"I Thought It Was A Smart Move": James Gunn Addresses Marvel Studios Bringing Back Robert Downey Jr. As Doctor Doom

By Nicolas Ayala

Published Dec 6, 2024

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Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy director and DC Studios CEO James Gunn shares his thoughts on Robert Downey Jr.'s the Russo Bros.' Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, released in 2026 and 2027, respectively.

Speaking to Josh Horowitz in an episode of Happy Sad Confused, James Gunn praises Marvel Studios' decision to cast Robert Downey Jr. as the MCU's Doctor Doom, saying "I thought it was a smart move, I was excited about it. And I also love Robert, so it's... I think that's cool. I think it's... I think it's a great idea, and I think that... you know, there's no better than him." Gunn also reveals that he's "totally okay" with whatever the MCU does with the Guardians of the Galaxy, saying that Marvel has his blessing to move in new directions with the characters. Watch Gunn's full interview below:

What James Gunn's Comments About RDJ's Marvel Return Mean

Robert Downey Jr.'s Casting As Doctor Doom Was Always Going To Be A Win For Marvel

Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom casting announcement was undeniably the biggest highlight at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, as Downey Jr.'s MCU retirement was though to be definitive, or at least much longer. Seeing the MCU's biggest star return at the end of the Multiverse Saga, regardless of the plot, is an automatic pull for audiences. How RDJ's Doctor Doom will differ from Iron Man, where the villain comes from, and what Doom's interactions with the Avengers will look like are questions that will inevitably bring audiences to theaters when Avengers: Doomsday arrives.

Robert Downey Jr.'s MCU Return MUST Include This Reversal of His Very First Iron Man Scene

Robert Downey Jr.'s very first scene in 2008's Iron Man can be perfectly repurposed to introduce him as Doctor Doom, and Marvel already proved it.

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From a business perspective, Robert Downey Jr.'s MCU return is indeed "a smart move", as James Gunn describes it. Doctor Doom's introduction in Avengers: Doomsday offers Downey Jr. the chance to show off his acting chops in a brand-new role, and it also avoids undoing Iron Man's perfect MCU story in the process. Besides, the Multiverse Saga may provide reasonable explanations for this decision due to the concept of alternate timelines.

Our Take On James Gunn's Comments About RDJ's Marvel Return

Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom Needs To Live Up To The Hype

Robert Downey Jr playing Iron Man in Avengers Endgame and Doctor Doom in Marvel's Secret Wars — Custom image by Nicolas Ayala

While Robert Downey Jr.'s return as Doctor Doom is enough to attract a huge crowd, Marvel Studios needs to justify the RDJ's villain casting in Avengers: Doomsday. MCU villains like Loki and Thanos have left the bar really high for MCU antagonists, and Doctor Doom is one of the most important villains in comic book history. If RDJ's Doctor Doom fails to meet expectations, the actor's return could backfire, as it could be seen as a last resort to raise interest in Avengers: Doomsday after Marvel Studios scrapped its plans for Kang the Conqueror.

Source: Happy Sad Confused