Summary
Robert Downey Jr stole the show at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con when it was revealed that he would playFantastic Fourvillain, Doctor Doom - but he almost played the iconic role 19 years before theMCUeven began. Robert Downey Jr’s Hollywood career has now spanned several decades, but his iconic tenure in superhero movies has solidified his star power in Hollywood. His inspired casting as Tony Stark is largely to thank, as his debut self-titled movie launchedthe MCU timelineand an unassailable career as Iron Man before it all came to a tearful end inAvengers: Endgame.
MCU Phase 6 is about to change this - or, at least, partly. The SDCC announcement thatAvengers 5would now be calledAvengers: Doomsdaycame with two more bombshells, as the Russo Brothers were announced to be returning, and it was revealed that RDJ would be embodying the role of Doctor Doom. Exactlyhow the MCU will handle RDJ’s return as Doomas a possible Tony Stark variant is to be determined, and mixed reactions have already been garnered. At the very least, it will pay off an audition that Robert Downey Jr. took part in 19 years ago.
10 Things To Know About Doctor Doom Before RDJ Plays Him In Avengers 5
With RDJ’s casting, the MCU will finally get its Doctor Doom in Avengers 5, drawing from years of lore that define the iconic Marvel villain.
Robert Downey Jr. Auditioned For Doctor Doom In The Early 2000s
During a featurette celebratingIron Man’s 15th anniversary, Jon Favreau revealed in a conversation with Kevin Feige thatRobert Downey Jr. had auditioned to play Doctor Doom in 2005’sFantastic Four.Fantastic Fourwas a pre-MCU attempt to adapt Marvel’s First Family. It was technicallythe second live-actionFantastic Fourmade starring the team, though the first that was officially released. At the time, comic book movies were enjoying moderate success in a pre-MCU landscape as franchises like X-Men and Spider-Man dominated the genre.
30 Years Ago, $1M Created The First Fantastic Four Movie Marvel Didn’t Want Released
The first-ever Fantastic Four movie was made 30 years ago in 1994, but Marvel did not want the $1 million production to be released to the public.
Fantastic Fourturned out to be a middling attempt to capitalize on this success, with its sequel,Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, being the nail in the coffin for the franchise before 2015’sFantastic Fourwould attempt in vain to reboot it. Suffice it to say, Robert Downey Jr.’s failed attempt to embody the villain - a role ultimately assigned to Julian McMahon - was truly a blessing in disguise as he would land the career-defining Iron Man role just a few years later. Nevertheless, his recent casting as Doom brings the actor’s comic book movie career full circle.
Why RDJ Didn’t Play Doctor Doom In 2005’s Fantastic Four
This featurette conversation is all that was revealed about Robert Downey Jr’s attempt at portraying Doctor Doom. The two MCU figureheads did not elaborate on how far the actor got through the process, but followed up with how he impressed the team nonetheless, stating that there was a “spark” in RDJ that warranted exploring down the line. Considering how hard Jon Favreau and Kevin Feige had to fight to secure Robert Downey Jr. in the role of Tony Stark, this gives some clue as to why he was sidelined in an earlier Marvel movie.
Before Favreau convinced Marvel heads to go with Robert Downey Jr, Iron Man frontrunners included Tom Cruise and Clive Owen.
While RDJ’s failure to land Doom inFantastic Fouris a matter of sheer speculation (unless elaborated on by Marvel bosses in future), Feige was frank when explaining why he and Favreau had to fight for his Tony Stark role, explaining specifically that the board was apprehensive about casting an actor previously mired in legal and publicity trouble. It stands to reason that these issues were still at the forefront of Marvel bosses' minds when it came to casting forFantastic Fourthree years prior. Alternatively, it’s just as likely that McMahon was simply the preferred choice.
Why It’s Perfect That RDJ Will Play Doctor Doom In The MCU
While some fear that Doctor Doom as a Stark variant is the wrong move, the announcement of his casting has caused significant shockwaves thanks to his established status within the franchise.
Fantastic Fouris one of a few examples of pre-MCU Marvel movies that did not stick the landing. While it is far from beingthe worst Marvel movieand benefits from nostalgia,Fantastic Fourdrew criticism for being too shallow and hammy. Much of that criticism was leveled at Doctor Doom, whose characterization in this movie detracted significantly from the comics in myriad ways. RDJ has established himself as a solid character actor, and portraying this version of Doom would have been a disservice to his ability.He is better placed to embody the role in the more comic-accurate MCU.
Furthermore, Robert Downey Jr. is now synonymous with the MCU. While some fear that Doctor Doom as a Stark variant is the wrong move, the announcement of his casting has caused significant shockwaves thanks to his established status within the franchise. At this point, specific details surrounding RDJ’s MCU return are exceptionally sparse, and there are still myriad ways in which the MCU can pull off a return in a satisfying and rewarding manner. Either way, it will pay off his attempts at joining theFantastic Fourcast in 2005.
Fantastic Four
Cast
Fantastic Four follows four astronauts who gain extraordinary abilities after a space mission goes awry. Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm transform into superheroes tasked with combating Dr. Doom’s malevolent schemes, marking their debut in facing global threats with newly acquired powers.
