The Russo Brothers say Robert Downey Jr. “tried to communicate us into” doing one more Avengers movie but they “acknowledged no” till they heard the pitch for Doomsday: “That narrative has to study”

The Russo Brothers have revealed that it was Kevin Feige who initially proposed Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom cameo – but they did not agree until they had the right narrative in place.

“That was Kevin [Feige]. Interestingly enough, that discussion took place quite some time ago. Robert [Downey Jr.] attempted to persuade us to pursue it, but we said, ‘No’ … We simply lacked a storyline,” Joe Russo mentioned to Omelette (via Newsweek). “We didn’t have an angle, you know? We were hesitant for a period. And then one day, Steve McFeely, who’s one of our main collaborators, said, ‘I have a concept.’ He brought us in and we thought, ‘That’s the narrative. That narrative needs to be shared. It’s a truly compelling story.’

We don’t know too much about Avengers: Doomsday at this moment, except that Downey is confirmed to portray the titular antagonist, with Benedict Cumberbatch reprising his role as Doctor Strange. Doctor Doom is the infamous adversary of The Fantastic Four, so it seems likely that the new team will join forces with the Avengers in the film. Downey has reportedly been diligently crafting his character’s backstory – something Joe Russo hinted at during the Omelette conversation.

“One thing I will mention about the film is this: we appreciate villains who consider themselves to be the heroes of their own narratives,” he teased. “That’s when they become multifaceted and more intriguing. And with an actor like Robert Downey, you must develop a well-rounded, three-dimensional character for the audience.”

The directing duo recently discussed the scale of the upcoming two Avengers films, confirming that Doomsday will indeed run for two and a half hours.

Avengers: Doomsday is scheduled to premiere in theaters on May 1, 2026. For more details, check out our list of all the upcoming Marvel films and series you need to know about.