Robert Downey Jr. has opened up about his Marvel experience and admitted that, at least for the moment, he prefers playing Doom over the character that made him the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Tony Stark. His return to Marvel may not have come in the way fans expected. Instead of reprising Tony Stark following Avengers: Endgame, the Oscar winner is stepping into the shoes of one of Marvel's most iconic villains, Doctor Doom. 

According to Downey Jr., Doctor Doom has opened the door to a side of Marvel he had never fully experienced before.

After spending years at the center of the MCU as Tony Stark, Robert Downey Jr. admitted that playing Doctor Doom has allowed him to step back and observe the larger ensemble in a way he never could before.

"I will say Doom, for now, because I got to really observe what I've been missing the whole time, just everybody else," he said while speaking of his favorite Marvel role at the D23 while speaking to Good Morning America. 

The D23 comment is particularly notable given how closely Downey Jr. is associated with Iron Man. From Iron Man in 2008 through Avengers: Endgame in 2019, Tony Stark became one of the most influential characters in superhero cinema, helping launch Marvel Studios into a global powerhouse.

Yet for Robert Downey Jr., the appeal of Doctor Doom appears to lie in the opportunity to explore new dynamics rather than revisit familiar territory. As anticipation continues to build around Avengers: Doomsday, his remarks suggest that Marvel's biggest villain may be giving one of its biggest stars a brand-new appreciation for the franchise.

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Downey Jr.'s latest Marvel chapter is giving him a completely new appreciation for the franchise.

Speaking about his experience working on Avengers: Doomsday, Downey Jr. reflected on what has made the transition from hero to villain so rewarding. Rather than focusing on the character alone, the actor highlighted the relationships and creative opportunities that have come with joining the story from a completely different perspective.

"I'll say this: getting to know Hayley Atwell better, all of mine and Chris Evans' history, because you're a legit dude," he had added. 

The comments come after Hayley Atwell publicly backed Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom casting in Avengers: Doomsday. Downey Jr. went on to explain that returning to Marvel as Doom has allowed him to experience aspects of the franchise he largely missed while carrying the burden of leading it as Tony Stark. The actor highlighted how that one particular relationship in Avengers: Doomsday has become a major highlight of the project.

"I think that in Doomsday, what happens with this key relationship is so exciting and unexpected and beautiful," he said. 

While Tony Stark will always remain one of the defining roles of Robert Downey Jr.'s career, his comments suggest that Doctor Doom has brought a new sense of excitement to his Marvel journey. With Avengers: Doomsday set to introduce a very different side of the actor to MCU audiences, fans will soon see why Downey Jr. believes the role has given him an experience unlike anything he had before.

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Do you think Robert Downey Jr. will ultimately be remembered more for Tony Stark or Doctor Doom? Let us know in the comments.