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| Robert Downey Jr. at San Diego Comic Con 2024 |
It was a reveal that changed the Marvel Cinematic Universe – and riled up nerds.
When Robert Downey Jr. ripped off a Doctor Doom mask at Comic-Con and the erstwhile Tony Stark announced himself to be the MCU’s next iconic big bad, the atmosphere in the room was electric. Fans leaped out of their seats to cheer. Reporters scrambled to record the moment on their phones (or type furiously on a live blog). And Downey smirked at "Avengers" directors/collaborators Joe and Anthony Russo and Marvel's head honcho Kevin Feige, eating up the attention not unlike, well, a comic-book megalomaniac.
The internet memes came fast and furious: There were various images passed around from "Oppenheimer" – a nod to Downey's co-star Cillian Murphy being a fan favorite to play Victor Von Doom – and Daniel Craig’s “Knives Out” detective saying, “It’s just so dumb.” Everybody was talking about the beloved A-lister's return, and much of the chatter leaned negative.