Robert Downey Jr. reveals why playing Doctor Doom is more exciting than returning as Iron Man
Robert Downey Jr. reveals why playing Doctor Doom is more exciting than returning as Iron Man
Vatsala Chauhan Tue, August 18, 2026 at 8:26 AM UTC
0
Robert Downey Jr. ©Getty
Robert Downey Jr. played Iron Man for years, but it seems Doctor Doom is giving him a whole new kind of excitement. Speaking with Good Morning America at D23, RDJ explained that what made playing Doom so exciting for him was getting to experience things he had missed before.
While his previous Marvel character, Iron Man, was a hero, his new character, Victor Von Doom, is completely opposite. Nevertheless, the actor playing two of the biggest Marvel roles has already left fans excited. But for Downey Jr., playing Doom is about more than simply taking on another Marvel role.
What does Robert Downey Jr. find so exciting about playing Doctor Doom?
Robert Downey Jr. at Marvel Studios Panel At SDCC - Source: Getty
At D23, when asked about what Marvel character he prefers, Robert Downey Jr. explained that playing Victor Von Doom felt strange because everyone else was together as the good heroes, while he was standing apart in Doom's mask and hood.
However, he also enjoyed getting to know Hayley Atwell better and exploring the history he shares with Chris Evans. Downey continued by saying that he chose Doom because the role felt right to him and that Doomsday lets him experience the things he had been missing before.
In another statement, he said:
"I think that in Doomsday, what happens with this key relationship is so exciting and unexpected and beautiful."
Robert Downey Jr. joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Iron Man, released in 2008, and played Tony Stark/Iron Man for years. However, his character died in Avengers: Endgame, released in 2019, which led to his exit from the franchise. While many fans wanted to see him return to Marvel, there was little hope of it happening.
However, Marvel brought him back as Doctor Doom forAvengers: Doomsday, announcing the casting at SDCC in 2024. Downey Jr. appeared on stage wearing Doom's mask and said he likes playing complicated characters. The news was a joy for fans who had been hoping RDJ would return to Marvel.
Advertisement
If viewers look at his characters, they'll find Tony, who is after protecting the world and will do anything to save it, even sacrificing himself, which leads to his death. However, Doctor Doom is very opposite of Iron Man, as he seems to be more calculative and keeps his intentions and plans very private to be in absolute control.
In the role of Doctor Doom, RDJ gets to play the outsider who sees the heroes instead of being on the team with them like his previous role.
Robert Downey Jr. also opened up about his Marvel characters while speaking with Entertainment Weekly, explaining that Tony Stark and Doctor Doom share their intelligence and scientific abilities, but their paths are very different. He added that Tony's struggles helped turn him into a hero, while Doom took the opposite path and became powerful enough to challenge the heroes.
The actor further described it as "an isolated vibe," saying that he felt strange to play the bad guy as everyone else was socializing, while he played the enemy. Marvel has already released the Avengers: Doomsday special look, where viewers can see more details about Doctor Doom's story.
To know more, read this: Avengers: Doomsday Special Look - The Marvel Easter Eggs only eagle-eyed fans would spot
Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to release on December 18, 2026.
Follow Soap Central for more updates!
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
