Russo Brothers Call Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom Suit Their Favorite in MCU

During a recent talk at SXSW London, directors Joe Russo and Anthony Russo discussed their upcoming Marvel film. The event, which also featured Fortnite co-creator Donald Mustard, attracted a large audience in East London. While they were careful not to divulge too many details, they did share some intriguing insights about the project.

A major topic of conversation was the return of Robert Downey Jr. to the Marvel universe, this time portraying Doctor Doom in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’. The Russos expressed that his costume for the film stands out as one of their favorites among all the Marvel films they have worked on.

When asked about their fondness for the suit, Joe Russo kept it brief, stating, “You’ll have to see.” This cryptic response only heightened the audience’s curiosity regarding the character’s on-screen appearance.

Anthony Russo provided additional context, noting that the costume design aligns strongly with the character. He remarked, “It’s representative of the character in a way that the costume and the character really, really fit.”

Joe Russo elaborated on their approach to adapting comic characters, emphasizing their aim to honor what fans love while introducing fresh elements. He explained, “Part of our challenge has always been that there’s something that we love from the comics, and there’s something that you know other fans of the comics love; sometimes those things are the same thing, sometimes they’re different things.”

He continued, explaining that their goal is not to replicate comic storylines verbatim. Instead, they draw inspiration from them while crafting new narratives for the film audience. He stated, “We’re never translating directly from the comics, we’re always adding a new experience that hasn’t been written yet in terms of who these characters can be.”

According to Joe Russo, Doctor Doom in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ exemplifies this creative approach. He described the character as a blend of familiar comic book concepts and innovative elements designed specifically for the film. He noted that it feels true to the source material while also presenting a fresh perspective.

Anthony Russo also shared that the film does not aim to simply continue old storylines. Instead, they view it as a reset, stating, “We’re back to phase zero, we’re starting over from scratch.” He emphasized that the movie will not heavily rely on past events from the Marvel universe.

Joe Russo echoed this sentiment, indicating that fans should anticipate changes in the Avengers lineup. He told the audience, “You’re going to see some shifting and changing in the Avengers. Get ready for it.”

While avoiding major spoilers, the directors confirmed that ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is currently in production and being filmed in the United Kingdom. They also highlighted that it is one of the most significant projects they have undertaken within the Marvel franchise.

The film is already stirring up considerable discussion online, especially following early footage shown at CinemaCon that reportedly featured Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom alongside the return of other major Marvel characters.

‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is currently slated for release on December 18.

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