In the wake of a challenging year, Marvel Studios is revisiting its winning formula by reuniting with key figures from its past successes. The studio is bringing back Robert Downey Jr. and the Russo brothers, who previously directed Marvel’s most successful films, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
The cost of reassembling this iconic team is significant. Reports indicate that Marvel is investing $80 million to have Anthony and Joe Russo direct the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Additionally, Downey will be compensated with a substantial amount for his role as the villain Doctor Doom in these high-profile films. The Russos’ contract includes performance bonuses triggered by box office earnings of $750 million and $1 billion. They will also produce the films through their AGBO banner, which represents a departure from Marvel’s usual practice of keeping production in-house.
For Downey, who played a crucial role in Marvel’s success with his portrayal of Tony Stark starting in 2008’s Iron Man, the new deal includes numerous perks. These range from private jet travel and dedicated security to a comprehensive “trailer encampment.” Downey, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Oppenheimer, is expected to benefit from this lucrative arrangement.
Downey remains the highest-paid actor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, reportedly earning between $500 million and $600 million from his roles in multiple Avengers films, Iron Man movies, and cameo appearances in other Marvel projects such as The Incredible Hulk, Captain America: Civil War, and Spider-Man: Homecoming.
The new films will mark a change in location as well, with production shifting from Atlanta—where the previous Avengers films were shot—to London, starting in the second quarter of 2025.
Marvel’s dominance at the box office has faced some challenges recently. In 2023, the studio experienced setbacks with the Ant-Man sequel, which grossed $476 million globally, and The Marvels, which struggled to surpass $200 million. Additionally, Marvel had to abandon its planned Avengers arc centered around villain Kang due to actor Jonathan Majors’ legal issues. Disney, Marvel’s parent company, severed ties with Majors after his conviction for assault and harassment, leading to the departure of director Destin Daniel Cretton from Avengers: Kang Dynasty.
Amid these challenges, Marvel decided to pivot from Kang to Doctor Doom and sought to bring back Downey, who will transition from his Broadway debut in Ayad Akhtar’s “mcneal” to preproduction on the new Avengers films.
Sources reveal that Downey, represented by WME, agreed to return to the MCU on the condition that the Russo brothers, represented by CAA, would direct. According to insiders, Downey insisted on working exclusively with the Russos, who are responsible for the impressive $4.851 billion combined earnings of their two Avengers films. As Marvel aims to regain its cinematic prominence, the collaboration between Downey and the Russos is seen as an ideal alignment of timing and creative synergy.
