Washington [US], March 25 (HBTV): Actor Robert Downey Jr. shared how it was shocking for everyone to see him walk onstage dressed as Doctor Doom at San Diego Comic-Con last year, particularly because he had already saved the Marvel Universe as Tony Stark.

The idea of Downey playing Victor Von Doom dates back to before he was cast as Iron Man, Deadline reported.

‘I remember you had all met with [Downey] already for, like, Doctor Doom or something on another project,’ director Jon Favreau said in a 2023 conversation with Marvel boss Kevin Feige. ‘I think he had come through on maybe [2005's] Fantastic Four, so everybody sort of knew who he was,’ as per the outlet.

Victor Von Doom was ultimately portrayed in the 2005 film by Julian McMahon, while Downey took on the role of Stark in 2008’s Iron Man. However, Feige had held onto the idea of casting Downey as Doom, Deadline reported.

Downey later tried to persuade his Avengers: Endgame directors to reunite for the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars and Avengers: Doomsday, as per the outlet.

‘Robert tried to talk us into doing it, but we said “no.” We just didn’t have a story. We didn’t have a way in. We were resistant for a while.’

‘One day Steve McFeely, one of our chief collaborators, said, “I have an idea.” We went, “That’s the story!” That story has to be told. It’s a really powerful story.’

While the directors did not reveal much about the concept, Joe Russo hinted at the character’s depth: ‘The only thing I will say about the movie is this: We love villains who think they’re the hero of their own stories. That’s when they become three-dimensional, and they become more interesting. And when you have an actor like Robert Downey, you have to create a well-shaped, three-dimensional character for the audience,’ reported Deadline.

(ANI)