According to reports, Downey, who launched the MCU with his role as Iron Man, will be returning to the franchise as the infamous villain Victor Von Doom, also known as Doctor Doom, in two upcoming ‘Avengers’ movies – Doomsday and Secret Wars.
The upcoming films will be directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, who are also making a return to the franchise after their work on the billion-dollar blockbusters, ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’.
Sources told Variety that Marvel is shelling a whopping $80 million (over Rs 669 crore) for the Russo brothers to helm the two new movies. The deal does not include back-end compensation but does contain performance escalators that activate at the box office thresholds of $750 million and $1 billion.
Downey, fresh off a boost in star power with his maiden Oscar win for ‘Oppenheimer’, has secured a lucrative deal that includes perks such as private jet travel, dedicated security, and a ‘trailer encampment’. The studio is reportedly spending a significantly higher amount, than the directors’ $80 million paycheque.
Meanwhile, Variety estimates that Robert has earned between $500 million and $600 million for all of his previous Marvel appearances. These appearances include his ‘Iron Man’ trilogy, four ‘Avengers’ movies, and roles in ‘The Incredible Hulk’, ‘Captain America: Civil War’, and ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’.
In a departure from previous arrangements, the Russo brothers will also produce the two films through their AGBO banner. This marks a shift for Marvel, which typically prefers to keep production in-house.
Marvel chief Kevin Feige announced Downey’s return at the recent San Diego Comic-Con. However, it came as a surprise to many when it was announced that Downey would not be reprising his role as Iron Man, which concluded with a fitting end in ‘Avengers: Endgame’. Instead, he will bring to life the villain Doctor Doom in the ongoing Multiverse saga.
The two ‘Avengers’ films are scheduled to begin shooting in London in the second quarter of 2025. ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is slated for a worldwide release in May 2026 as part of the MCU’s Phase 6, followed by ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ in May 2027.
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