“I am…Doctor Doom?” For over a decade, Robert Downey Jr. was the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe playing the character that started it all— the one and only Tony Stark, Iron Man. He received something that not many superhero actors get to do, the ability to see his character through and receive a beautiful and nuanced ending. 

However, at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that the MCU isn’t finished with Downey Jr. He will play the new lead villain in the MCU, the infamous Doctor Doom. 

So it’s very worth asking, what does this all mean? 

There’s no question that Downey Jr. is a world-class actor. He is a numerous-time Oscar nominee and the 2024 Best Supporting Actor winner for “Oppenheimer.” In a vacuum, Downey Jr. is an incredible choice to play Doctor Doom. He will bring a level of gravitas that a major villain like him deserves. However, the elephant in the room of this casting is crushing and brings into question the MCU’s approach to its future. Couple this with the Russo brothers, mainstay Marvel directors, returning to helm the upcoming “Avengers Doomsday” and the glass you break in case of emergency is shattered. 

It’s no secret that the MCU has been struggling since the release of “Avengers: Endgame.” Its cultural reverence and influence is slowly fading as less franchise-driven films flood Hollywood. Bringing back Downey Jr. feels like when “Family Guy” killed off the beloved dog Brian Griffin only to bring him back two episodes later. This ended up being a marketing ploy to get people talking about the dying show. The reaction to Downey Jr being cast in such a role was obvious shock and excitement. But it’s arguable that bringing in someone new could have had a similar impact. 

For example, the 2024 Best Actor winner Cillian Murphy would have been an excellent choice. If Marvel decided to cast him as Doctor Doom, there’d still be a ton of buzz. The confusion and shock factor wouldn’t be there, but no one would be arguing the move. The MCU would have a new lead villain who could also be one of the faces of the franchise. This could still happen, as it’s hard to believe Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will be here to stay. Odds are he’ll be some variant of Iron Man/Doctor Doom, perhaps on a council of Doctor Doom’s.

Maybe there’s an interesting angle Marvel can take with this version of the character that we don’t see yet. But if the story isn’t right, then Downey Jr. will have come back for nothing. It’ll stain Tony Stark’s perfect ending even further. Downey Jr. lived long enough to be a hero and villain, but it’s probably best that his stay as a villain isn’t for too long.

This move also takes so much away from what makes Doctor Doom such a compelling character. Whether it be his Romani roots to his relationship with the Fantastic Four. Reed Richards and Doctor Doom have some of the most interesting hero-villain clashes in all of comics. Their dynamic will be weakened. Everyone in the MCU will know Doom better than Marvel’s first family will.

Of all the comics, Doctor Doom is one of the most iconic villains, yet he’s never adapted fittingly on the big screen. The MCU had a prime opportunity to do a proper interpretation of this character to show young audiences just how cool he is. Marvel’s working hard to create a good, strong Fantastic Four reboot with director Matt Shakman.  Staring in these movies are the likes of Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby. But what’s the point if they won’t put any thought into who’s playing their greatest foe?

Marvel’s need to return to the past doesn’t bode well for its future. With so many characters and so many passionate artists, the way forward shouldn’t be looking back. We know the greatness that Kevin Feige and his team are capable of. During the Infinity Saga, Marvel had a stranglehold on the box office to the likes we’ve never seen before. We know that Marvel can tell great stories and push boundaries. Yet moves like this aren’t moving the needle and will only leave fans feeling hollow. It doesn’t feel wrong to say that at this point Marvel’s creatively bankrupt, and we’re entering the point where we can legitimately question the MCU’s future. Who are its central heroes? What’s it all leading to? Why should we care? The MCU can rebound and return to form, but it needs to be smart and calculating rather than safe and complacent.