Marvel Studios announced Robert Downey Jr. as the new Doctor Doom in the MCU last weekend. Jeremy Renner recently told US Weekly that Downey kept his return a secret from the original ‘Avengers’ cast as well despite their close relationship:
“No! I had no idea. The son of a bitch didn’t say anything to me. We’re good friends. There’s the Avengers family chat. The original six. He said not a peep. I got online and started blowing up his phone like, ‘What’s going on? You’ve been hiding this from us the whole time?’ It’s exciting news. I’m really, really excited about it.”
Renner and RDJ worked together in several Marvel films since 2012’s ‘The Avengers.’ The duo’s last appearance came most recently in 2019’s ‘Endgame.’
Will Hawkeye Come Back to Fight Doom?
Jeremy Renner paused his acting career after a serious accident in early 2023. He returned this year in ‘Mayor of Kingstown,’ but has not rejoined the MCU since his role in the ‘Hawkeye’ series.
There is talk that Renner might return for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars.’ The actor shared:
“You got Downey back in the mix, you got the Russo Brothers back in the mix. This is a direction where Marvel is going to do well. The ‘Avengers’ movies have always been fan favorites and there’s so many wonderful characters in them. It’s going to be challenging to get everyone together. But I am excited about it.”
He added:
“We’ll see. I think we’ll probably be doing it. It’s all brand new. They just made the announcement. They got to start figuring it out.”
The Villain Change in ‘Avengers 5’
Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will be the main villain in 2026’s ‘Doomsday.’ This role was originally planned for Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conqueror, but plans changed following his conviction of domestic violence.
Majors recently reacted to Downey’s casting in his place during an interview with TMZ:
“Yeah, [I’m] heartbroken. Of course. I love Kang. Doctor Doom is wicked, though. I think it’s fair that Mr. Downey is being and has been greeted with patience and curiosity and love … and [he’s] being allowed to work [his] art and be creative at that level. I didn’t really get that.”
The court ordered the actor to attend a 52-week batterer’s intervention program for assaulting his ex, Grace Jabbari. He also lost his talent manager, Entertainment 360, and his publicity firm, the Lede Company, because of the charges.
