert Downey Jr., you have to create a well-shaped, three-dimensional character for the audience."
As for when we will get our first look at Downey’s Doom, there’s a good chance that he will first appear in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel has yet to confirm any such cameo. But it makes sense for him to be introduced in that!
For now, all we know is that Downey is actively crafting the version of Doom that he is going to play in the MCU. Joe previously said:
"It’s a very intense process developing the character. [Downey] is so immersed in it. He is so dialed in. That’s the kind of artist he is. That’s the kind of actor he is.
"He’s writing backstory [and sharing] costume ideas. He’s really — we were just on the phone this morning, before we got here, talking about it. … He just loves really rich, three-dimensional characters, and I think he sees a real opportunity here with that character."
Avengers: Doomsday is gearing up for production and it will hit theaters on May 1, 2026.