Don Cheadle Shares Reaction To Finding Out That Robert Downey Jr. Will Play Doctor Doom: "What The F*ck?"

Don Cheadle has shared his initial reaction to finding out that his fellow Avenger Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom...

By MarkCassidy - Sep 09, 2024 09:09 AM EST

Filed Under: Avengers: Doomsday

Another MCU actor has revealed his initial reaction to the news that Robert Downey Jr. will be making his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a completely different character, and it's the same response we're sure quite a few of you had to the big San Diego Comic-Con reveal!

Don Cheadle - who worked very closely with Downey Jr. as Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes in the Avengers and Iron Man movies - was asked if the SDCC announcement took him by surprise, and confirmed that his co-star and friend had kept him in the dark along with everyone else.

"I was like, 'What the f*ck?'" the Secret Invasion actor told Collider, before adding that he couldn't reveal any more details because, "Everything is clay right now. They're rewriting, they're reworking, and so I honestly can't even tease anything."

Cheadle was also asked if he'll be rejoining RDJ for Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, but he's become adept at avoiding those kinds of questions!

"I'm not sure what you're talking about. I’ve heard of a Russo Brother. There are two? You know I can't talk about that stuff."

We're sure Rhodey will be back along with the rest of Earth's Mightiest Heroes - and it'll be the real Rhodey this time after his Skrull imposter was discovered towards the end of Secret Invasion. Cheadle is also expected to reprise the role for the Armor Wars Disney+ series, although he played just as coy about that project in a recent interview.

Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters on May 1, 2026, followed by Avengers: Secret Wars on May 7, 2027. Both films will be directed by the Russo brothers, who also make their MCU return after helming Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

"Being able to create stories and explore characters within the Marvel Universe fulfilled a life-long dream of ours, and we discovered a powerful connection with audiences in each film that we made. We’re thrilled to collaborate once again with Kevin, Lou and the entire Marvel team to bring this epic adventure in storytelling to new and surprising places for both the fans and ourselves”, said The Russos in a statement after the SDCC panel.

Have another look at some photos Downey Jr. shared to Instagram after the big reveal below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Robert Downey Jr. (@robertdowneyjr)

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28 Comments

bobevanz - 9/9/2024, 9:02 AM

Joker 2 tickets on sale now! They have an imax early fan event on Monday September 30th

PatchesOhulihan - 9/9/2024, 9:19 AM

Maybe Don Cheadle can play Magneto in this phase.

lazlodaytona - 9/9/2024, 9:22 AM

@PatchesOhulihan - Heck, let's have Mickey Rouke play Magneto

Deadinside - 9/9/2024, 3:23 PM

@lazlodaytona - Duuuude, that would be such crazy casting...for some strange reason, I can kinda see it...! ☮️😜

lazlodaytona - 9/9/2024, 4:56 PM

@Deadinside - why the hell not. at least he could redeem himself in MARVEL history as DOOM...kinda like Routh did with Kingdome Come Superman except Rouke being on the bad guy's side.

lazlodaytona - 9/9/2024, 9:22 AM

I'm sure this will wrap up together nicely with a ribbon round it.

TheRedLeader - 9/9/2024, 9:25 AM

Can't wait to see RDJs Tony Stark vs RDJs Von Doom.

TheVisionary25 - 9/9/2024, 9:28 AM

@TheRedLeader - give me a Multiverse where everyone is played by RDJ lol

TheRedLeader - 9/9/2024, 9:37 AM

@TheVisionary25 - I'm sure we're going to see something like this.

TheVisionary25 - 9/9/2024, 10:01 AM

@TheRedLeader - I don’t think so , I’m just kidding but it would be funny

BruceWayng - 9/9/2024, 9:29 AM

I’m still not 100% convinced that this is really happening they way it’s being presented or if it’s just a massive misdirect/redirect to hide the fact that RDJ is coming back as Iron Man. If it is true and he is actually playing Doom(and one that is not tied to Stark in any way-as a variant or anything else) then they HAVE TO do something about his face.

I’m sure he’ll be masked up for most of his appearances but of there’s a flashback of if they go for the minor scar version of Doom instead melted face or Quasimodo Doom-then I pray they do something like what RDJ did in his recent HBO show “The Sympathizer”

That wasn’t great and it still wouldn’t be enough to NOT be distracting for most/if not all of the audience but it’s better than keeping his face EXACTLY LIKE Starks face.

My hope is that Doom is masked up for most of his appearances but when he’s finally unmasked it’s revealed to be another actor the whole time and RDJ is actually comes back as Iron Man

TheRedLeader - 9/9/2024, 9:38 AM

@BruceWayng - Of course he's coming back as Iron Man. But also as Doom.

The1st - 9/9/2024, 11:23 AM

@BruceWayng - Well there's a comic precedent for it, sort of. Doom swapped bodies w/Tony, although I don't think they're going that route personally it could be one way of explaining it.

Forthas - 9/9/2024, 9:54 AM

He speaks for all of us!

TheVisionary25 - 9/9/2024, 10:03 AM

Still somewhat mixed on it but honestly am getting more excited to see how he would portray Victor since I doubt that he himself would want to play him as a Tony clone (nor should he).

Izaizaiza - 9/9/2024, 10:08 AM

"What the [frick]?" is the proper response to the news

RegularPoochie - 9/9/2024, 10:23 AM

Wait, wasn't this posted like 1-3 after the sdcc?

RegularPoochie - 9/9/2024, 10:36 AM

Also

BritishMonkey - 9/9/2024, 11:22 AM

I like Downey, but the more and more I keep seeing this the less I like it.
Something is off with it.

DocSpock - 9/9/2024, 11:28 AM

And then, RDJ Dr. Doom uses magical crap to turn Cheadle Rhodie into Howard Rhodie after some idiot exec says no one will notice. Then he tells dead RDJ Iron Man's wife Gwynneth that he loves her 3000 so he can bone her, then ....

Oh frack.....

QuietStorm - 9/9/2024, 11:50 AM

"So honestly I cant even tease anything."

Somebody get Mark Ruffalo on the phone now so we can get the details

TheVisionary25 - 9/9/2024, 11:57 AM

@QuietStorm - or Tom Holland

How about both?

QuietStorm - 9/9/2024, 12:57 PM

@TheVisionary25 - #NeverForget

BillyBatson1000 - 9/9/2024, 11:54 AM

The whole thing smells as fishy as a Pepper Pott's candle.

KennKathleen - 9/9/2024, 12:10 PM

@BillyBatson1000 -

BillyBatson1000 - 9/9/2024, 12:37 PM

@KennKathleen -

dragon316 - 9/9/2024, 12:34 PM

Good thing he didn’t tell Tom first he would have told everyone moment he found out

ModHaterSLADE - 9/9/2024, 12:59 PM

Now if only we can get this reaction in the MCU when Doom takes off his mask.

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Don Cheadle Shares Reaction To Finding Out That Robert Downey Jr. Will Play Doctor Doom: "What The F*ck?"

Don Cheadle has shared his initial reaction to finding out that his fellow Avenger Robert Downey Jr. will be returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom...

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