One of the most memorable moments at this year's San Diego Comic-Con was the reveal in Hall H that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom alongside the Russo brothers in the next two Avengers films. And at D23, it was also announced that Downey would be playing Tony Stark/Iron Man in an upcoming attraction at Disney California Adventure's Avengers Campus. Downey has now revealed that it was his idea to play Stark again for Disney Parks, but it was Kevin Feige who approached him about playing Doom.
Downey was a guest on the current episode of The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, and he mentioned that he's stayed in touch with Feige, Jon Favreau, and the Russo brothers since his departure from Marvel following 2019's Avengers: Endgame. During one of his meetings with Feige, Downey and his wife, Susan Downey, expected to talk about the actor's idea of playing Iron Man outside of the MCU in Disney theme park attractions. However, Feige wanted to talk about his return to the MCU as Doom.
“[Feige] “He said, 'It just keeps coming to my mind, if you came back…' and Susan said, 'Wait, wait. Come back as what?'” Downey recalled. “We both realized over time that that was another thing that dispelled any doubts that you might have about this guy,” before adding that Feige was “a very sophisticated creative thinker.”
It was Feige who pointed out the problems inherent in Downey's return, before presenting the role of Doom as a potential solution.
“How do you keep going backwards? How do you keep going forwards? How do you keep going forwards?” Downey said of Feige’s pitch. “And he brought up Victor Von Doom. I studied that character. Later, he said, ‘Let’s make Victor Von Doom perfect.’”
In a subsequent visit with Bob Iger, Downey learned that the Disney CEO was fully on board with the idea of him playing Doctor Doom. Iger also arranged for Downey and Feige to tour the Disney Imagineering Campus to see what the Imagineers are working on for Avengers Campus.
“We're talking about two guys who are not easy to be surprised by, let alone see at the same time,” Downey said. “What's happening out there right now is beyond my wildest dreams.”
Downey is likely referring to the Iron Man-themed ride, Stark Flight Lab, and the Avengers: Infinity Defense ride. None of these DCA rides have opening dates yet, but Downey will play Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday on May 1, 2026, before likely wrapping up that story in Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027.