‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Star Robert Downey Jr. Reveals Preference for Iron Man or Doctor Doom

Robert Downey Jr. has spent over a decade crafting one of the most cherished character arcs in modern blockbuster cinema as Tony Stark. This role not only helped launch the MCU but also provided him with a complete and emotionally fulfilling send-off in ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ Given how thoroughly that chapter of his career concluded, few anticipated his return to the franchise, especially in a role that pits him against the heroes he once led.

That return came earlier this year when Marvel announced that Downey would portray Doctor Doom in ‘Avengers: Doomsday,’ trading his iconic red-and-gold armor for the villain’s hooded, mask-covered appearance. Since then, Downey has reflected on how different the experience of playing a villain has been compared to being the franchise’s central hero during his press tour.

This reflection reached a surprising peak at D23, where Downey Jr. was directly asked to choose between his two Marvel roles. In an interview with Good Morning America in Anaheim, he expressed a preference for Doctor Doom, explaining that the experience allowed him to “really observe what I’ve been missing the whole time, just everybody else.” He admitted that the shift was initially disorienting, stating it was “really weird being the guy” left out while the rest of the cast bonded as heroes on one side of the camera.

Rather than feeling resentment towards that isolation, Downey found it gave him a newfound appreciation for his castmates. He specifically mentioned getting closer to Hayley Atwell and deepening his existing relationship with Chris Evans. He described the central relationships in ‘Doomsday’ as genuinely surprising and beautiful, ultimately landing on Doom as his preferred role for now due to everything that perspective allowed him to notice about those around him.

Throughout his press appearances this year, Downey has made a clear distinction between his two characters. In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly following Marvel’s Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con, he explained that “Tony had the trauma that turned him into a hero, and Doom’s got the exact opposite.” He noted that stepping into the villain’s mask felt isolating, as watching the rest of the cast interact during breaks left him feeling like an outsider.

This sense of separation seems to have been intentional on the production’s part, reflecting the character’s role as the film’s central antagonist rather than a member of the ensemble. Chris Evans has also commented on the strangeness of seeing his longtime co-star take on this role, recalling moments where the excitement of watching Downey perform brought back memories from filming the original ‘Avengers,’ only to remember that their dynamic had fundamentally changed.

Downey’s comments coincided with D23’s unveiling of previously Comic-Con-exclusive footage from ‘Doomsday,’ giving fans outside San Diego their first look at material that had only circulated through secondhand accounts until now. With ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ set to premiere in theaters on December 18, Downey’s openness to embracing the villain role suggests that Marvel is leaning into his transformation as a genuine selling point rather than treating it as a mere gimmick.

Whether Downey will eventually return to playing a version of Tony Stark remains uncertain, but for now, his insights provide a rare glimpse into how differently the two roles have influenced his experience on set.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!