Last weekend, Marvel fans went wild as Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr appeared on stage to announced his MCU return.
His Tony Stark may be dead but thanks to the franchise’s multiverse storytelling he can return as another character.
This time around he’s playing Fantastic Four arch-nemesis Doctor Doom in Avengers Doomsday and Avengers Secret Wars.
Avengers Infinity War and Avengers Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo are making a comeback with him after Downey Jr reportedly said he’d only play Doom on the condition that the Russo Brothers were directing.
Considering the multi-billion dollar success of the previous MCU movies the trio have worked on, it’s hardly surprising that they are getting a monumental payday.
According to Variety’s sources, the Russo Brothers are set for $80 million to direct Avengers 5 and 6 with Downey Jr to take home “significantly more” for playing Doom.
The actor has so far raked in between $500-600 million for his previous MCU movies, so presumably he’ll paid well over $100 million at the end of it all when his initial salary is combined with box office bonuses.
Yet the millions upon millions isn’t the only perk that Downey Jr will be getting for his Marvel comeback.
The outlet’s sources also say that Downey Jr’s new Marvel deal perks include “private jet travel, dedicated security and a whole trailer encampment on set.”
Moving from the usual MCU filming stalwart of Atlanta, Georgia, Avengers 5 and 6 will be shot in London, with principal photography beginning in the second quarter of 2025.
Avengers Doomsday hits cinemas in May 2026 and will be followed by Avengers Secret Wars in 2027.