Shane Black Thinks Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom Will "Singlehandedly Reinvigorate" Comic Book Movies

Robert Downey Jr. is stepping back into the Marvel spotlight, but this time he's not suiting up as Iron Man. Instead, he's taking on the iconic villain role of Doctor Doom in Marvel Studios’ upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

The surprising return of Downey to the MCU after his heroic farewell in Avengers: Endgame has fans fired up, and it turns out he’s already got the seal of approval from one of his most trusted collaborators, Shane Black.

While promoting his upcoming movie Play Dirty, Black was asked by ComicBook about Downey's casting as Doom and didn’t hold back on his excitement.

The two have serious history together, having teamed up on Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and Iron Man 3, so when Black talks about RDJ’s power to command a role, fans listen.

“I think he’s going to singlehandedly reinvigorate the entire comic book movie industry with that. I mean, it seemed like at first a cynical idea, you know, ‘Oh, let’s just go back to the well of the one guy that seems to always save us.’

“But it’s going to work. It’s really going to work. And he’s brought to it… I’m not at liberty to say anything, not that I know. I’m thrilled because I’m first in line to see that. I haven’t seen all the Marvel movies. I’ll see that one first.”

Black isn’t alone in that opinion. When Downey's return as Doctor Doom was first announced, many fans and critics were skeptical. The idea of Marvel bringing back its most bankable star during a rough patch felt like a desperate play, it still does to me. But, maybe it will work.

Since Endgame, Marvel has struggled to find its footing. The quality and consistency of their movies and shows have taken some hits, and the box office hasn’t been kind.

In the last five years, only Spider-Man: No Way Home and Deadpool & Wolverine have crossed the billion-dollar mark. Compare that to the five years before that, where six MCU films broke the billion barrier. There’s no denying the studio needs a spark, and the studio thinks RDJ as Doom might be the match.

Sure, it may look like Marvel is playing it safe, but if anyone can flip the narrative, it’s Robert Downey Jr. The guy doesn’t sleepwalk through roles, and fans show up when his name is on the poster.

Whether or not this is Marvel's Hail Mary, the excitement seems strong. If the movie delivers, it might not just save Marvel’s current phase but also reshape how legacy actors are used in superhero storytelling.

What do you think about Black’s comments? Do you think Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom will save comic book movies?