Robert Downey Jr. Returning as Doctor Doom Proves Thanos Was Always Right About 1 Thing That He Revealed in Avengers: Infinity War
- Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom, who has similarities to Tony Stark.
- Thanos' word exchange with Stark in 'Infinity War' potentially foreshadows Doctor Doom's character.
- MCU might use an Iron Man variant as Doom, as both Stark and Doom share similar characteristics.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has given some of the most iconic characters in the current superhero landscape. But it won’t be wrong to accept Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, has been the most impactful story arc of the franchise so far. His journey from a self-centered billionaire to a selfless hero is what makes him a true legend.
On the other side, there was Thanos, who was portrayed as the main threat of the Infinity Saga, but he was not just an evil villain. He believed he was doing the right thing required to save the universe, which brought him face-to-face with Iron Man in Avengers: Infinity War, where he had one of the most memorable exchanges in superhero cinema history.
The Curse of Knowledge
As it is now confirmed that Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom, Thanos’ words seem more right than what audiences might have initially thought. What does this mean for the future of the MCU?
In Infinity War, Thanos tells Tony Stark, “You’re not the only one cursed with knowledge.” The way Josh Brolin delivered this line hinted at a deep connection between the two characters. But those words have taken on a deeper meaning with Downey’s return.
In the comics, Doctor Doom is someone whose knowledge and intellect are his main strengths. He blends his knowledge of science with magic to become the powerful being he is, which gives him a belief in his own superiority. It sounds quite similar to MCU’s Tony Stark’s early characterization. Both are geniuses burdened by their knowledge and vision of the future.
Both the characters believe that what they are doing will save the world. Since MCU is all about multiverse and alternate realities now, there is a popular belief that Doom will be a variant of Tony Stark, especially since Downey is playing the character again.
In Infamous Iron Man, Doom becomes Iron Man after Stark goes into a coma. So, there might be a chance MCU will think of something similar with a different backstory. As both the characters believe only they can save the world, they oftentimes tend to do certain things that rather become dangerous for the world.
For example, Stark got too blind in saving the world in Age of Ultron and created Ultron. Doom can be imagined as something like that, but in his case, he is completely drowned in his self-obsession and craze for saving the world by himself.
Such a statement by Thanos appears much more prophetic. In Tony’s case, the curse of knowledge may not be limited to his own universe but turn into Doctor Doom in another. They are extreme characters who will go to any lengths to achieve what they want.
The Thin Line Between Hero and Villain
In Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars storyline, Doctor Doom plays a role that blurs the line between hero and villain. He becomes a godlike figure who believes only he can save the multiverse by creating and maintaining a reality of his own.
The only problem is that, in order to achieve this, he was ready to let every other universe die. It is something similar to Ultron’s principle, which was essentially an evil version of Stark. He believed humanity can only be saved when they are made to evolve. And those who can’t evolve are of no use and will die.
The God complex is something that is found in Doom and in the early characterization of Stark, which manifested in Ultron. Stark wanted to create a suit of armor around the world based on his belief that he knew best. Both wanted to control and believed everyone would live happily under their control.
Besides this, both Stark and Doom have a traumatic history, and their actions often reflect that. Stark’s parents were assassinated at a young age, and he never got the chance to know his father and spend enough time with his mother. Doom’s mother was a witch who got killed by her own village people, and his father also died while protecting Doom.
Now, MCU might present how Tony Stark might have become Doctor Doom under different circumstances if he hadn’t dealt with his ego and arrogance properly. It’ll be interesting to see how convincingly Downey can pull off this though.
Avengers: Infinity War and Age of Ultron are streaming on Disney+.
