Robert Downey Jr to be paid more than 80M$ as Doctor Doom

At San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Studios electrified superhero fans with a major announcement: Robert Downey Jr and the Russo brothers are returning for the fifth and sixth Avengers movies, titled "Avengers: Doomsday" and "Avengers: Secret Wars." Downey, who portrayed Tony Stark/Iron Man in the MCU for over a decade, and directors Joe and Anthony Russo, took the stage to confirm the thrilling news.

Variety reports that Downey's return hinged on the Russo brothers rejoining the project. Given their immense contributions to the studio's previous triumphs, bringing the trio back proved costly. In addition to his superstar status and recent Oscar win for his perfect performance on "Oppenheimer," Robert Downey Jr commanded a hefty sum to reprise his iconic role.

The Russo brothers will pocket a hefty $80 million for directing the next two Avengers films. This deal also includes performance bonuses of $750 million and $1 billion in worldwide box office gross. However, this figure excludes potential additional compensation. Robert Downey Jr, in stark contrast, will earn "significantly more" solidifying his status as one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors. While exact figures remain undisclosed, the amount is expected to approach $100 million.

As a matter of fact, Kevin Feige, the mastermind behind Marvel Studios, initiated discussions to bring Robert Downey Jr back after the studio faced significant ratings challenges. Downey’s return was contingent on the Russo brothers’ involvement. “He would only work with them,” a Variety source revealed.

However, filming for the new Avengers films starts in England in 2025. “Avengers: Doomsday” hits theaters in 2026, followed by “Secret Wars” in 2027. The dinamic duo perfomed by the incredible Robert Downey Jr and the Russo Bros promises to inject new life into the Marvel Cinematic Universe the following seasons.