If Marvel is counting on the return of Robert Downey Jr. to bring the MCU back to form, they would be gravely mistaken.
The godfather of the MCU is back.
In the hallowed nerd Valhalla also known as San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel ended its presentation with an announcement that blew the brains of geeks and fans worldwide: Robert Downey Jr. is returning to the MCU—but not as Tony Stark. The 59-year-old actor will instead be taking on the role of the most formidable villain in the multiverse since Thanos in the next two Avengers films: Victor von Doom.
Tears were wept. Cheers were cheered. Screams were scrummed. Everyone was ecstatic, and rightfully so. RDJ has returned, and in a twist of fate that’s reminiscent of Harvey Dent’s iconic line in The Dark Knight, he’s going to give the Avengers a run for their money.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited. Heck, I’m freaking out. But if Marvel is betting on Robert Downey Jr.’s return as the MCU’s saving grace to bring it back into the good favour of the fans, then that’s the biggest mistake they’ve ever made.
[Hero image: Marvel]
Robert Downey Jr’s return is not what’s going to save the MCU
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It’s no mystery the MCU has hit a slump lately. The general sentiment is that post-Endgame has been lacklustre. On top of that, the actor playing what should have been the big bad of the next two phases was found guilty of assault, further complicating the state of the Cinematic Universe’s future.
If you still think the state of the MCU is okay, consider the fact that everything was bad enough for the studio to do a major overhaul. The negative reception to their TV shows caused them to rethink how they produced them. Release dates were pushed back, which was why Deadpool & Wolverine was the only MCU film that’s being released this year. And if that wasn’t enough, they brought the Russo Bros. to direct and Robert Downey Jr. back, which wasn’t cheap for sure. Downey alone made USD 75 million for Endgame. Marvel was willing to spend that amount of money to give fans a bit of comfort with familiar names.
The course correction is underway, and it seems to be off to a good start. But there are deeper issues Marvel has to deal with that no amount of Downey can fix.
A little less spectacle, a little more substance
I’m not here to yuck on anyone’s yum and downplay RDJ’s epic return. Like I said, I’m as ecstatic as anyone else. But the return of an iconic character and even directors to the MCU isn’t the magic solution. We shouldn’t expect it to be, and to be fair, I don’t think Kevin Feige or the Russo Bros. think it is either.
The MCU fare has gone stale as of late, and the stories aren’t just sticking or landing like they did before. Take the universe’s very first film and RDJ’s introduction as genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. What made 2008’s Iron Man work was it was an earnest look into who Tony Stark was and his journey to becoming a hero, one that stuck with audiences so well that when his demise came along in Endgame, we were weeping. It wasn’t his final CGI battle with Obadiah Stane or any other spectacle that stuck with us but his journey.
Great stories are what we want to see. To say that CGI is the problem would be wrong. Look at Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: heartfelt, heart-wrenching, absolutely joyful, and chock-full of CGI. To also say that fan service is what’s ruining the films is a grave mistake because Deadpool & Wolverine blows that out of the water. The difference is using them to enhance the story instead of just putting them in there mindlessly.
Make or Break
I believe the Russos and especially Feige are well aware of this. They know the story has got to get back on track, and there’s no way the Russos or Downey would have returned—and no way Feige would have dared spend all the money and done something so audacious as casting the same actor who played the universe’s hero to now play its most formidable foe—unless they knew they had a story to tell.
To say the MCU is back—or even the MCU is dead—because they brought back Robert Downey Jr. would be a mistake. Yes, he may be this cinematic universe’s godfather but it doesn’t mend or break with his presence. Marvel has done some course correction. Hopefully, it pays off.
Come 2026 and 2027, I’ll definitely be in a theatre screaming my head off. I just hope it’s in elation and not in anger.
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This article first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Bangkok
