Robert Downey Jr. Had ‘Already Met’ to Play Doctor Doom in 2005’s ‘Fantastic Four’ Before Being Cast as Iron Man, Director Jon Favreau Once Said
variety.comZack Sharf Digital News Director Robert Downey Jr. returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe to play the villain Doctor Doom in two new “Avengers” movies came as a massive shock to fans, but it turns out the news might not be a total surprise.
In a video Marvel Entertainment debuted last year in which director Jon Favreau sat down with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige to reminisce on the making of the first MCU movie, 2008’s “Iron Man,” Favreau revealed that Downey had already been in the Marvel orbit.
And for what role? Doctor Doom. “I remember that Robert had come in for a general [meeting] on [‘Iron Man’] and you had already met with him for Doctor Doom or something,” Favreau told Feige, who was an executive producer on 2005’s “Fantastic Four” and 2007’s “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.” “I think he had come through on ‘Fantastic Four.’ So everybody knew who he was,” Favreau continued as the memory of meeting Downey for Doctor Doom two decades ago came back to Feige, who nodded in approval. “I remember sitting down with the guy and I was like, ‘He’s got that spark in his eye and he’s ready.’ That’s when we were in your office and we were putting to his headshot and saying we’ve gotta try and figure this out [for ‘Iron Man’].” It was “Nip/Tuck” actor Julian McMahon who ended up nabbing the part of Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom in 2005’s “Fantastic Four,” but now Downey is finally getting his chance to play the iconic Marvel villain.
As Marvel announced at Comic Con, the Oscar-winning actor will star as Doctor Doom in 2026’s “Avengers: Doomsday” and 2027’s “Avengers: Secret Wars,” both of which will be directed by the Russo Brothers.
Read more on variety.com