At the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel announced the returns of Robert Downey Jr. and the Russo Brothers for the next two Avengers films. Downey will play Victor Von Doom, while the Russo Brothers will direct Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Getting the band back together won’t be cheap. According to Variety, Marvel will pay the Russo Brothers $80 million to direct two Avengers films. While the deal does not include back-end compensation, there are performance bonuses for reaching the $750 million and $1 billion thresholds. The Russos’ last two offerings for Marvel, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, each grossed over $2 billion.
Recommended Videos
The Russos will also produce the next two Avengers films under their AGBO banner. In the past, Marvel typically used in-house producers for each MCU film, so allowing AGBO to produce is a departure from protocol.
Robert Downey Jr. is making "significantly more" than $80 million to play Doctor Doom in two "Avengers" movies, sources say.
Downey's deal is also filled with perks that include private jet travel, dedicated security and a whole “trailer encampment.”https://t.co/nqoP3w3xhb
— Variety (@Variety) July 30, 2024
The report also states Downey will be paid “significantly more” than the Russos’ $80 million salary for two Avengers films. This puts Downey’s salary in the neighborhood of $100 million. The new deal includes dedicated security, private jet travel, and a whole “trailer encampment.”
While playing Iron Man, Downey was paid like the de facto leader of the MCU. The Oscar winner reportedly made between $500 million and $600 million for his roles in four Avengers films, three Iron Man entries, Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and a cameo in The Incredible Hulk.
Filming on the two Avengers films will begin in London during the second quarter of 2025.
Downey’s Doctor Doom replaces Jonahan Majors’ Kang the Conquerer as the lead villain of Doomsday and Secret Wars. Don’t be surprised if Downey’s character makes a cameo in a post-credits scene before Doomsday, with The Fantastic Four: First Steps as the logical destination for a tease.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters on May 1, 2026, with Avengers: Secret Wars coming on May 7, 2027.
Editors’ Recommendations
- Robert Downey Jr. sets the record straight about returning to Marvel as Doctor Doom
- Robert Downey Jr. in Deadpool & Wolverine? How the legendary cameo almost happened
- ICYMI: Marvel brings back Robert Downey Jr. at Comic-Con, Fantastic Four movie receives title
- 7 best Robert Downey Jr. movies, ranked
- Is Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU?
Topics
Entertainment Writer
Dan is a passionate and multitalented content creator with experience in pop culture, entertainment, and sports. Throughout…
3 underrated Robert Downey Jr. movies you should check out
Moviegoers may have noticed that Robert Downey Jr. had a rare villainous turn as Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. It served as a nice reminder that even after a decade of playing Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Downey remains one of the greatest actors of his generation. Downey started acting when he was five years old, and aside from a very difficult personal period when he battled addiction, he has been continuously appearing in films and TV shows for over fifty years.
With so many roles under his belt, it’s easy to overlook some of Downey’s best roles in the earlier years of his career. That’s why we’re taking a look back at 3 underrated Robert Downey Jr. movies that you should check out. These are only three of the films that helped Downey establish himself as one of the very best in front of the cameras.
Less Than Zero (1987)
6 reasons why Robert Downey Jr. needs to return as Iron Man
Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man remains one of the most beloved superheroes ever to grace the silver screen. Though Tony Stark sacrificed himself in Avengers: Endgame (one of the best Marvel movies ever), some fans are hopeful that he will return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe at some point during its ongoing Multiverse Saga.
Though it seems unnecessary for this character to return following such a satisfying conclusion to his heroic journey, here’s a list of reasons why RDJ should return to the MCU as Iron Man.
He could appear as a villain
3 great BritBox shows you should watch in February 2025
In spite of the wealth of new TV shows that are produced in America every year, it can sometimes seem like all we’re really doing is rehashing old formulas and conventions. If you’ve ever found yourself fed up with the options you’re getting, BritBox is a wonderful alternative.
The streaming service contains plenty of movies and TV shows from the U.K., which does TV differently and better than we do in the States. We’ve pulled together three shows that are the perfect ways to start on BritBox, a few of which aired recently.
We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+. For more BritBox content, try BritBox unveils 2025 slate.
Peep Show (2003-2016)
The Funniest Moments | Big Suze | Peep Show
One of the funniest shows to ever air on any TV network anywhere, Peep Show follows two roommates living in London who find that, in spite of their differences, they’re both struggling with their move into the adult world.
Anchored by David Mitchell and Robert Webb, who were also the show’s primary writers, Peep Show is in some ways a conventional sitcom and, in some ways, more experimental than you might be expecting. What we can basically guarantee, though, is that Peep Show is as funny as the best American sitcoms you’ve ever sat down to enjoy.
You can watch Peep Show on BritBox.
Joan (2024)
Joan | Trailer | Series Premiere on The CW
Starring Sophie Turner as a young woman who decides to reinvent her life after her criminal husband goes on the run, Joan is frothy fun anchored by smart, carefully calibrated central performances.
As Joan transforms herself into a master jewel thief, even as she remains devoted to her six-year-old son, she comes to understand that her past won’t be left behind quite so easily. Few shows have been able to effectively capitalize on Turner’s cool appeal the way Joan does, but thankfully, this miniseries finally gave her a proper showcase.
You can watch Joan on BritBox.
Killing Eve (2018-2022)
Killing Eve: Series 2 | OFFICIAL TRAILER – BBC
Telling the story of a sociopathic killer and the MI5 officer who winds up making it her life’s mission to track her down, Killing Eve is, in its own twisted way, a love story. The series is anchored by two brilliant performances from Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh.
Although none of the subsequent seasons could live up to the first; the show remained an above-average drama throughout its run. If you just want to watch the first season, though, you’ll find that the show is stylish, riveting, and smart and that there’s a reason Comer became a star.
You can watch Killing Eve on BritBox.
