It has become big news in the industry that Robert Downey Jr. is making a grand return to the MCU. However, there is a big price tag behind his return. The actor, who played Iron Man for years and Tony Stark for Marvel Studios, was recently announced to be returning, this time as Dr. Doom, one of comics’ most revered villains.
Let’s find out what the report says about the benefits Downey Jr. will receive for his new role in the MCU.
How much did Robert Downey Jr. have to spend to return to Marvel Studios
RDJ played one of the most beloved characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, until Tony Stark died at the end of Avengers: Endgame. Now, Robert Downey Jr. is bringing back the legacy he once helped create by playing another character.
However, according to some reports, bringing them back was not cheap for the studio. According to Variety, which quoted sources, Marvel Studios is considering a sum of $80 million for Anthony and Joe Russo, who were recently announced to come back and direct the upcoming Avengers films.
Meanwhile, the costs for the Oppenheimer actor’s return are reported to be “considerably higher.” The publication also mentioned that Robert Downey Jr. also has a deal that includes private jet travel, dedicated security, and a huge “trailer camp” for himself.
As for the Russo brothers, their deal does not include back-end compensation, however, it does include performance escalators that start at a range between $750 million and $1 billion. It has also been reported that the Russo brothers will produce the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars through their AGBO banner.
This would be the first time Marvel would take on a project without their in-house team, but they were left with no choice as Downey was only going to work with the Russo’s, according to Variety. The publication reported the words of a source who said, “They were the only people he would work with.”
Why did Marvel choose a different villain when they already had Kang?
Marvel’s parent company has ended its deal with the Kong actor in the wake of Jonathan Majors’ legal troubles. Majors was convicted of assault and harassment following a dispute with his ex-girlfriend.
While there were still chances that Avengers: Kang Dynasty would turn out well, the film’s director, Destin Daniel Cretton, also stepped away from the project.
With no choice, Marvel Studios announced Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. Victor Von Doom, the next big villain, at SDCC 2024.
Also read: The Internet thinks Cillian Murphy would have been a better Dr. Doom after Robert Downey Jr.’s surprising revelation