Fans Marvel as Downey Jr launches villainous return

Harrison Ford and Pedro Pascal were also officially unveiled among a batch of new stars joining the movie franchise.

Flanked by Joe and Anthony Russo, Robert Downey Jr is unmasked at Comic-Con in San Diego on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

Oscar-winner Robert Downey Jr announced his return to Marvel superhero films during a blockbuster Disney presentation at Comic-Con at the weekend, as the company attempts to reinvigorate its all-time record-grossing movie franchise.

Harrison Ford and Pedro Pascal were also officially unveiled among a batch of new stars joining the movie franchise, which has grossed an unprecedented $US30bn ($45.75bn) at the box office, but in recent years has suffered a number of flops.

Marvel film president Kevin Feige unveiled new details about multiple upcoming superhero movies to a crowd of screaming devotees at the San Diego, California gathering on Saturday – but nobody drew a louder reaction than the returning Downey Jr.

The actor, who launched the Marvel movie universe with 2008’s Iron Man, will return as a totally different character – Doctor Doom, a villain in the Marvel comic books. He appeared anonymously on stage among a group of hooded and masked figures, before stepping forward and revealing his much-rumoured return.

“New mask. Same task. What’d I tell you? I like playing complicated characters,” he said.

Downey Jr won an Oscar this year for his role in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, having seemingly retired from the Marvel films in 2019.

The presentation was the hottest ticket of the four-day pop culture extravaganza, with fans lining up for hours to get a seat.

Marvel fans have complained about over-complicated plot lines and the departure of beloved characters, including Downey Jr’s Iron Man, with some calling for a wholesale reboot of the movies.

The franchise was also rocked by domestic violence revelations about actor Jonathan Majors, who was set to become the new supervillain across multiple films. Majors, convicted for assaulting and harassing his then girlfriend, was dropped by Marvel.

Joe and Anthony Russo, the brothers who oversaw 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, which briefly became the highest-grossing film of all time at more than $US2.79bn, will also return. They will direct Avengers: Doomsday, in May 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars in May 2027.

The Marvel event opened with dozens of singers and dancers dressed in the red and yellow of Deadpool & Wolverine, the new R-rated superhero movie enjoying a record-breaking opening this weekend.

“But Hall H doesn’t just look back … Hall H looks forward,” said Feige, referring to the Comic-Con event venue, before setting out Marvel’s plans for the next three years.

Next year will see three films, including February’s Captain America: Brave New World, with Harrison Ford as Thaddeus Ross, a US president who turns into a Red Hulk.

“I wanted a piece of the action,” said Ford, on joining the Marvel franchise.

Due in May 2025 is Thunderbolts, starring Florence Pugh, and in July The Fantastic 4: First Steps, starring Pedro Pascal and set in 1960s New York.

Warner, which runs the DC superhero movies, offered a glimpse of The Penguin, starring Colin Farrell. Spun off from 2022’s The Batman, which starred Robert Pattinson as a grungy, noirish incarnation of the beloved superhero, The Penguin will hit HBO on September 19.

AFP