San Diego: At San Diego Comic-Con’s Hall H panel on Saturday, Robert Downey Jr. shocked fans by revealing his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the iconic villain Doctor Doom. The actor, best known for his role as Iron Man, made a dramatic entrance by unmasking himself among a sea of hooded figures dressed as the classic comic book antagonist.
“I like playing complicated characters,” Downey Jr. said as fans erupted into cheers and chants of his name.
The Russo Brothers, returning to direct “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars”, noted that while Downey Jr. dons a “new mask”, the mission remains the same: to deliver an unforgettable cinematic experience.
In addition to Downey Jr.’s return, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will also introduce Galactus, a cosmic entity set to be the antagonist in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”, directed by Matt Shakman of “WandaVision” fame.
The panel featured several standout moments, beginning with a lively “Deadpool choir” celebrating the recent success of “Deadpool and Wolverine”, which Marvel President Kevin Feige announced as the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time. The event featured various Deadpool iterations dancing among the audience to Madonna’s “Like a Prayer”.
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“Deadpool & Wolverine” is expected to lead the domestic box office in early 2024, with projections between $175 million and $185 million, according to Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore.
The stage was later graced by the cast of “Captain America: Brave New World,” with Anthony Mackie discussing how his portrayal of the titular superhero differs from Chris Evans’ version. “Sam is surrounded by intricate characters that help him navigate the plot. He’s not just muscle-bound; he’s more cerebral and thoughtful,” Mackie explained.
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Harrison Ford, stepping into the role of ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross, humorously “hulked out” on stage, playfully chasing Mackie around. Ford, who replaces William Hurt, expressed his pride in joining the Marvel Universe, saying, “It’s been like this for a long time.”
David Harbour made a memorable entrance as Alexei Shostakov from “Black Widow”, addressing the “Thunderbolts” cast and humorously lamenting their lack of enthusiasm for dressing up in character.
