It’s also proven that Robert Downey Jr. did have talks to play Doctor Doom in a Fantastic Four production in a new video honoring Iron Man from 2008.
Downey may be best known to the world as the one and only Iron Man, but in another reality, he may have been the notorious villain of the Fantastic Four.
In the late 2022 issue of The Story of Marvel Studios: The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Favreau said, “Marvel has met with [Robert Downey Jr.] before… to play Doctor Doom.“.
Although not mentioned in the quote, it is presumed to have been from the 2005 Fantastic Four movie.
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Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Talks Are Real, According to Kevin Feige
In a new video celebrating the 15th anniversary of Iron Man, the 2008 film’s director Jon Favreau and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige sit down to discuss the momentous occasion.
During their conversation, Favreau mentioned that he thought Marvel “has already met everyone with [Robert Downey Jr.] as Dr. Doom,” and Feige himself admitted:
“I recall that Robert had been brought in as a general on it, and I recall that you had all met with him for something like Dr. Doom on another project… I believe he delivered on things like the Fantastic Four. Everyone was somewhat aware of his identity, and I recall sitting down with him and thinking, “Geez, he just got that spark in him and his eye, and he’s ready.” And at that moment, we were in Kevin Feige’s office and said, “We’ve got to try to figure this out.” We were pointing at his picture.
While Kevin Feige has mentioned Downey Jr.’s conversations with Doctor Doom before, this is the only instance in which he has done so.
In his meeting with Feige, the filmmaker also mentioned that he didn’t “fully understand what the take was” until the lead actor was chosen.
“I didn’t fully understand the take until we cast Robert [Downey Jr.], and once it was Robert… every decision became much easier.”
Feige said that choosing Downey Jr. to play Tony Stark was “probably one of the greatest decisions in the history of Hollywood:”
Everybody has good days and bad days, and I remember in later movies we’ll discuss the 15th anniversary of those there were dark days and I would say, ‘Robert, we wouldn’t be in this mess if it wasn’t for you’ (laughs). I believe that was one of the best decisions in the annals of Hollywood. Meaning that without him or [Jon Favreau], we wouldn’t have a studio.
A Doctor Doom who never existed
Even though Robert Downey Jr. never got to don the Doctor Doom piece of armor, everything turned out okay because he got to become one of the most well-known superheroes in history.
Given the chance, Downey Jr., who is a wonderful actor, would unquestionably be an outstanding Doctor Doom.
With a Fantastic Four relaunch planned for the MCU, Marvel Studios will finally give these adored characters a second chance at success. The presence of Doctor Doom in the 2025 movie, however, is yet unknown.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t even appear that Robert Downey Jr. will have any interactions with members of the famous family. A crossover like that is far more difficult to pull off now that Tony Stark is no longer alive in the MCU.
However, anything might happen given the possibility of an event like Avengers: Secret Wars and the Multiverse’s importance as a significant theme. Perhaps Marvel will even let Downey Jr. portray a different Doctor Doom—the one who never was.
Fantastic Four from Marvel Studios is scheduled for release on February 14, 2025, and Avengers: Secret Wars is targeted for release on May 1, 2026.
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