Everyone wants Robert Downey Jr. to return as Iron Man, or at least see the character appear in future MCU films in whichever form possible. But, a new rumor from a known insider claimed that he could actually join the franchise again though as another character.
Of course, fans know Downey Jr. as the superhero that kicked off the Marvel universe, but what if he comes back as a villain? Specifically, as Doctor Doom from the Fantastic Four?
Insider Claims Robert Downey Jr. May Return To MCU As Doctor Doom
Industry scooper Jeff Sneider released a fresh newsletter for all Marvel fans and revealed that he has heard talks of Robert Downey Jr. making a possible return in a future Avengers film. The catch is that he will be a Stark Variant that would ultimately transform into Doctor Victor Von Doom.
Surprisingly, the actor once attempted to play this character in 2005’s Fantastic Four. He auditioned for the part that eventually went to Julian McMahon. This was before he became Iron Man.
In an interview via Marvel Entertainment, director Jon Favreau told Marvel boss Kevin Feige:
I remember you had all met with [Downey] already for like Doctor Doom or something on another project. I think he had come through on maybe Fantastic Four, so everybody sort of knew who he was.
It’s not entirely a loss for the actor when he failed to snag the role because he was subsequently cast in 2008’s Iron Man as Tony Stark. Feige told Favreau, “That tone that you and Robert discovered on that movie, I would say became the template in a way for much of what the MCU became.”
It’s crazy to think what would have happened had Downey Jr. played Doctor Doom and not Iron Man, but it’s even a wilder idea to think about the possibility of the actor returning to MCU as the chief villain of the Fantastic Four. As one fan remarked, “Sounds like something that’ll never happen.”
Robert Downey Jr. Expressed Interest To Play Iron Man Again
Regardless of whether Jeff Sneider got the information correct or not, Downey Jr. is still willing to join the MCU again as Iron Man. The actor embraced the role as his own, and he has become synonymous with Tony Stark. In his interview via Variety, he confessed:
It’s just crazily in my DNA. Probably the most like-me character I’ve ever played, even though he’s way cooler than I am. I’ve become surprisingly open-minded to the idea.
While Feige has previously announced that they will not magically undo the death of Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame, there are a couple of possible ways to make him appear again in the MCU without messing up the timelines.
With Downey Jr. game and ready to wear the suit again, it’s only a matter of when and how before Marvel Studios brings back one of its very own actors who helped build its empire.
