I am now convinced that Robert Downey Jr. is the most important person for the success of the MCU, second only to Kevin Feige

Years after Iron Man’s death, Robert Downey Jr.s casting as Doctor Doom for Avengers: Doomsday has turned the actor into a key part of the MCU’s success. From 2008 Iron Man to 2019 Avengers: EndgameRobert Downey Jr. Not only shaped Iron Man’s MCU journey, but he also led the MCU’s evolution into the most successful movie franchise of all time. Iron Man’s death in Avengers: Endgame Marked the end of an era, cementing Tony Stark as the best hero in the universe. Throughout the MCU Multiverse Saga, Iron Man’s legacy plays into the stories of characters such as Spider-Man, Ironheart and War Machine.

Against all odds, Robert Downey Jr. has been announced to play Doctor Doom at San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Marvel Comics’ Victor of Doom is a magic-wielding Eastern European scientist with a lifelong grudge against Reed Richards and an innately evil personality – A very different character than Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark. The casting of Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. Raises some questions, as the actor’s previous MCU credits may draw unnecessary parallels between Iron Man and Doctor Doom, but his face will probably be covered by the villain’s mask most of the time anyway. List casting may be wasted on the character.

Robert Downey Jr. Was the face of the MCU for 11 years as Iron Man

The 11-year Iron Man journey of Robert Downey Jr. is unforgettable

Robert Downey Jr. was a huge risk for Jon Favreau Iron Man In 2008, however, so was the idea of ​​a Marvel Cinematic Universe altogether. luckily, Iron Mans risks paid off. At one point in Phase 2, Robert Downey Jr. Was close to leaving the MCU, but he decided to stay, and his next roles started the second half of his MCU story Avengers: Infinity War And Avengers: Endgame‘s epic conclusion to Iron Man’s character arc. With Iron Man’s main hero role in the Infinity Saga and Doctor Doom’s main villain role in the Multiverse Saga, Robert Downey Jr. has become as synonymous with the MCU as Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige.

As the first and most important hero of the franchise, Robert Downey Jr. Earned his place as the MCU’s main figureLeading the Marvel Cinematic Universe alongside Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans. Iron Man started the age of heroes in his timeline, helped create the Avengers, launched Spider-Man’s superhero career, invented time travel and saved the entire universe. Even after his death, Iron Man continues to influence the MCU through other characters and events in his original timeline, as well as through on-screen and off-screen variants in titles such as Marvel’s What If…? And Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

It makes sense that Marvel brought back RDJ when the MCU was struggling

Robert Downey Jr. is Marvel Studios’ infallible weapon during uncertain times

It’s no secret that the MCU’s multiverse saga is not as consistent as the Infinity saga, both in terms of quality and in terms of production. Phases 4 to 6 have many more installments than Phases 1 to 3, but they do not include a single Avengers Movie in a span of seven years and several installments have failed critically, commercially or both. With box office bombs like The Marvels And Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Interspersed with heat like Deadpool & Wolverine, The return of Robert Downey Jr. Seems like the ideal strategy to end the Multiverse Saga on a high note.

Apart from the successful eleven years of Robert Downey Jr. With Marvel, the actor’s recent Oscar win is also an asset to the MCU. Robert Downey Jr. Recently proved his top-tier acting skills with his performance as Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimerwhich earned Downey the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The actor’s willingness to play a new character in the MCU after an Oscar win and after Iron Man’s conclusive death suggests he fully believes in Avengers: Doomsday And Avengers: Secret Wars‘ Potential to exceed Avengers: Infinity War And Avengers: Endgame.

RDJ’s importance to the MCU could become a problem for Marvel

Marvel Studios can’t always rely on Robert Downey Jr

The MCU’s plan to bring Robert Downey Jr Avengers: Doomsday Introduces his take on Doctor Doom. However, the return of Downey Jr. Can only work once. Not only will the end of the multiverse saga make it more difficult for established Marvel actors to return, but the impact of second appearances by the same actor will likely diminish after it becomes clear that their departure is not always definitive. After Iron Man and Doctor Doom, Robert Downey Jr. Probably won’t play a third Marvel character.

The MCU has failed to find a new central figure after Iron Man’s death. Bring back Robert Downey Jr. Already seems like a last-ditch decision to correct, and bring back other well-known actors or established characters is not a strategy that can be relied on consistently. For the next saga of the MCU, Marvel Studios will likely need to focus on new characters and new actors. On the bright side, the introduction of the MCU’s own X-Men can help Marvel Studios capture the audience’s attention without the need for extra strategies.