Robert Downey Jr. Reflects On 17 Years Of Playing Iron Man Ahead Of His Doctor Doom Role

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Robert Downey Jr. is set to transition from hero to villain within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fans were taken aback by the news of his return to the franchise as Doctor Doom, especially after he wrapped up his journey as Tony Stark in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Currently, he is scheduled to appear in both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Additionally, there are speculations that Downey’s new character might debut in a post-credit scene of this year’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

During a panel at this year’s SXSW event, where Screen Rant was present, Downey reflected on his iconic role as Tony Stark. He expressed gratitude for being part of Iron Man’s legacy, emphasizing that Stark’s commitment to utilizing technology for positive change will resonate with him for a lifetime. Here’s what he had to say:

For 17 years, I’ve been associated with this iconic superhero… I’m thankful for the message he brings. Tony Stark has widened my understanding of technology’s capability to positively influence our world, and that’s something I’ll carry forward always.

It Will Be Hard To Separate RDJ’s New Role From His Old One

Since the debut of Iron Man in 2008, the ambitious cinematic universe that has blossomed into a successful franchise owes a lot to Downey’s stellar portrayal of Tony Stark. He transformed a relatively obscure character into one of the most recognizable superheroes in contemporary pop culture, making Iron Man the cornerstone of the Infinity Saga.

While it’s possible the MCU’s Doctor Doom won’t have a direct connection to Downey’s previous role, audiences will undoubtedly recognize him and will be keen to spot potential links.

Many fans are thrilled by Downey’s return to the franchise that he helped shape, but there are still lingering questions about how closely his Doctor Doom will correlate with Tony Stark. Although various theories suggest that this version of Victor Von Doom might be a multiverse variant of Stark, most of these ideas are merely speculative at this point.

Even though Downey hasn’t provided concrete details about his new role, it’s clear that, much like the character he embodied, audiences will find it challenging to forget Tony Stark. No matter the connections, viewers will instinctively recognize who is beneath the mask and will be watching closely for relationships, thematic or otherwise.

Our Take On What Iron Man’s Legacy Means For Doctor Doom

Regardless of how the MCU links Doctor Doom to Tony Stark, Downey’s reflections imply a significant thematic correlation between the characters. Typically viewed as Stark’s intellectual adversary, Von Doom shares a similar passion for technology. This parallel creates an exciting opportunity for the Russo brothers to portray him as a dark counterpart to the hero who ignited the franchise. Whether connected as a variant of Stark or not, the way Doom leverages technology for villainous ends will remain the most compelling connection.

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