Robert Downey Jr. As Victor Doom: 3 Realistic Ways to Make This Transformation Happen
The casting of Robert Downey Jr. in a new role has surprised many fans, but will the decision be justified?
Rumors of Robert Downey Jr. returning to the franchise that once revived his career had been circulating for some time. However, Tony Stark's storyline ended with dignity; simply resurrecting him, as is customary in the comics, would mean nullifying his sacrifice.
Marvel found a not very elegant, but definitely effective solution – to give Downey Jr. the role of Doctor Doom. In doing so, they simultaneously closed the issue with Kang, introduced a truly significant villain to the universe who had not yet been introduced, and brought back a beloved actor without directly resurrecting his character.
Von Doom and Stark Are Similar in Many Ways
Victor von Doom and Tony Stark are in many ways mirror images of each other – rich, brilliant inventor-narcissists with armor. These similarities have often been noted by comic book writers.
The What If? comic series featured the Demon in an Armor storyline, in which Stark turned out to be Doom's roommate. To get Tony's resources, Victor switched bodies with him and killed Howard Stark.
He then took over the company and began using armor to eliminate competitors. Trapped in Doom's body, Tony had to rebuild his company in Latveria from scratch, but he eventually came up with the idea of a protective suit.
At the San Diego presentation, the Russo brothers announced that Robert Downey Jr. will be playing Von Doom. Does that mean Stark is a thing of the past? Here are the possibilities:
1. Victor Von Doom knows nothing about Tony Stark as he doesn't exist in his universe
This option is the simplest and most boring. It eliminates potential plot inconsistencies, but it also deprives us of the contextual metagame that Marvel has mastered in recent years.
Plus, Downey Jr. has literally become the personification of MCU and its best era, so it's unlikely that the writers will just erase his entire history in the franchise and have him play a completely new character from scratch. That option will probably not be taken.
2. Both Von Doom and Stark existed at the same time, and one took the place of the other
This option is more realistic, but too trite. Will the narcissistic Doom be able to survive the fact that he had to leave his own body and become another person?
Writers can build these flaws into the story, and they will work against Victor in the end, but it will be hard to empathize with such a character.
3. Victor Von Doom is Stark's alter ego who was driven to evil by tragic events
The most interesting option is to show Stark's evil alter ego, although such an idea is not new to comics and their adaptations. Tony can become Stark Prime, who did not compromise, wanted good, but did not despise any means to realize his vision.
Not for nothing did Thanos himself fear Tony – Stark always had ambitions and the potential to rule. And such a Doom could also subjugate the local version of Ultron, not fighting his brainchild, but helping him.