Casting Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom is a desperate move that can backfire on Marvel

This reeks of desperation

As noted, the MCU has had problems. They were going to center things around Black Panther only for Chadwick Boseman’s death to hit hard. The COVID-19 pandemic did a number on productions, they spread themselves too thin with Disney+ TV shows and the aforementioned Majors mess meaning they had to shift gears. Then, of course, the fact that the box office since Endgame has been on a huge decline. 

So they needed something flashy to get attention back and so did this. The reveal at ComicCon with Downey coming out in a hood and throwing it off to show Doom-like outfit was as cheesy as anything in pro wrestling and more about pushing that moment than the actual movie. 

 This does not sound like an organic move by a studio confident in what they have. This comes off reeking of desperation by Marvel to get folks interested again and try to get back some fan love. That’s more needed, given James Gunn is ready to reboot the DCEU into a more coherent work that could finally challenge the MCU. Marvel seemed more interested in getting a big thing to get all the comic book sites talking than in whether Downey is really the right choice to play Doom in a multi-picture saga. 

Maybe the worries are for naught. Marvel has a track record of weird casting that works (Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Pratt as Star-Lord) and Downey Jr is talented enough that maybe he overcomes doubters as Doom. Yet, from the distraction of him as Iron Man to how this seems a last-minute move for fan favor rather than a deliberate plan, there are reasons to worry this casting may be a nail in the coffin for the MCU. 

Avengers: Doomsday premieres May 2026.