The Russo Brothers's New Update on Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom Is Pretty Exciting

We aren’t far from seeing what Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will look like. Avengers: Doomsday is set to hit screens on May 1, 2026. As the movie ramps up production, concept art has already made its way online. There are rumors the character will appear in Fantastic Four: The First Steps this summer. We’ll likely see teases throughout the year to build excitement for what is shaping up to be a major sequel for the long-running franchise, and there’s a lot of pressure to get it right.

I’ve been upfront about being excited for Downey’s take on the character. However, that’s the minority opinion—and reasonably so. Doctor Doom is one of Marvel’s most notorious villains. His stories and actions are legendary, yet he has never been done well on the big screen. Every version we’ve seen has taken a different approach to the infamous character, and while I appreciate changes in adaptations, that hasn’t worked with Doom. Many argue that a more straightforward adaptation would be a surefire success. They aren’t wrong—but that’s not what we’re getting.

A version of Victor Von Doom played by the biggest actor in the MCU brings immense baggage, both good and bad. Seeing characters face a man they once called a friend as he commits universe-shattering acts will make for great drama. However, a cinematic universe that’s already feeling stagnant leaning on nostalgia for its own stories is a slippery slope if not handled well. While we’re still far from knowing if the film will be any good, a new update from directors Joe and Anthony Russo is promising.

The Russo Brothers, who directed the last two Avengers films, seemed to have wrapped up their MCU tenure. But who among us would turn down a dump truck of money? Who?! They didn’t—and recently spoke with Entertainment Tonight about their return and how RDJ is preparing. “It’s a very intense process developing the character,” Joe explained. “He’s so immersed in it. He is so dialed in.” Dialed-in is good! But, again, I’d dial into anything for millions of dollars.

But ole Joe didn’t stop there. He revealed that RDJ is putting in extra time, saying, “[Downey’s] writing backstory, costume ideas … I think he just loves really rich, three-dimensional characters, and I think he sees a real opportunity here with that character.” In my dream of dreams, Doomsday does for Downey’s Doom what Infinity War did for Thanos. That film took an intergalactic despot and gave him more depth than most previous MCU villains. It worked both as an event and as an exploration of his mad mind. That’s why it worked.

Downey’s backstory for Doom could be nonsense. We may not see any of it in the film. The movie could end up a hodgepodge of ideas poorly stitched together because the studio had to pivot after firing its new villain. But if the hype is real and Downey is going all in with his take, we could see something exciting—something that couldn’t have been achieved without everything that came before it. That’s what made Endgame so special, and the same could happen here.

But I’ve been wrong before…