The Next MCU Role for Iron Man Actor

When Robert Downey Jr. revealed he was returning to the MCU to play Doctor Doom, fans were divided. Some were overjoyed to see the Iron Man actor return to the franchise he made great, while others worried it was a sign of the MCU finally consuming itself.

It may therefore seem unusual to suggest that once Downey Jr. is done with Doom, there’s one more MCU characters he should play… but that’s exactly what I’m here to do. There’s one Avengers hero that Robert Downey Jr. should play not despite the fact that he’s returning to play Doctor Doom, but because of it.

Robert Downey Jr. Needs to Play Doombot C-53

The Avengers AI Hero Is the Perfect Progression from Playing Doctor Doom

In 2013, Marvel released Avengers A.I. – a comic from Sam Humphries and André Lima Araújo following a team of robotic heroes gathered together by founding Avenger Hank Pym. The breakout star of the book was Doombot C-53: a robotic replica of Doctor Doom who Hank captured and implanted with a micro-black hole generator that will trigger if he engages in evil acts. Finally, the Avengers had their own reluctant Doctor Doom on the roster.

Since 1962’s Fantastic Four #5, Doctor Doom has been depicted as using Doombots in his schemes. These robotic servants are programmed to obey his orders and to think exactly like him. Indeed, his most powerful Doombots actually believe themselves to be Doctor Doom (a fact Marvel has used to retcon some of Doctor Doom’s more humiliating defeats and illogical acts.)

However, Doombot C-53 took that idea and developed it into an awesome new character – an Avenger who knows he’s programmed to think and act like Doctor Doom, but is still his own person. With Robert Downey Jr. playing the real Doctor Doom in the MCU, it would be a work of genius for Marvel to have the uber-popular actor return for a third role – the heroic Doombot who still has Doom’s speech patterns and mannerisms.

Why the MCU Needs Doombot

As writers like Ryan North have expressed, Doctor Doom is one of Marvel’s best-written characters. His combination of petty vindictiveness, olde worlde phrasing and constant air of superiority brings out the best in Marvel’s writers. Doombot has all those qualities, plus his constant awareness that he’s not actually Doctor Doom. The result is one of Marvel’s funniest heroes, and a unique prospect for the Avengers – a hero who’s being forced to serve on the team and isn’t hiding his resentment.

Doombot has primarily appeared in Avengers A.I. and Runaways, where he acts as the teen heroes’ ‘cool uncle’ thanks to his connection to Victor Mancha (the ‘son’ of Ultron, who also served on Avengers A.I.) The latter series has given Doombot his own aesthetic, with a natty fashion sense that evolves Doctor Doom’s look in a way that the Latverian dictator would never deign to explore.

Putting Doctor Doom in a heroic and/or family setting creates genius moments – Doombot offering to crush an annoying baby mid-mission to give his teammates some peace and quiet, appearing in court to answer for a jaywalking charge, or cooking a Christmas meal in a frilly pink apron. Doombot is a funny, sympathetic character in his own right, but the way the hero interacts with fans’ image of Doctor Doom adds a whole other layer.

The MCU Clearly Needs Robert Downey Jr., So Let Him Another Role

Robert Downey Jr. returning to the role of Doctor Doom is guaranteed to bring lapsed fans back to check out the big new Avengers movies, but the team ultimately have to defeat the villain in a permanent way for the movies to feel satisfying. However, that doesn’t mean the MCU has to lose Robert Downey Jr.’s starpower yet again.

By continuing on as Doombot C-53 (perhaps even just when the character’s programming forces him to declare “I AM DOOM!”, or in a cameo appearance as one of She-Hulk’s clients), the MCU can keep Robert Downey Jr.’s magnetism while allowing him to play yet another unique character within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And if that means the MCU gives Runaways another chance with Robert Downey Jr. backing up the more obscure Marvel franchise, so be it!