Robert Downey Jr. Says AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY Will Have to Earn Fans' Trust and Respect All Over Again

Marvel Studios is heading into uncharted territory with Avengers: Doomsday, and according to Robert Downey Jr., the creative team isn't interested in trying to top what many fans consider the MCU's greatest achievement.

The actor, who is set to return to the Marvel universe as Doctor Doom, recently made a surprise appearance at SXSW London, where he addressed the enormous challenge facing the next Avengers movie.

Rather than attempting to outdo the massive success of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Downey explained that the filmmakers are taking a different approach.

Reflecting on the legacy of those films, he said: "What we've been laboring long and hard over… we can't beat it – we can't stand on the shoulders of these giants of Infinity War and Endgame."

That's probably the most realistic outlook Marvel could have right now. Infinity War and Endgame weren't just blockbuster hits. They were the culmination of more than a decade of storytelling that connected audiences to characters they had followed for years. Trying to recreate that exact experience would be a losing battle.

Instead, it sounds like Doomsday is being built with a fresh mindset. Downey acknowledged that Marvel's post-Endgame era has been a different kind of journey.

The studio introduced a wave of new heroes, experimented with different storytelling styles, and expanded aggressively through Disney+. While some projects connected with audiences, others struggled to generate the same level of excitement that defined the Infinity Saga.

That reality appears to be shaping the philosophy behind Avengers: Doomsday. As Downey explained:

"So we're literally zeroing out the board and we're going to try to earn your trust and respect all over again. With the likes of [directors Joe and Anthony Russo], I think we've got a pretty good shot."

It's an interesting statement because it suggests Marvel recognizes that goodwill can't simply be assumed. Fans want a reason to get invested again, and the studio seems determined to prove itself rather than rely on nostalgia alone.

Of course, Marvel is bringing back some familiar faces to help make that happen. Downey's return as Doctor Doom was one of the biggest surprises to come out of San Diego Comic-Con 2024.

At the same event, Marvel also announced that Joe and Anthony Russowould return to direct both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, reuniting the creative team responsible for some of the MCU's most successful films.

Production on Doomsday is currently underway, and all signs point to it being one of the largest crossover events Marvel Studios has ever attempted. The film brings together MCU veterans, legacy Marvel characters, and a variety of heroes and villains from across the franchise's expanding multiverse.

Fans have already gotten a few small teases. Footage was screened privately during CinemaCon, and many hoped that a recent Doomsday-themed pop-up event might lead to the public release of new footage.

Instead, attendees were greeted with a Doctor Doom-inspired coffee shop experience complete with themed drinks, which wasn't exactly what many fans had been expecting.

Meanwhile, the Russo Bros. have discussed the idea of returning to what they call "Phase Zero" with Avengers: Doomsday. Apparently, the see it as starting from scratch.

With new footage reportedly attached to the re-release of Avengers: Endgame, fans may not have to wait much longer to get a better idea of what Marvel has planned.

Marvel isn't promising that Avengers: Doomsday will surpass Infinity War or Endgame. Instead, the team appears focused on something much more important, giving audiences a reason to believe in the franchise's future again.

Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters on December 18.

via CBR