Russo Brothers Reveal Chills from Hearing RDJ’s Doctor Doom Voice for the First Time
The Russo Brothers recently shared that Robert Downey Jr.’s initial attempt at crafting Doctor Doom’s voice sent chills down their spines, making them realize they had something extraordinary for Marvel’s upcoming ‘Avengers: Doomsday’.
Downey Jr. is making a surprising return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe following the emotional conclusion of ‘Avengers: Endgame’, but this time he will not reprise his role as Tony Stark. Instead, he will embody Victor Von Doom, one of Marvel’s iconic villains and a significant adversary from the ‘Fantastic Four’ comics.
In an interview with PEOPLE at San Diego Comic-Con, directors Anthony and Joe Russo discussed the moment they first experienced Downey’s interpretation of Doctor Doom. They explained that they had dedicated considerable time to discussing the character with him before hearing the final version of his voice.
According to Anthony Russo, Downey’s grasp of the character and the significance of the voice were crucial in shaping Doctor Doom’s persona. Given that the villain wears a mask, how he sounds is vital in conveying an intimidating and powerful presence.
Anthony noted that Downey eventually surprised them during a discussion about the role.
“That was something that Robert surprised us with one day,” Anthony told PEOPLE. “You know, we were talking about all the details of the character — the voice, of course, is a key part of it, especially in the mask.”
He continued, “So one day I think it was in the trailer, we were just sort of talking about some ideas and he broke out into the voice. And we knew at that moment, that was it.”
Joe Russo echoed a similar sentiment, stating that hearing Downey’s Doctor Doom voice for the first time was a chilling experience. He likened the moment to one of the most unforgettable scenes in Marvel history: Tony Stark’s final moments in ‘Avengers: Endgame’.
“I mean, it was one of those moments. It’d probably be one of the more memorable moments — that and the ‘I Am Iron Man’ [sequence] when he snapped his fingers,” Joe remarked. “Robert tends to present a lot of those super memorable moments.”
Downey Jr.’s return has sparked significant discussion surrounding ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. After more than ten years as Iron Man, many fans thought his Marvel journey concluded when Tony Stark sacrificed himself to defeat Thanos. His casting as Doctor Doom has dramatically shifted expectations for the next phase of the MCU.
The film is also set to unite three major Marvel factions for the first time: the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men. According to the official synopsis, heroes from these diverse realms will need to collaborate against a threat formidable enough to annihilate everything they hold dear.
The movie is also anticipated to advance the narratives of several returning characters, including Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers and Chris Hemsworth’s Thor. The first trailer astonished fans by featuring Steve Rogers in its concluding moments, raising even more questions about how Marvel’s most significant characters will intertwine in this upcoming event.
With Doctor Doom positioned as one of Marvel’s most pivotal villains, the Russo Brothers are confident that Downey Jr. has already crafted something unforgettable. Fans will discover how his new character integrates into the MCU when ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ hits theaters on December 18.
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