After a five-year hiatus, Robert Downey Jr.'s return to the MCU was finally announced at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Convention. The Academy Award winner made his last appearance in the franchise as Iron Man in 2019's Avengers: Endgame. Following his exit, many believed that Downey Jr. was gone from the Marvel film lineup for good.
WHY ROBERT DOWNEY JR IS RETURNING AS DOCTOR DOOM
Nevertheless, the fan-favorite actor is now back in the superhero mix as the villainous Doctor Doom this time around. He will appear as the legendary antagonist in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Robert Downey Jr.'s return was reportedly made possible after one of his non-negotiable conditions was met.
According to a recent report, the Iron Man actor would only make his comeback in the MCU after Joe and Anthony Russo were confirmed as directors of the upcoming Avengers films.
According to Variety , Robert Downey Jr. made his return contingent on the Russo brothers directing Avengers 5 and 6 . "They were the only ones he wanted to work with," an insider source revealed. In addition to the demand for Joe and Anthony Russo, the Marvel superstar also reportedly requested to travel by private jet. Other reported perks include a dedicated security staff and a trailer camp for both Avengers films.
