"Avengers 5"
Beijing time on July 31, according to foreign media reports, Marvel officially announced: Robert Downey Jr. will return to "Avengers 5". But instead of resurrecting Iron Man, he will star as the villain Doom/Doctor Doom.
"Avengers 5" is also named "Avengers: Doomsday" and will be released in North America on May 1, 2026.
This news shocked the entire Internet. Last year, a conversation between "Iron Man" director Jon Favreau and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige also surfaced. It turned out that 20 years ago, Downey Jr. He also played the role of Doctor Doom in "Fantastic Four" (2005).
At that time, there was no "Iron Man 1". Feige was one of the executive producers of "Fantastic Four". Favreau said: "I remember Robert came to the meeting for "Iron Man 1". I met him on a project, whether it was Doctor Doom, "Fantastic Four" or some other project." Feige said: "I think he came to talk about "Fantastic Four", so everyone knew him. When this man sat down to chat, what I thought was: there was light in his eyes, and he came prepared. At that time, we put a close-up of his head in your office and said we were going to work hard to figure it out (filming "Steel"). Doctor Doom in the 2005 version of "Fantastic Four" was finally played by Julian McMahon. 20 years later, this time Downey Jr. plays Doctor Doom and will also face a new version of the Fantastic Four.
"Variety" broke some behind-the-scenes news about "Avengers 5 and 6" and the return of the Russo brothers and Downey Jr.: Marvel paid the Russo brothers as much as $80 million to direct the two movies, and they can pay back Downey Jr. when they return. To be "much more".
This 80 million does not include back-end compensation, but includes an upgrade in compensation after the Russo brothers directed "Avengers 3 and 4" and achieved huge global box office. Moreover, the Russo brothers will also serve as producers of "Avengers 5 and 6" through their film company agbo, which is very rare for Marvel.
Downey's contract also includes private jet travel, careful security and an entire "trailer camp." The report specifically pointed out: After all, he is a veteran of Marvel and a new Oscar winner.
The report also mentioned the obvious difficulties of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in recent years, including the poor box office performance of "Ant-Man 3" and "Captain Marvel 2", and the domestic violence of Jonathan Majors, the villain "Kang" in the original "Avengers 5" case, indicating that after these, Marvel plans to change the main villain of "Avengers 5" from Kang to Doom/Doctor Doom. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige hopes that Downey will return.
A source revealed: Downey is currently the highest-paid actor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has received a total of US$500 million to US$600 million for starring in many MCU movies (including starring roles and guest appearances).
"Avengers 5" will start filming in London in the second quarter of next year, rather than at Marvel's usual Atlanta studio.
Another source said: Downey agreed to return this time on the condition that the Russo brothers direct "Avengers 5 and 6" (even if the two parties are in different agencies): "(Regarding this contract) they are the only ones he will cooperate with." People.”
(Meng Qing)
