Russo Calls Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Worth Being Scared Of
Directors Joe and Anthony Russo describe Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom as ego-driven and damaged, while Marvel boss Kevin Feige denies the villain is a Tony Stark variant. Avengers: Doomsday reaches cinemas from December 18.
Avengers: Doomsday director Joe Russo said Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr., is a character "worth being scared of", as Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige rejected a fan theory that the villain is a version of Tony Stark. The film reaches cinemas from December 18.
The comments set out how Marvel plans to present its next big antagonist. Doom has appeared on screen before, in the 2005 Fantastic Four film and its 2015 reboot, but those versions never matched his standing in the comics.
Russos on a Gothic villain
"Doom is a Gothic character," Joe Russo said. "He says, 'Hell answers to me,' and he's not kidding." He described a powerful figure with "some very dark magic" who is "not above selling his soul to get what he wants".
Russo also pointed to tragedy behind the menace. "He's a father who's a victim of trauma. He has lost a child," he said. "It's scary because he's so profoundly damaged."
Co-director Anthony Russo drew a contrast with the Avengers' last major villain. "Doom is much more ego-driven than Thanos," he said. "Thanos believed he was serving a greater good."
Downey on playing the problem
Downey Jr. built the franchise as Tony Stark and closed the Infinity Saga with his sacrificial snap. Playing Doom meant adjusting to a new role among the heroes.
He compared the moment to Michael Douglas at the end of Falling Down. "I had that realisation a couple of days into shooting," he said, "because all the heroes are over there, and I'm the problem. And then I leaned in, and it was just this glorious time."
He also hinted at the scale of Doom's plans. "I like a bit of scorched earth," Downey Jr. said. "Whatever you think he may be entertaining, I would ten times it."
Feige rules out the variant theory
Casting Downey Jr. fed speculation that Doom is a variant of Tony Stark, meaning an alternate-universe version of the same man. Feige said that is not the case.
He pointed to Chris Evans' return in a different Marvel role. "Is Steve Rogers a Johnny Storm variant?" Feige asked. On whether Doom is a shortcut to bringing back another character, he said: "The answer is no. He's Victor Von Doom."
VisionQuest post-credits scene
The villain has already appeared in the Marvel series VisionQuest. Marvel withheld a post-credits scene from critics' screener copies of the finale.
In it, an armored figure in a hooded cloak lifts rubble off Wanda Maximoff's body with a wave of his hand. Closed captions identify him as Doctor Doom. A green light washes over Wanda as she wakes, and Doom says: "Scarlet Witch…awaken. Your powers will be mine."
Doom does not show interest in Vision, the series' central character, in the scene. His focus is on Wanda, the Scarlet Witch, and her magic.
