The Hall H presentation for the Marvel Cinematic Universe at the SDCC 2024 went insane as Robert Downey Jr. was announced as our new Doctor Doom. The live audience and the entire fandom went crazy as the man who started the MCU in 2008 and saved a timeline in Avengers: Endgame is set to be the Big Baddie in the upcoming Avengers projects. A recent viral video of Florence Pugh reacting to RDJ’s comeback perfectly describes how the fans feel.
The MCU was going through a rough patch before Deadpool & Wolverine brought the grand theatrical experience back. While the Ryan Reynolds threequel already surprised the fans with its bombastic cameos, the MCU played another big card with Downey Jr.’s comeback. On top of that, with the Russo Brothers returning, the fans are convinced that the glorious MCU days are back.
Florence Pugh accurately portrayed our reaction to Robert Downey Jr.’s return
There was a massive hype for this year’s San Diego Comic-Con due to several reasons. The fans wanted to know who would be the new Marvel Big Bad after the mess-up that happened with Kang. Nevertheless, the Kevin Feige cartel played an insane move to bring back the old guns that were significant in giving an incredible conclusion to the Infinity Saga.
Recently, it was rumored that the filmmaker duo of Russo Brothers would return to direct the upcoming two Avengers films. The audience was elevated after it was announced at the SDCC that the Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame directors will return. But the real banger was dropped after Robert Downey Jr. unmasked himself to reveal the next MCU baddie.
Florence Pugh's jaw drops when she sees Robert Downey Jr. return as Victor von Doom: "I bet it went insane in there!" https://t.co/1xruBMTh3G pic.twitter.com/oo2ZyzSrfs
— Variety (@Variety) July 28, 2024
In the latest video posted by Variety, we spotted how Florence Pugh‘s jaw dropped after she got to know about the casting. The Thunderbolts* star could not believe her eyes and stated:
I didn’t see this. I bet it went insane in there!
Soon after the video went viral, fans could relate to the shock in the Oppenheimer star’s face. It was a significant sign that we may soon see MCU’s resurrection under the Russo Brothers, something that they pulled off so well in the Infinity Saga. Despite failures like Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels, the MCU proved that it can always make a terrific comeback.
Funnily, certain fans also joked that Florence Pugh knew it all along and her reaction was so believable due to her acting skills.
Florence Pugh shared some interesting updates from Thunderbolts*
Although Robert Downey Jr. and the Russo Brothers‘ MCU comeback has made the fans go insane, we have to still wait for 2026 to get Avengers: Doomsday. Before that, Thunderbolts* is set to be a major team-up film in the MCU. The film that will feature Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier and Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova leading a Suicide Squad-esque team will be released in 2025.
Deadpool & Wolverine, being the first R-rated MCU venture, became a blockbuster within the very few days of its release. Now according to the Yelena Belova actress’ statement to People, Thunderbolts* will also feature some never-seen-before aspects in the MCU.
I feel like this is something that we’ve never seen before from Marvel. I feel like it’s a very open and honest and truthful idea. And I’m just really excited for people to watch it.
Florence Pugh added the makers took their time with the project to ensure proper handling of the story- “the reason why it took so long to come together is [that] there would be no point in doing this story unless we did it properly.” The attendees also got to watch some footage from the upcoming film.
It will be interesting to see how MCU pulls off a gritty and mature product with Thunderbolts*. Although we did not get much information about the plot, the idea of a team of reformed villains has intrigued many fans.
Thunderbolts* will be released on May 2, 2025, while Avengers: Doomsday will be released in 2026.
