Robert Downey Jr. Reveals How He Was Recruited to Return to the MCU

One of the most memorable moments from this year’s San Diego Comic-Con was the reveal in Hall H that Robert Downey Jr. is 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 will be playing Tony Stark/Iron Man in an upcoming attraction at Disney California Adventure’s Avengers Campus. Now, Downey has revealed that it was his idea to reprise Stark for the Disney parks, but it was Kevin Feige who approached him about playing Doom.

Appearing as a guest on the current episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, Downey revealed that he’s been 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, were expected to discuss the actor’s idea to play Iron Man outside of the MCU, appearing in Disney theme park attractions. However, Feige wanted to discuss bringing him back into the MCU as Doom.

“(Feige) said, ‘It keeps coming to mind, if you were to come back…,’ and Susan was like, ‘Wait, wait. Come back as what?'” Downey recalled. “We both realized over time that it was just another thing that dispelled every doubt that anyone could ever have about the guy,” before adding his assessment that Feige is “a very sophisticated creative thinker.”

Read more on GameSpot